Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said he didn’t think his side’s Sky Bet Championship match against Sheffield Wednesday was a 0-0 game.
The Bees picked up their second goalless draw in three days against Wednesday last night, following on from a 0-0 against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Mark said his team were excellent in the first quarter of the match but didn’t get their rewards and then stood up strong when Wednesday penned them back.
Wednesday hit the post late in the first half while Andre Gray had a goal ruled out for offside for Brentford, one of a number of offside decisions Mark described as “tight”.
Brentford had the better of it again after half time and Mark said ultimately they needed to be more clinical in front of goal.
“I don’t think it was a 0-0 game,” said Mark, speaking after the match.
“We started really well in the first 25 minutes, I thought we were excellent, in fact, but didn't get the reward.
“Sheffield Wednesday were dangerous, we gave away a few set pieces and they had good delivery.
“We knew the threat they posed.
“They dominated the last 15 minutes of the first half but I was very pleased with the way we came out in the second half.
“It was a good end-to-end game of football.
“They had a couple of good chances, David Button was alive and alert, he held the ball well.
“There were a few tight offsides and we felt a there were one or two very close calls.
“There are fine margins and we need to be more clinical in front of goal.”
Mark said Brentford showed they could not be bullied last night.
Wednesday looked to play long at times, in to powerful striker Atdhe Nuhiu, but central defenders Harlee Dean and Tony Craig won the majority of the physical battles
The Brentford boss said it reiterated what his team had shown in a 3-1 win against Reading earlier this month, that they could deal with a physical challenge.
“It was a physical game and we have to deal with that,” said Mark.
“In the Reading game there was an aerial assault but the boys stood up.
“Tonight Harlee Dean and Tony Craig really stood up well, Jake Bidwell and Alan McCormack got around them.
“That was a really solid defensive performance.
“Teams can’t come here and look to beat us up.
“We play a certain well but we will stand up as well.”
Mark said Wednesday’s dominance of the later stages of the first half was because Brentford got a little loose in their defending from the front.
But it was something they fixed at half time.
He added he encouraged his players to be more positive in the second half and it almost got a result.
“Our defending starts from the front and we got a little loose in the last 15 minutes of the first half,” explained Mark.
“As a result they could hit the ball they wanted and it caused us problems.
“We were penned back and there were a lot of set pieces with good delivery.
“We dealt with that and recognised what had happened at half time.
“We looked to take care of the football.
“I encouraged them not to take the extra touch in the final third, don’t play back when we can play forward and get on the half turn.
“It was a solid performance but we are disappointed with a 0-0 draw.
“We shouldn't forget where we are and how far we have come.”
Brentford’s next game is away to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, October 25.
It will be the first home game for new Bolton boss Neil Lennon, who took over last week, his first job since leaving Celtic in the summer.
“We expect a difficult game,” said Mark.
“It will be their first home game under a new manager, an experienced manager, who has worked at a great club, in Celtic.
“He has been in the Champions League and has vast experience.
“The crowd will, I’m sure, want to give him a great reception.
“We have to recognise that, deal with their threat and look to impose our style on the game.
“Look at the game today – if we can move it quickly, get it in to the box on one or two touches and with runners from midfield, we look very dangerous.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton here.