Dean Smith was clearly pleased with Brentford's 5-0 win over Preston North End at Griffin Park on Saturday afternoon. Scott Hogan netted three, Harlee Dean added his first of the campaign and Chris Humphrey scored an own goal on the way to an emphatic victory on home soil. After the final whistle, Dean told Bees Player that his team took time to find their stride.
"I thought we finished both halves really well, but it was a slow start," said Dean. "We very rarely play on a Wednesday night and follow it up with a Saturday and we looked a bit leggy at times. The pace was a little bit slow and we got caught a couple of times by them breaking quickly on us. But for good defending and goalkeeping, we could have found ourselves behind.
"We grew into the game, we played some good patient football, and it was a great build-up for the goal. A great ball from Romaine Sawyers, a great run from Scott Hogan and a good finish. It probably eased our nerves a little bit.
"We didn't start the second half very well either, they had a couple of chances and Dan has had to make a great save. We got the second goal which proved to be the most important goal. It's great to see Harlee Dean on the scoresheet, he's been telling everybody how much he wants to score. From there I thought we excelled, our passing at times was clinical. We had to bring a couple of subs on and they made an impact. Overall, I think we got what we deserved."
Winning by only a single goal at the half, Brentford had to work hard for a second. When Preston were reduced to ten men through injury, Smith's side took full control.
"I thought the second goal was the big goal for us," Dean said. "It gave us some breathing space. We had to defend really well until then because they were the threat. The third, fourth and fifth goals were the icing on the cake really. I'd have been happy at two-nil and taking three points because it was a hard-fought game but finishing the last 15 minutes in the way that we did was just exceptional."
Scott Hogan bagged his first match ball in Championship football after a hat-trick completed in the 87th minute of time. Dean admitted that Scott is simply doing what he does best.
"Scott knows he'll get chances, he makes intelligent runs and is a very intelligent player," said Dean. "He's probably already said he hasn't got more goals, his movement is great. Romaine Sawyers is starting to get on his wavelength, they are seeing each others runs and there is a link up in play between them, Lewis Macleod is doing that as well. You have to remember a lot of these players haven't played together before, it's starting to work well, and it's a good sign for the future."
The win extended Brentford's unbeaten run at home this season. Dean wanted to put emphasis on how runs like this can help a team perform.
"It's always important," said Dean. "It's an old ground and the fans backing behind us is fantastic. I've been an opposition manager in that dressing room before and it's not the biggest, it's not salubrious by any means, so it's a tough place to come and we are certainly making it a tough place to come at the moment. The only goal we have conceded was in the 94th minute against Sheffield Wednesday; that's been excellent so far and we have to continue that."