Maxime Colin thinks it will be a shame if the team don’t follow up two good performances on the road, against Brighton and Hove Albion and Aston Villa, with a positive showing in front of the home fans at Griffin Park tomorrow. The Bees have taken four points from their last two games and now welcome Preston North End to West London, looking for a sixth straight win against Simon Grayson’s side. Maxime said that confidence is high after this week’s results but now the pressure is on to continue building that run of form.

“They were two really good games,” said Maxime. “Before these games we didn’t really know the level of the team. We knew that we had good players and a good team but you need to compare yourself to the best teams in the league. This week has given us a lot of confidence but now we need to confirm that against Preston on Saturday. If you play two good games like we did on Saturday and Wednesday and then don’t have a good game against Preston it’s a shame. We started the season at home really well with two wins and then drew with Sheffield Wednesday, conceding the goal right at the end. It will be good to get back to Griffin Park and I have no doubt that the fans will be there to support us. They have been there for us so far this season and we are happy to be back at home tomorrow.”

After missing some of pre-season and the first game of the season away at Huddersfield Town through injury, Maxime has started The Bees last six league matches. The French defender, who had an injury disrupted first season in England, said he felt he has been approaching full match fitness in the last week or so and is keen to put in the performances to reflect that.

“It was a shame that I got a calf injury in pre-season because I missed the first game away at Huddersfield Town,” said Maxime. “I then had a little heel injury which had me worried for the start of the season as it wasn’t what I expected. I have been fit for the last few games now. I have also done full training with the squad every day for the last three weeks which is the main thing. I started to feel really good against Brighton and Hove Albion and Aston Villa. I am fully fit now and the match fitness has come back so I will be really at 100 per cent for the next game. Hopefully I can help the team the best I can.”

The Bees have conceded just three goals in six matches since Maxime’s return at right-back, keeping three clean sheets in the process. Only Newcastle United have conceded fewer goals than Dean Smith's side so far this season and Maxime believes that defensive record could be the backbone for a successful campaign.

“I feel that we are really solid defensively and everyone works for the defence,” said Maxime. “We need to keep going and keep our focus. If we keep a clean sheet then we know that we can score at any time. It’s an easy thing but if you don’t concede then you know you will draw at least. If you want to be in the top six than you have to have a strong defence and a good goalkeeper. When you keep clean sheets like we have done in the last few games then that gives a lot of confidence to the defence and the goalkeeper but also to the team as a whole.”