Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said he was delighted with his side’s “hard-earned” win away to Brighton and Hove Albion but admitted there was plenty to work on.
Andre Gray scored the only goal as The Bees won on their first visit to Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium yesterday.
The goal came just before the half hour mark when Stuart Dallas got in behind on the left and Gray’s shot deflected off Lewis Dunk and looped in.
Dunk was sent off in the second half and Brentford had chances to win the game but failed to convert them.
Brighton could have snatched a point at the end but Brentford got their clean sheet and the win.
Mark, speaking after the win, said his team needed to finish games off and were talking about how they could improve.
“We started off brightly, in the first five minutes, and then had a lot of possession in the next 20 minutes but didn’t test the goalkeeper at all,” he said.
“David Button made three good saves in that time.
“We had to recognise that.
“We were making them work by keeping the ball and we got better in the latter stages of the first half.
“We came out in the second half and they went down to ten men.
“We dominated the football but we didn’t finish them off.
“We have to take our chances and finish them off.
“At the end there were a couple of goal line clearances.
“It was a heard-earned win.
“This is a tough place to come and I am delighted we got the victory but as a group we are talking about what we can do better.”
Brighton sat off and allowed Brentford a lot of the ball, looking to counter-attack, which Mark said he expected.
He said his team looked to use the space left when Brighton right back Iñigo Calderón went forward and they got their goal when Dallas got in behind on that side.
“We expected Brighton to do what they did today,” said Mark.
“We thought they would let us have it.
“We knew what they would do with Calderón on the right, I think they knew we’d try and counter there with Dallas.
“They went to their left and we were happy to let Dunk have the ball.
“We started brightly but didn’t test the keeper.
“We improved when we played the balls down the channels and Andre could run the centre halves.
“We could play more.
“They had to work hard to get it back.”
The Bees missed a host of chances while Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale made fine saves from Alex Pritchard and Jonathan Douglas.
Jon Toral should have scored when set up by Pritchard and Gray; he rounded Stockdale but got in to a tangle, fell over and failed to convert.
“We should have been out of sight and we made it difficult for ourselves at the end,” admitted Mark.
“I am pleased the players got in to the positions.”
Nearly 3,000 Brentford fans made the trip south and Mark hailed the travelling supporters as magnificent.
He reminded that 12 months ago The Bees drew 1-1 at Walsall and called on his players to continue to improve.
“The support was magnificent,” said Mark.
“I told the players – they played at Walsall this time last year in front of a crowd smaller than the number of fans we brought here today.
“That is fantastic.
“That is where we have come in a year; the challenge now is where we go in the next year.
“The noise the fans made was terrific and the players and staff appreciate it.”
Brentford are fifth in the Sky Bet Championship having recorded consecutive 1-0 wins after beating Rotherham United last week.
Before the end of January they face Norwich City, who are seventh, and Middlesbrough, who are fourth.
Mark said his team had to impose themselves on those games, as they did in parts at Brighton.
“We are taking one game at a time, we have Norwich next and then Middlesbrough,” said Mark.
“We have to go and impose ourselves.
“We did that for stages today.
“You could say we had sterile possession but Brighton had to work hard to get the ball back.
“We can then profit when they tire.
“If we put our chances away it would have been a really good performance today.
“There were phases today when we didn’t do what we do well.
“When they went down to ten men we didn’t look after the ball.”
Mark said his players were a little disappointed overall, despite winning the match.
He said the overriding positive was the win but his team should have avoided the late scares.
“The players are sitting in there disappointed,” said Mark.
“We have come to a venue of this quality against a team of this quality – and we have taken six points from Brighton, which is the overriding positive – and we are disappointed.
“We should have scored two or three and the game is finished.
“There was no need for the late scares.
“We have to learn and improve.
“We have picked up two 1-0 wins in two weeks with two outstanding clean sheets.
“We didn’t want to grind it out, if we take our chances it is a comprehensive win.
“They were unlucky not to score.
“We should have been out of sight.
“But we have taken three points and now our focus is on Carrow Road.
“We have 20 games left, we are in a good place in the table and we are in the final stages.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full reaction from Mark Warburton here.