Brentford Head Coach Dean Smith believes that the Boxing Day match against Brighton and Hove Albion is a great chance for his side to show off their Sky Bet Championship Play-Off credentials. Albion suffered their first defeat of the season last time out at home to Middlesbrough and sit third in the table, just two points off the summit.
The Bees have lost only twice in 12 matches and are just two points outside the Sky Bet Championship top six. Speaking to Bees Player ahead of Saturday’s match Dean said the Boxing Day clash will be a real chance to put down a marker against a very good Brighton side.
“Brighton have had a fantastic start to the season,” said Dean. “To nearly get to Christmas and have an unbeaten record shows how hard they are to play against. They have been beaten now by Middlesbrough so we are looking forward to the game now. They are very organised, very good without the ball and make life tough for the opposition. They have got a threat up front as well and that is what we have to come up against on Saturday.
“We are looking forward to pitting ourselves against the top teams in this league and we have got a few of them coming up now. We have got some really good tests because we want to show that we have credentials to match the top teams. The only way that we can do that is to put in the performances.”
A full house is expected on Saturday for the match with The Seagulls and Dean wants the team to start quickly, as they have done in recent weeks, to get the atmosphere crackling straight away.
“It will be nearly a full house on Saturday so the atmosphere will be great,” said Dean. “The players will want to put on a show like they have in the last couple of games. If they start like they have in the last couple of games that will get the supporters behind them straight away.”
With two games in 72 hours over a period where the rest of the country are enjoying food and drink with their family Dean said the onus is on the players to be responsible at this time.
“Christmas in football can be different because all of your friends and family are shopping and getting the presents ready but you have to concentrate on your job as a footballer,” said Dean. “You have to be professional about everything you do in terms of your rest and recovery. You have to train well and not overindulge in things that other people would do because we have a big game on Boxing Day.
“The players are all professional because they know that with the rigours of professional football if they aren’t then they will get found out. The planning is for two games in three days but we will be focused on the game against Brighton and then we will turn to the game against Reading.”
Listen to the full interview with Dean below