Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said he was “very pleased” with his team’s performance in their 3-1 Sky Bet League One win over Notts County.
The Bees went ahead in the first half when Adam Forshaw scored from the penalty spot.
County defender Haydn Hollis was sent off for bringing down Clayton Donaldson for the spot kick and Brentford made the extra man count.
Alan Judge scored either side of half time to give The Bees the win, despite a late goal from the visitors.
Mark, speaking after the match, said he felt his team started a little slowly but played positively and could have had a more comfortable win.
“I was very pleased,” said the Brentford Manager.
“I thought we lacked a yard of pace in the first 15 to 20 minutes but for the last half hour of the first half we were very good.
“We went in 2-0 up at half time and again, at the start of the second half, started on the front foot.
“We were very positive.
“We got to 3-0 and my only criticism, again, is that we should have been more clinical in front of goal.
“The boys pushed forward, we had a great tempo and there was some good quality.
“We could have had a couple more goals.
“We will look at the one we conceded, the boys pride themselves on their clean sheets, but it was a very good performance.”
Mark said the players clicked after a first 15 minutes where they were below their best.
He praised the way his players dealt with Notts County’s long ball up to the front with the midfield players picking up the loose balls.
“The players know their own standards,” said Mark.
“They demand it of themselves and they know what they have to do.
“We are OK for the first 15 minutes but not quite at our best.
“Then we clicked in to gear, then we were very good.
“We knew Notts County would play in to James Spencer and look to feed off the second balls.
“A lot of the kicks went to our left, Jake Bidwell and Tony Craig dealt with that.
“Jonathan Douglas picked up the loose balls and we got playing with Toumani Diagouraga and Adam Forshaw.
“After that we coped well.”
Mark said he had not seen the incident for the penalty again but felt his team could have had another soon after when Clayton Donaldson was bundled over.
He called for consistency in decision making for key incidents.
“I haven’t seen a replay of the penalty,” Mark said.
“I would like to see it again.
“There was one just after where Clayton has gone down.
“It was either a foul or he has dived.
“I was bemused by that.
“Those are key incidents for me, we need consistency.
“I would like to see both of those again.”
Brentford started with Stuart Dallas on the right and Clayton Donaldson in the centre of a front three.
That meant Marcello Trotta, who had been a regular part of the front three, was a substitute.
“Stuart Dallas has earned his call-up,” said Mark.
“He has done well in training and in Development Squad matches.
“Marcello has been outstanding for us but we have a big run of games coming up.
“Clayton Donaldson and Alan Judge are players who can play right, left or centre.
“I was pleased with their rotation and movement.
“They posed a real threat with energy, pace and quality.
“If you have Marcello Trotta and Will Grigg on the bench you know you’re in good shape.”
Mark was able to take Clayton Donaldson, Adam Forshaw and James Tarkowski off with the game won.
He also stuck with Toumani Diagouraga in midfield after he “played well” in the 0-0 draw against Sheffield United on Tuesday.
“I was looking after the players,” he explained.
“Harlee Dean stepped in and did well, he looked strong and dominant.
“George Saville got a good 35 minutes.
“It was a good day.
“Toumani came in on Tuesday and did well.
“If I am going to change the side it has to be for a good reason.”
The win was Brentford’s first for two weeks.
In between they had played three away games, picking up two points without scoring a goal.
Mark said there was no worries about the three away games and he wanted the players to go one better than last season, when they finished third in League One and lost the Play-Off Final.
“There was no nervousness, we had 81 points with seven games to go before today,” said Mark.
“The players are where they deserve to be.
“I want them to get over the line, go one step further than last year.”
The win leaves The Bees second in the table.
Rotherham United are the nearest challenges, six points behind.
Both teams have six games remaining, Brentford’s next is against Crawley Town on Tuesday, April 8.
“We are in good shape, we have 84 points with six games to go,” said Mark.
“The boys are in good form.
“They are playing the type of football that people want to see.
“It’s not cheap to come to football now.
“I hope they come here and enjoy themselves.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton here.