Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said he never had any doubts about the quality of his squad after seeing a side with four changes extend The Bees’ winning run.
Brentford beat Port Vale at Griffin Park 2-0 yesterday afternoon with Marcello Trotta and Will Grigg on the score sheet.
It was Brentford’s eighth Sky Bet League one win in a row and their 13th in 14 league games.
This is the first Brentford team in history to win eight Football League games in a row in one season.
The Bees were without Harlee Dean and Adam Forshaw – who have been ever-present in League One this season – as well as Jonathan Douglas, who had played in all 13 games of Brentford’s unbeaten run before the Port Vale clash, all of whom were injured.
Mark made changes to his defence, bringing in Kevin O’Connor and Shaleum Logan and pushed Alan McCormack, who normally plays at right back, in to midfield.
Sam Saunders, who has played as part of a front three recently, also played in midfield with Alan Judge, signed on loan from Blackburn Rovers this week, handed a debut, George Saville returned after suspension.
Mark, speaking after the match, said Brentford were sloppy early on but rectified it and he was delighted with the contribution of all his players.
He said Port Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal kept his team in the game with some great saves before Will Grigg’s goal late on.
“As a team we were sloppy for the first 15 to 20 minutes,” said Mark.
“I was really pleased that we rectified it.
“The players squeezed up more and moved the ball simple, early, quick as we always talk about.
“I have no doubts about the ability of the squad and the players that came in did a tremendous job.
“You won’t achieve anything with 11 or 14 players; you have to rely on quality and strength in depth.
“I am delighted with the contribution of the players that came in today.
“Their keeper pulled off a couple of world class saves in the second half.
“One from Marcello was outstanding.
“At 1-0 you are always vulnerable and you have to push hard for the second.
“A few things didn’t drop our way in the penalty area, on another day they would.
“Even when the second went in we kept pushing forward.
“We are doing what we do well and we have to keep doing it.
“If we do we will be in good shape.”
Brentford had not played since New Year’s Day and the players had some time off after the win against Peterborough United on January 1, which Mark said they earned.
He said the players were hungry to go one better than 2012/13 when they finished third in League One and lost the Play-Off Final, narrowly missing out on promotion.
“The players earned their break,” he said.
“We then had to look at how they came back to training.
“They were bright on Monday and our tests showed they had looked after themselves while they had been away, and rested well.
“I was pleased with the attitude.
“The players are hungry.
“They came very close to promotion last year, hopefully this year they can go a little bit further.”
Mark revealed some of those that played against Port Vale were doing so with injuries and others had not played for a while, so the Brentford back room team had to monitor them during the match.
He said the players that came in today and others that did not start but had contributed in recent weeks – like Toumani Diagouraga, Stuart Dallas and Jake Reeves – would have a role to play between now and May.
“We had decisions to make about who to start and with our substitutions as well,” said Mark.
“As well as the players that didn’t play we had other injuries on the pitch we were managing as well.
“We had to monitor some players, Kevin O’Connor played 90 minutes for the first time in a while, Shaleum Logan started for the first time since October.
“We were delighted with the contributions of everyone.
“I honestly wasn’t worried about the players we had missing.
“The whole squad will have a role to play between now and the end of the season.
“We are very pleased with today and as a squad we will learn from it.
“We can take confidence from knowing whatever permutation we have, we will be in good shape.”
Mark said the Christmas programme – Brentford played four games in 11 days and five in 18 – had meant Adam Forshaw, Harlee Dean and Jonathan Douglas missed the Port Vale match.
He said he would see how they recovered ahead of the game against Walsall next Saturday.
“The five Christmas games in a short period of time, with the weather and heavy pitches, our injuries are a result of that,” said Mark.
“The players will be well looked after.
“We will see how they shape up and how the squad looks next week.
“I have no worries.
“The boys that came in were fantastic.”
Mark said he hoped the Brentford players believed him when he told them they would get a chance.
“It really is a squad game.
“I like consistency but we may have to make changes at times.
“Shay and Kevin came in on the right side of defence and did a fantastic job.
“Alan moves in to midfield and did a great job.
“I’m very pleased with that.
“As long as the players understand they have a role to play, their chance will come.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton here.