Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said he expected Sky Bet Championship promotion-challengers Middlesbrough to come to Griffin Park full of confidence tomorrow but he believed his team could deliver a performance to enable them to get a result.
The Bees host third-placed Middlesbrough tomorrow, Saturday January 31, in a match that will kick-off at 12.15pm and be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The Teesside outfit beat Premier League champions Manchester City away from home in the FA Cup last week and are just a point off the top of the table.
Brentford are one point and two places worse off and either team could go to the top of the table with a win.
Mark said this was the sort of game players loved to be involved in.
“Middlesbrough will be full of confidence,” said the Brentford boss, speaking to Bees Player.
“They had a great result in the FA Cup; I am sure they will be pleased to go to Man City, play in that manner and get a 2-0 win.
“They have conceded the fewest goals in the league.
“They are well-organised, determined and disciplined.
“It will be a tough test for us but we are at home.
“Griffin Park will be packed and we have a consistency ourselves.
“We are really looking forward to the game.
“These are the games we want – a packed Griffin Park, TV cameras and against a team recognised as one of the best in the division.
“I hope it will be a classic encounter and that we can deliver a performance we are capable of and get the result.”
Brentford will be looking for a better afternoon than in the reverse game.
The Bees were beaten 4-0 in that match and produced, according to Mark, their worst half of football this season.
“We refer to that game time and time again, our one bad half of football,” said Mark.
“We weren’t playing well but were only 1-0 down at half time.
“The second half wasn’t the level.
“It wasn’t a good half but we learned from it and have used it.
“We can’t play like that again.
“The performances since then have been outstanding.”
Middlesbrough added former Brentford midfield player Adam Forshaw to their ranks this week.
Forshaw signed for Wigan Athletic for Brentford in September but moved on again less than five months later as Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka took him to the North East.
“I am sure Adam will figure,” said Mark.
“Adam is a quality player; Aitor knows what he is getting.
“I didn’t see it coming but I am sure he will do well.”
Brentford come in to the game on the back of three straight wins.
Their victory at Norwich City last week – which Mark described as “very pleasing” – followed up a win away at Brighton and Hove Albion and a home success against Rotherham United.
Mark said injured trio Alan Judge, Alan McCormack and Lewis Macleod were making progress and could be available soon.
He said he would have tough decisions to make when those players were available but he needed to be fair to players that had put together a trio of wins.
“The boys had an extra day off this week,” said Mark.
“They deserved that as they worked so hard at the weekend.
“Rest, recovery and family time are important.
“They trained well on Tuesday, well today [Thursday] and we will have a lighter session tomorrow to be ready for Saturday.
“Our injured players are coming along nicely.
“They have been outside this week.
“The medical team are working hard and the boys are working hard.
“It is pleasing to see we have players of that quality not in the 18.
“The squad is strong and those players will be back sooner rather than later.
“Then I have some tough choices to make.
“It is good to have the options but it is good to have consistency.
“We have kept the same team for the last three games and have won them all.
“I need to be fair to the players, if they deliver and train hard, I need to recognise that.”
The January Transfer Window will close early next week.
The Bees have signed Chris Long, on loan from Everton, and Lewis Macleod and Mark said he did not need to perform major surgery on the squad.
“We have a very strong squad,” he said.
“They are doing well, they are in a good position in the league, they are fit and hungry.
“We have cover in place.
“It makes no sense to me to replace one of our key players now.
“We have added quality – Chris Long has done well, he is fit and has a desire to score goals.
“There is no major surgery to be done.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Mark Warburton here.