Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said his players are ready for the final seven games of the Sky Bet Championship season as they enter the last international break of the campaign.
The Bees, along with all other teams in the top two divisions, do not have a game this weekend as there are international fixtures taking place.
They currently sit seventh in the table, one point outside the Play-Off places, six away from the automatic promotion spots and seven off the top.
The Bees went in to the break on the back of a 2-2 home draw from Millwall when they scored two goals in the final five minutes to get a point.
Mark said the break had come at a good time for his squad.
They trained Monday and Tuesday this week and will now come back in on Sunday, March 29, to prepare for their next match – the West London derby against Fulham.
“The break has come at a good time,” said Mark, speaking to Bees Player earlier this week.
“We had a few tired bodies at the weekend.
“The players worked hard in training, it was the normal, tough, session.
“They deserve their four days off.
“To work hard before the break is good psychologically.
“They are in a good place.
“They can have a deserved break and then come back ready for Fulham.
“We are ready for it and looking forward to the remaining seven days.”
Mark said there were a lot of good things to come from the draw against Millwall but also things to learn.
Brentford fell behind in the first half and then went two down after the break but Alex Pritchard scored a penalty and Moses Odubajo equalised at the death to give The Bees a point.
Millwall are 23rd in the table and Mark said teams scrapping for survival would provide tough opposition in upcoming games for all teams.
“We watched the game as a group,” said the Brentford boss.
“There were many good things but our decision making in the final third in the first half wasn’t good, we lost patience and put aimless balls in to the box.
“When we took care in the second half we had chances.
“We looked at winning first balls, picking up second balls, what we have done well all season.
“Millwall are scrapping for survival and there are no easy games.
“They are an established Championship side and we shouldn’t be disappointed we didn’t steamroller them.
“They pressed two up, played three high midfield players and took a risk.
“That meant if they won the ball they were in a dangerous area.
“We have to learn from that.
“I keep saying it but if you don’t learn you shouldn’t be playing.
“You shouldn’t learn the same thing every week but you have to look at what you could do better – decision making, movement, when to release the ball.
“You always look at what you can do better.”
Mark said every team in the Championship will be looking at points they could have taken but Brentford were only focussed on themselves.
The Bees fell out of the top six when Ipswich Town beat Watford last Saturday but they are still in the chase.
Mark said some Championship teams will be playing games they have to win and will play accordingly.
He said games and situations change quickly at this stage of the season and Brentford only had to worry about themselves.
“There will be some teams in the division that have to win,” said Mark.
“They will throw caution to the wind, draws are no good to them.
“We will face some teams scrapping for survival and we respect that.
“We are pushing for positives at the other end but it can change quickly.
“We are one point off fifth, it is very tight.
“A late goal for Ipswich moved us down but that is the nature of things.
“We will forget everyone else and if we get the right results we will be OK.
“Every team will bemoan dropping points.
“The games turn quickly and our job is only about Brentford.”
Mark said Lewis Macleod was now fit to play Development Squad football.
The midfield player joined The Bees from Glasgow Rangers during the January Transfer Window but has been out with a hamstring injury.
He has recovered and will play in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two game against Nottingham Forest at Griffin Park on Saturday, March 28.
“We can’t throw someone who has been out for three months in to a Championship promotion push,” said Mark.
“That would be a tough ask for anyone.
“He has trained really well, the medical team have done an outstanding job and we hope he will play for the Development Squad on Saturday.
“We have another behind-closed-doors game early next week and he will be involved in that and available for selection.
“Every injury is different.
“Lewis has come through, we have been monitoring his strength tests and speed testing.
“It has been a slow process but the welfare of the player is all important.”
Brentford’s next match is at Craven Cottage against Fulham next Friday, April 3.
The Bees will be looking to complete a Sky Bet Championship double over Fulham after beating them at Griffin Park in November.
In front of a sell-out crowd that night Brentford fell behind but Harlee Dean equalised and Jota struck a last minute winner.
“The players are very aware of what this game means,” said Mark.
“They showed it when Jota scored that goal and the atmosphere that night was magnificent.
“We know we are taking 6,000+ fans to Craven Cottage.
“That is a magnificent effort and we have to give them a performance to send them home happy.”
A full video interview with Mark Warburton is available here for Bees Player subscribers.