Brentford Assistant Manager David Weir said it was vital The Bees were able to stay strong despite losing players to injury.
Brentford were without two players who had started every league game this season – Harlee Dean and Adam Forshaw – as well as Jonathan Douglas, who has been ever-present since return from injury, but were still able to beat Port Vale 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Marcello Trotta put Brentford ahead in the first half before Will Grigg sealed it late on.
Kevin O’Connor started for the first time since early September in the centre of defence and Shaleum Logan started for the first time since early October at right back.
Alan Judge made his Brentford debut, starting a game for the first time since early November.
David, speaking to Bees Player: Match Day Live after the win, said injuries were part and parcel of football and Brentford had to cope.
He praised the trio that came in, as well as Toumani Diagouraga and Jake Reeves who came in for the game at Peterborough United on New Year’s Day in similar circumstances.
He said Brentford’s management team trusted the strength of their squad.
“Injuries are part and parcel of life when you play as many games as you do over the Christmas period,” said David.
“Port Vale were missing a few players too.
“We can’t use that as an excuse.
“It is important that players come in and we don’t skip a beat.
“We need a squad we can rely on.
“It’s vital that when players go out of the team we stay strong.
“Toums and Jake Reeves did it at Peterborough, as did Shaleum Logan for a spell.
“We had Kevin and Alan Judge today
“It is a testament to how they look after themselves that they can come in and play like they did.
“We have a deep squad and we trust the players to come in.”
The first 15 to 20 minutes of the game on Saturday were fairly even but Brentford took control.
David praised the players for the way they adjusted to Port Vale’s game plan to dominate.
Marcello Trotta smashed in from 25 yards and Port Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal made a series of fine saves to keep it at 1-0 before Will Grigg finished off a quick break inside the final minutes.
The win was Brentford’s eighth Sky Bet League One win in a row, and their 13th in the last 14, and kept them top of the league.
“Every game in this league is tough,” said David.
“Our priority is to focus on ourselves, what we do and how to impose that on the other teams.
“Port Vale made it difficult for the first 15 to 20 minutes and we had to adjust to that.
“The boys did it very well.
“We came on strong from then on.”
Port Vale had very few chances, David Button was not forced in to a save of note and the visitors were barely in Brentford’s penalty area in the second half.
David was happy with the clean sheet, Brentford’s fourth in their last seven games, with a changed back four.
“The clean sheet was nice,” he said.
“They deserved it and worked hard for it.
“Port Vale had a few opportunities early on but we tightened up and restricted them to little later on.
“That is a good habit to have.”
David said Marcello Trotta was capable of scoring goals like he did against Port Vale.
He said the striker had trained well and it was pleasing that he took that in to a game.
David said Port Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal kept the score down.
“Marcello is capable of goals like that,” said the Brentford Assistant Manager.
“He has shown a very high level of finishing in training all week.
“To see it on Saturday is a good message, it is a great example.
“The goalkeeper had three or four really good saves and another three or four that would have been goals if they had been a little either side of him.
“With a little more luck we’d have got a couple more goals.
“But we’re not greedy, it was a good result, a good performance and we are going in the right direction.”
Brentford’s next game is away to Walsall on Saturday.
“Every week is a challenge,” said David.
“Today we had to stand up to Port Vale as well as play.
“Next week will be different again.
“But we focus on ourselves and what we have to do.
“We want to keep improving, keep working hard.”
The best bits from Saturday’s Bees Player: Match Day Live show will be available soon.