Monk urges Leeds not to let heads drop as promotion nerves set in

Brentford, but manager Garry Monk urged his players not to allow their heads to drop.

Monk’s side, who still sit fifth in the Championship, are starting to feel the nerves after losing 1-0 at Reading and now 2-0 at Griffin Park where the in-form home side produced a vibrant performance to win through goals from Romaine Sawyers and Lasse Vibe.

It has been 13 years since Leeds last played in the Premier League and returning has proved more difficult than anyone could have expected. This result certainly did not help because they were by some margin second best.

Monk said: “It is not often we have had to face back-to-back defeats this season, but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We are still in a strong position, the same as we were two games ago.

“At the start of the season, nobody would have thought we would be where we are. This group isn’t prepared to let all of the hard work, put in throughout the season, go to waste. But credit to Brentford and how they played because they deserved the win.”

The opener came after 19 minutes when Sawyers drilled home expertly after Robert Green had parried a shot from the lively Sergi Canos. Brentford then made it 2-0 before the break, this time Vibe firing home after Green parried another Canos effort.

Leeds improved in the second half but 12th-placed Brentford defended well and Green had to make a string of fine saves.

Brentford manager Dean Smith said: “I thought we were excellent – the quality, composure on the ball and the movement.”