Brentford manager Mark Warburton was under no illusion on the task set to his players in Saturday’s televised Championship fixture at Derby County.
“In my mind Derby County are a Premier League set up,” said Mark.
“If you look at their stadium, training ground, structure, for me they are a Premier League club.
“They were desperately unlucky last year, but they've come back strong this year.
“You have these blips, four or five games where you’re not quite at your best, but they’ve got a very strong squad.
“But we’re on a great total; it’s very tight and it’s about putting a run together, and that might constitute two or three games, not six or seven.”
Mark remarked on the away support at Fulham and the crowd’s reaction at Griffin Park on Monday, which saw Brentford come back from two goals down to snatch a draw against Nottingham Forest.
“You saw the difference it made at Fulham,” said Mark.
“Harlee Dean walked off the pitch and his comment was – and we used it for the post match team talk – ‘imagine playing in front of that every week’, and that is what they are aspiring to achieve.
“The level of vocal support really does help; there are some big clubs we’re going to.
“Don’t forget, we’ve taken a jump up from League One last year to the Championship; it’s great we are where we are, but sometimes you can lose sight of the fact the players are working so hard and need the support, and there will be some setbacks.
“As we saw on Monday going 2-0 down, that’s when we need it more than ever.
“On Saturday we’ll go there, relish the challenge, hopefully deliver the right performance; if we do that, we’ll get the right result.”
The Championship promotion race continues with eight sides in with a genuine chance of elevation to the Premier League.
“There are no easy games in this division,” said Mark.
“I’ve talked to a few other managers and a couple of other people involved in the game, and last year in League One, you maybe get away with being just off your best, rest one or two, and get away with it.
“Not this league; if you’re slightly below par you get punished, Middlesbrough away was a prime example.
“When we have dipped our standards slightly, and it’s human nature, then you do get hurt in this league.”