‘COACHES ARE NOT ABLE TO CREATE MAGIC IMMEDIATELY’

BRENTFORD boss Thomas Frank has defended Gary Rowett’s record as Stoke City manager… and tipped Nathan Jones to eventually get the Potters “back on track”. Frank was talking in the aftermath of his team’s 3-1 victory at Griffin Park on Jones’ first day in the Stoke dug-out. Two early goals - the first put in his own net by Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross - gave the Bees the asendancy. Even when Benik Afobe responded in style for the Potters soon after, it was only raising false hope for the near 1,600 away fans as Brentford repeadly tested Stoke’s creaking back line. The killer blow came just after half-time, and Frank admitted his side had been on their A game. He said: “It was a dominating, controlled performance from the first second to the last second. “Even their ‘worldy’ didn’t seem to affect us. They had two shots in the whole game and one of them was a blocked shot - that just shows the dedication and defensive mindset, the tactical pressing. Everything was spot on.” Addressing Stoke’s efforts and the task facing new man Jones, Frank added: “I’m not saying that Stoke is a bad team, I’m just saying there’s so many factors that influence a bad performance. “I’m 100 per cent sure Nathan will turn this around because what he has created in his coaching career is a statement. So when the players know him better and they train with him better I’m sure they will come back on track. “What everybody needs to realise is it’s not easy to go down and come back up. I think in the last five years only one team has done it. So it’s about building a foundation and I think he can do that. “Coaches can’t just create magic. They haven’t performed all that well during the first part of the season, but I think Gary Rowett has done everything to perform with the players.” Rowett was sacked on Tuesday after just eight months and 26 games in charge, but a hefty outlay on talent and a return of 14th in the Championship table was too much for Stoke’s owners and fans to take. Yesterday’s defeat saw the Potters slip one place further back to 15th.