BEES BUZZ BUT DEAN’S COOL
Manager wants his troops to graft
THERE’S a mood of optimism around Griffin Park after Brentford’s superb start to the season, but there’s no chance of level-headed manager Dean Smith getting carried away.
A 5-1 thumping of newly-promoted Rotherham on the opening day of the season got the Bees off to a flyer and made people sit up and take notice.
That was followed by a highly-creditable 1-1 draw at Stoke, back in the second tier after a decade in the Premier League, last weekend.
The Bees were widely acknowledged to have been the better team on the day and a shade unlucky not to return to west London with all three points.
Smith then changed his whole side for last Tuesday’s Carabao Cup first round tie at Southend, but Brentford still stormed to an entertaining 4-2 win.
It appears there is plenty of goal power, strength in depth and competition for places at Griffin Park this term despite the summer losses of centre-back John Egan to Sheffield United and winger Florian Jozefzoon to Derby.
As Brentford prepare to host Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon, the former Walsall boss said: “We have to make sure we are very consistent in what we do, we can’t be complacent.
“We know where we are and we have to work for everything. Everyone knows their responsibilities.”
Although Wednesday haven’t set the world alight so far this term – they have one point from their opening two Championship games – Thursday night’s 2-0 Carabao Cup first round win at Sunderland will have given them a lift.
And Smith won’t be taking anything for granted against Jos Luhukay’s Owls, who will be eager to bag their first league win of the season.
“They have got really good players and they are playing some good football,” said Smith. “You can see patterns in their play.”
But Smith won’t be focusing too much on what Wednesday can do. Instead, he will be trying to get the best out of his men and encouraging them to play the attractive passing game that has made the Bees one of the best teams to watch in the second tier.
With ten goals from their opening three games this term, the Bees have shown they know where the target is.
French striker Neal Maupay and exciting winger Ollie Watkins, both 22, have hit the net twice apiece in the Championship.
Former Exeter wideman Watkins, who joined the Bees a year ago, continues to catch the eye and has plenty of time on his side to reach the top.
“Ollie has scored a couple of goals to add to the goals he scored last season (11),” said Smith.
“We believe there’s a lot of potential in the forwards we’ve got and hopefully they can fulfil that this season.”
If Watkins, Maupay and Co can continue to net with regularity, then Brentford could make what is due to be their final full season at Griffin Park one to remember.
Smith will be hoping they can take a step forward this term.
The 47-year-old took the reins in November 2015 and guided the Bees to ninth place that season.
Finishes of tenth and ninth in the following two seasons have been highly satisfactory, but victory against Wednesday at home today could be a sign Brentford have loftier ambitions this term.