Brentford Manager Mark Warburton hailed a “very good performance” as his side beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 yesterday afternoon.
The Bees made it five Sky Bet Championship wins on the bounce, and climbed to third in the table, with the victory.
They went ahead in the first half when Alan Judge scored and Stuart Dallas came off the substitute’s bench to make it two in the second period.
Andre Gray and Jota added late goals as The Bees secured the win.
Mark said he knew Wolves would play in a certain way after losing their last two games 3-0 and 5-0 and praised the way his team dealt with it, particularly in the second half.
He said Wolves, who won Sky Bet League One ahead of Brentford last season – picking up a 3-0 victory at Griffin Park in the process, are a talented team and called on his players to maintain their consistency.
“The boys played very well,” said Mark, speaking after the win.
“We knew Wolves were coming here off the back of two heavy defeats.
“They are a talented team with an experienced manager and we knew what threat they would pose.
“It was a good first half, where we got the goal, and then a big second 45.
“We were very, very good in the second half.
“We moved the ball well; looked dangerous going forward and some performances from front to back were very strong.
“It was a good win.
“We are playing big teams in the Championship and Wolves came here and beat us 3-0 last year.
“That was a very good performance from us today.
“These are tough games and we have to apply ourselves.
“There is no lack of self-belief but we have to recognise the level we are playing at, there are no easy games.
“We have to maintain a level of consistency.
“If we recognise what we do well and are consistent, hopefully we can be in a good place at the end of the season.”
Mark said his team were able to play better after half time as they had the lead and Wolves had to alter their plans slightly.
Both sides started with three in the centre of midfield and Mark said Wolves tried to push Toumani Diagouraga back.
He said he wanted his side to be offensive and they were able to be so after taking the lead.
“The goal made a big difference,” said Mark.
“They were 1-0 down and had to come and press us, they have to score
“That gave us a bit more freedom in behind.
“Until that point they were compact, there was space on the wings but we didn’t exploit it enough in the first 20 minutes.
“They are a talented team with a shrewd manager.
“We have got to be careful of getting carried away, if we are below our level we will get hurt, that is our message every week.
“They set up as we expected, we thought they would have one deep player in midfield and two in front and I think they did that.
“They tried to push Toumani back and we wanted to be offensive in there.”
Mark also praised the way his team defended.
“We wanted to give them nothing,” he explained.
“Any team that has suffered heavy defeats is looking for something to get the confidence going.
“If they get something they can come on and hurt you.
“We wanted to make sure we gave them nothing, still get on the ball and want it but give them nothing.
“Defensively we were very good.”
Mark kept an unchanged XI after his team beat Fulham last week, adding it to victories over Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Millwall
“Sometimes I think coaches and managers are looking for changes,” he said.
“You then ask yourself why you made it.
“The XI deserved to play.
“What could I say to a player left out who asks why?
“It is all about the squad, Sam Saunders gave us energy off the pitch today, and others are doing the same.”
Mark said there was still more to come from his side, who are a point off the top of the Championship.
He said they wanted to build on the success of promotion last season, having reacted well after missing out in 2012/13, losing to Doncaster Rovers in a winner-takes-all final day of the season clash and then to Yeovil Town in the League One Play-Off Final.
“They are a young team with character and quality,” said Mark.
“A lot of them learned from Doncaster and Yeovil, came on through last season and gained promotion.
“They felt success last season and they want it again.
“We have a young team; Alan Judge is an old man at 25.
“There is more to come.”
Mark said he was aware of the position his team were in, only behind second-placed Ipswich Town on goal difference, but was taking one game at a time and was only now looking at the trip to Huddersfield Town next Saturday.
“We are in a good place,” he said.
“We are not losing sight of reality.
“We are third in the Championship one point off the top.
“There are still a number of games to go.
“We reach halfway against Ipswich on Boxing Day.
“Our only focus is next week.
“We want to deliver another good performance at Huddersfield.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton here.