Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Bees mentally strong
FRANK PRAISES BRENTFORD FOR BOUNCING BACK TO DISMANTLE HULL CITY AWAY
BRENTFORD boss Thomas Frank praised his team’s mental strength after they bounced back from defeat at home to Nottingham Forest with a thumping 5-1 victory at Hull City in the Championship.
The result meant they closed the gap on second-placed Leeds United and the automatic promotion places to five points in fifth place – and they now face Middlesbrough and Leeds next at home in what are crucial games.
“The one thing I will praise most is the mentality of the boys,” Frank told the club’s website. “In terms of bouncing back from a defeat, it was good.
“I think we have lost eight games 1-0, but no matter how frustrating that is and how disappointing, they [the players] always bounce back.
“We scored five goals and in some ways we should have done more, which sounds crazy.”
Frank also had some words of comfort for keeper David Raya, who let a long clearance from just inside
Brentford’s half go through his legs and into the net.
“David is a top player, and has a top mentality,” Frank said.
“He will put that behind him and move on to the next game. I’ve said before he is one of the top three keepers in this division.”
Said Benrahma scored a thrilling hat-trick, while Ollie Watkins was also on the scoresheet and Hull’s Reece Burke scored an own goal.
“We wanted to bounce back,” said Frank. “Next thing is we want to bounce back at Griffin Park. We want to make it a fortress, which is why it was so disappointing to lose to Nottingham.
“We need to stay humble, but confident going in to the next game.”
Fulham were 3-0 up inside 31 minutes against Huddersfield Town at Craven Cottage through Bobby Reid, Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Despite conceding twice in the 35th and 39th minutes they were able to claim all three points to move to within just three points of Leeds.
QPR have lost twice since beating Leeds two weeks ago, their latest defeat coming at home to Bristol City 1-0, following a loss at Blackburn Rovers.
In the Premier League, Chelsea drew 2-2 at Leicester City, with centre-back Antonio Rudiger scoring twice with headers.
The Blues were unable to close the gap to third-placed Leicester who are eight points above having played a game more.