Jonathan Douglas is happy with The Bees start to their first season back in the Sky Bet Championship despite not having the rub of the green with refereeing decisions so far this campaign.
Following Saturday’s 3-1 win over Reading Mark Warburton’s side sit tenth in the Sky Bet Championship table with 17 points from 11 matches.
Goals from Jota, Alex Pritchard and Jonathan’s late header from a corner helped The Bees to record their third straight home league win and move up into the top half of the league table ahead of the international break.
Speaking to Bees Player from the club’s Jersey Road training ground Jonathan said that the mood in the camp was good on the back of the strong start to the season.
The Irish midfielder thinks that The Bees have a good base to build from after the international break and thinks that they can continue to climb the table, especially if they start to get the rub of the green with refereeing decisions.
“The mood is good in the dressing room,” said Jonathan.
“The mood has been good all year to be honest because, on the whole, our performances have been very good.
“It was a good win for us on Saturday.
“Reading made it difficult in the second-half but we defended well as a team and got a good result.
“We are going well.
“We know what we are capable of with the squad that we have.
“It is still early days but it is going well so far.
“If you make a mistake in this division you are going to get punished.
“Last season if you made a mistake there was a good chance you would probably get away with it.
“In this division, against the calibre of strikers we are playing against each week, if you do make a mistake you are going to get punished for it.
“On the whole we have defended well and kept mistakes to a minimum.
“Apart from Saturday with my goal that should have been a foul we haven’t had the rub of the green.
“They say they even out come the end of the season.
“We can’t be too disappointed with where we are now.
“It is something to build on.
“We have a few days off now and we are looking forward to Wigan Athletic.”
Jonathan’s 81st minute goal against The Royals was his third of the season and also The Bees first league goal from a set-piece this season.
The former Swindon Town man scored three goals last season but has already matched that total this season with strikes against Brighton & Hove Albion, Watford and Reading.
Jonathan is pleased that he has been able to get forward more this season, safe in the knowledge that others in the midfield will cover for him.
He added that it was good for Brentford to chalk up a league goal from a set-piece, even if he himself felt it may have been a foul, but it is something they need to do more often.
“Everyone is pleased because we work hard on a Friday on set-pieces,” said Jonathan.
“For one to finally come off is good.
“To help the boys up front, myself and the centre-halves have got to score from set-pieces and hopefully Saturday’s will be one of many.
“To be honest I thought it was a foul.
“I was delighted when the whistle didn’t go.
“We will take it as we needed that goal.
“It came at a good time because they put a lot of pressure on us.
“It’s going ok so far.
“I am getting in the box a lot more because I know that Alan Judge will sit there or if Toumani Diagouraga or Alan McCormack are playing they will be there if I go forward.
“I don’t look at things personally I just look at things as a team: if I can do job to help the team then that is the most important thing.”
Jonathan has started every league game so far this season but he knows that with the competition for places in the squad he cannot afford to let his standards slip.
Toumani Diagouraga, who has more than 150 league appearances, and Marcos Tébar, who played 25 games in La Liga last season, are both pushing Jonathan for his starting spot.
The Irish midfielder thinks the quality of player not starting for The Bees show the strength in depth the squad has and the talent that is waiting to get it’s chance in the starting XI.
“That shows the quality of the squad that we have,” said Jonathan.
“There are lads who haven’t really been involved who are itching to get involved.
“Marcos Tébar has come in and he is different class on the training ground.
“I am sure that he is itching to get playing and the manger knows he can throw him in and he is going to put in a performance.
“You have Toumani who came in and played really well against Watford.
“The whole squad is very strong and it is a good headache for the manager to have.”
After a run of six games in three weeks Jonathan and the rest of the Brentford squad have been given a few days off over the international break to rest and recover ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Wigan Athletic.
The 32-year-old is glad of the chance to rest after what has been a very tough physical and mental start to the season.
Despite all the links between The Bees and Wigan Jonathan insists it will be just another game for him and his teammates when they travel to The DW Stadium in eight days time.
“It is useful for me and it is nice to get away to spend time with the family and take the mind off football,” said Jonathan.
“We have worked really hard for the last couple of days and as soon as we come back in Monday we will be preparing for the next game.
“It is just another game for me and another game we need to look forward to.
“We want to go there with no fear, put in a good performance and hopefully get the result we merit.”