Dean Smith felt his side were approaching their best as they ran out comprehensive winners over Reading in tonight’s Sky Bet Championship clash at Griffin Park. The Royals came into the game in fourth place and unbeaten in eight games but were blown away by three goals in 17 minutes either side of the break as Smith’s side set about extending their unbeaten home run to nine. After Yann Kermogant pulled one back for Jaap Stam’s side, Scott Hogan added a fourth late on to leave Dean very pleased with his side’s work.
“I am really delighted because they are a very good team and we had to be very good today,” said Dean, speaking to Bees Player after the match. “We had to be good defensively and we had to have good shape. We started the game with real intent, energy, and enthusiasm. I made a number of changes today as I felt it was the right time to get more energy and enthusiasm into the team. I thought it worked really well but there were times where they had a lot of possession and we had to be really good defensively. They have hit the post and we have gone up the other end and scored a really good goal. It was a great passing move and a good finish from Josh Clarke. That then gave us the belief. I said on Saturday at Wolves that the first goal is crucial is this league and it certainly was tonight.”
Dean made five changes for tonight’s game with Alan McCormack, Lasse Vibe, Josh Clarke, Andreas Bjelland, and Nico Yennaris all coming into the starting XI. Lasse and Josh were The Bees two first-half goalscorer while Josh McEachran, who lost his place from Saturday’s defeat to Wolves set up Scott Hogan for Brentford's fourth. Dean was very pleased with the way his changes worked and said it gave him a lot to think about ahead of Saturday's match against Wigan Athletic.
“It gives me selection problems,” said Dean. “Alan McCormack has come in tonight for Ryan Woods and done really well. That is what I want as a manager. I felt that the way Reading play they would present us with opportunities when we won the ball back with the way they play expansively. That is why I put the pace of Lasse Vibe and Josh in and it certainly worked tonight. It was pleasing as a coach to see that passing movement. You throw on Josh McEachran for the last five minutes and he produces a sublime pass for Scott Hogan to get his goal. They were all quality goals and if Sullay Kaikai had scored at the end that could have been goal of the season. They were all very good.”
Dean’s side have now scored 13 and conceded just two in five games at Griffin Park this season and The Bees’ Head Coach believes that the fans’ backing is making Griffin Park a really enjoyable place for the team to play at the moment.
“For all the goals that we score, and we have scored five and four here, you have to have the defensive side right,” said Dean. “To have only conceded in the 94th minute against Sheffield Wednesday and a penalty at home shows just how good we have been. We want better though. We don’t want to concede free headers where the lad hits the post or quick breaks where they hit the post. There are things to work on, we know that, but we are making this a real tough place to come at the moment. It is great playing here at the moment. We have got the backing of the fans and the supporters have been great. Even on Saturday when we got beat they were behind us all the way. We want to make this a really tough place for people to come and the fans are helping us to do that with the atmosphere they create.”