Brentford Manager Mark Warburton hailed an outstanding performance as his side beat Nottingham Forest away from home last night.
The Bees took the points with a 3-1 win at The City Ground, their second straight victory after a defeat of Derby County on Saturday.
Jon Toral lashed in the opener just past the quarter hour and Andre Gray latched on to a terrible back pass from Eric Lichaj to make it two before half time.
Gray then won a penalty just after the break that Alex Pritchard converted and although Forest responded Brentford were solid defensively.
Michail Antonio pulled one back inside the final ten minutes but Brentford had done enough to take the win.
Mark, speaking after the match, said his side could have had more – Jonathan Douglas steered a shot wide from close range and Forest goalkeeper Karl Darlow made two great saves to deny Gray – and there were things to learn.
But he said his side’s performance overall was very pleasing.
“We produced a good display at the weekend and it was important for us to produce a level of consistency,” said Mark.
“I thought we were outstanding in the first half.
“We played at our tempo, moved the ball very well and deserved the lead we had at half time.
“We could have had more goals, we played very well.
“Jonathan Douglas was outstanding getting forward, Andre Gray terrorised their two centre halves.
“We could have had more goals and it is important to recognise that.
“We then conceded a goal and got ten metres deeper so we will learn from that.
“It was a very pleasing performance tonight.”
Brentford started with an attacking midfield trio – Toral, Pritchard and Alan Judge – behind Gray with Douglas and Toumani Diagouraga sitting slightly deeper.
Forest played with a lone striker, Michail Antonio, in the first half and used central defender Michael Mancienne in a defensive midfield role and Mark said he wanted Toral to play on him.
Mark said he felt Gray could use his pace and power against the home defence and said the striker produced his best performance in a Brentford shirt.
“We looked at how we wanted to play, for this game we wanted Jon Toral to press on and do a similar job to the one he did against Derby,” said the Brentford boss.
“We had Toumani and Dougie in behind.
“We are keen to play one behind two in the midfield and be attacking but sometimes it has to be two behind one.
“They had Mancienne just in front of the back four and we wanted Jon on him, he was outstanding in doing that.
“He had great energy and awareness; he took responsibility and was clever with the ball.
“He scored a great first goal as well.
“We felt we could get at them and that Andre could work the channels.
“He was outstanding tonight.
“It was the best I have seen Andre play, I am delighted for him and he will keep getting better.
“Alan Judge and Alex Pritchard did their jobs as well, we move fluidly but we have to do our jobs defensively as well when the ball breaks down.
“In the first hour I was very, very pleased.”
Mark said his defence – Moses Odubajo, Harlee Dean, Tony Craig and Jake Bidwell – were also outstanding, and he praised goalkeeper David Button as well as Stuart Dallas, who came on as a makeshift right back.
“David Button has been getting better every week,” he said.
“His distribution is an important part of what we do.
“Tony Craig and Harlee Dean were outstanding, Antonio is a tough competitor but they stood up well.
“Jake and Moses were outstanding and Stuart Dallas came on and did well.
“There wasn’t a poor performance all-round the park.”
Odubajo was taken off with a hip injury while Toral had a cut to his head but Mark said both should be fit for Brentford’s next match, away at Millwall on Saturday.
Mark said Toral, who scored his second goal in ten days after finding the net in defeat at Bolton Wanderers, produced a very strong performance.
“Jon had a cut and cramped a bit at half time,” he explained.
“He has done very well for us.
“I mentioned a few weeks ago how well he was doing and that he deserved a start.
“He maybe should have started at Bolton but did on Saturday and did very well.
“He is 19 and produced a very, very strong performance.”
Mark said Gray and Odubajo were particularly dangerous when they were angry.
He said the way they ran at defences created chances for them and others.
“Andre and Moses have to get angry,” said Mark.
“When they get angry they are a handful.
“Moses uses his pace and drives at the defence, as you saw for the first goal.
“He commits players, they have to come tight and narrow and we get bodies forward so we have opportunities.
“I am delighted we took the goals and we could have had two or three more goals in the first half.
“The third goal was important and we could have had a fourth when Andre powered through.
“The third came at a good time but I thought it was fully justified and deserved.”
Mark also praised Brentford’s travelling fans.
Around 1,000 made the journey, helped by the Club offering free coach travel.
“Our fans, again, were outstanding tonight,” said Mark.
“There was a tremendous atmosphere.
“There won’t be many sets of fans 3-0 down chanting like that.
“Our supporters gave great backing, the players appreciate it.
“I keep thanking our supporters but the thanks are genuine from all of us.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton here.