Harlee Dean said Brentford picked up a “good three points” against Oldham Athletic.
The Bees scored a goal in each half – Clayton Donaldson grabbing both – as they picked up a 2-0 win at Boundary Park.
Harlee, speaking to Bees Player after the match, said Oldham provided a tough test with tall striker Matt Smith and tricky Jose Baxter in behind him a threat but Brentford overcame the challenge.
“It was a hard game,” said Harlee.
“They started better than us in the first ten and we got the goal against the run of play.
“We then defended the lead until we could get another goal.
“They had some difficult players to play against.
“They had a good combination up front with a big man and a technically good small man.
“It was a good challenge.
“The back four was quite spread in the early stages, then we got it together.
“We had to try and stop the cross in to the box, that was their game.
“They weren’t a bad attacking team, it was a good three points.”
Brentford kept their tenth clean sheet in 26 npower League One games at Boundary Park, and their third league shut-out in a row.
Harlee said The Bees were confident they could keep Oldham out and were always relatively comfortable after Oldham started well.
“We always felt confident we could get a clean sheet,” he said.
“Clean sheets win you games, that is our tenth in the league this season.
“As soon as we got the goal, we knew a clean sheet would win us the game.
“We got another goal, kept a clean sheet, everyone’s happy.
“We are full of confidence at the back, with Simon Moore behind us as well.
“We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“I don’t feel like we will concede a goal and if we do I feel we will score more than another team can score against us.
“I always felt relatively comfortable.
“The big man [Matt Smith] beat me a couple of times early on but I learnt his game.
“We needed to win the first header and land on the second balls, we did that.
“I didn’t feel like we were ever going to concede but we got a second goal and that was that.”
The Bees take on Southend United in an FA Cup with Budweiser Third Round Replay on Tuesday night.
The Bees drew 2-2 in Essex in the first tie last week and lost to The Shrimpers in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy earlier this season.
The winners will take on current UEFA Champions League and FA Cup holders Chelsea in the Fourth Round but Harlee said he was not looking that far ahead.
“We haven’t had a good game against Southend yet,” said Harlee.
“That is all we are concentrating on, Southend.
“We have to win, if we don’t, it is our own fault.
“We are confident, we’re at home, I think we’ll win.
“The prize is a big incentive but we are not looking at that.
“We have played Southend twice and lost and drew.
“Our focus is on beating them.
“After that, we will look at the draw we have got.”
A full video interview with Harlee Dean is available here for Bees Player subscribers