Mark Warburton thinks the recent run of Sky Bet Championship fixtures has put a big strain on some members of his squad.
Saturday’s visit of Reading takes the recent run of games to six in 21 days ahead of another international break next week.
For Mark it is not only the number of games that has taken its toll on players but the intensity and quality of those games.
This is where Mark believes individual recovery strategies and squad depth become key in making sure the squad is as prepared as it can be for Saturday’s visit of Reading.
Speaking to Bees Player ahead of Saturday’s fixture against The Royals Mark said: “You have to look at training generically and individually.
“There are certain things as a group that we have to do in terms of re-hydration and nutrition but individually certain players have different demands.
“When you look at the work rate of certain players it is almost a case of wrapping them in cotton wool to make sure they are ready for the next game.
“For us it is about making sure we look at every angle and aspect of preparation to ensure that when they do cross the line they are in the best possible shape.
“It is tough and you have to look at the quality of the games.
“Tuesday night was a good quality game; there were two high quality teams playing at high-intensity and you had some players running 12 or 13 kilometres.
“There were big distances covered, lots of explosive movements and there was a high quality and focus during the game.
“It was very draining and demanding and we have to be sure that we give the right recovery for the appropriate players.
“You want to use the squad as best you can.
“The other night I gave Alex Pritchard a rest after his recent schedule and Toumani Diagouraga came in and did really well.
“Marcos Tebar, Jon Toral and Nick Proschwitz have been training extremely well.
“The boys want to come in but at the same time we have got a winning formula.
“Many would say to you that can’t change a winning team so it is about getting the balance right.
“We need to look at how the boys train, how their stats appear and what the medical department say and then put all those together to come up with the right combination.
“The medical and conditioning staff are vital as they maintain the players.
“From re-hydration, urine tests, screening, treatment, gym work and massage everything is done here to prepare the players.
“Sometimes it appears like a chore but everything is done to ensure the best preparation.
“We have got to look for and find the margins because, even last night, there were some surprising results and, on their day, any one team can beat another team.
“We have to make sure as best we can that results on those days go our way and we take maximum points.”
Ahead of Saturday’s visit of Reading to Griffin Park Mark is hopeful his side can use the positives, as well as the disappointment, from Tuesday’s defeat to Watford to spur them on.
The Bees fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road thanks to a controversial penalty converted at the second attempt by Odion Ighalo and a Matej Vydra wonder-strike which cancelled out Jonathan Douglas’ leveller.
Mark believes that the way The Bees more than matched a Watford side who sit in third place level on points with the league leaders can give his side a lot of confidence moving forward.
“We had analysis on Thursday where we always review the game and look forward to our next opponents,” said Mark.
“This morning we looked at what problems Watford posed for us.
“I thought they were two very similar teams in terms of layout.
“They had Daniel Tozser coming short and we had Jonathan Douglas coming short.
“The centre-backs were going wide and we had the full-backs pushing high.
“They were two very similar set-ups.
“Matej Vydra posed us a problem in the first 15-20 minutes dropping into the hole but then Toumani and Jonathan dealt with that extremely well and I thought we dominated long spells of the game.
“We came out second-half and I think there was only one team in it.
“We got the equaliser and we were in good shape so the hardest thing for us was the disappointment felt by the players and supporters because we deserved something out of that game.
“It was a wonderful strike that won the game but in our opinion the turning point was just before half-time.
“You can talk about injustice and righting a wrong but the fact is that they came out really well in the second-half on Tuesday.
“We played really well and created some really good chances but we have to be more clinical.
“If there is a criticism of all of us it is that we need to be more clinical in front of goal.
“We have created some great chances against solid defences in good quality teams.
“The boys have seen the impact that they can have now on the likes of Bournemouth, Norwich, Leeds United and Watford.”
Reading visit Griffin Park sitting 10th in the Sky Bet Championship following their goal-less midweek draw against Leeds United.
Nigel Adkins side haven’t won in their last four games and are one point ahead of Brentford ahead of their first visit to Griffin Park in over a decade.
Mark Warburton is expecting another tough game on Saturday but he is hopeful that his side can impose their style on the game and secure back-to-back home wins in a week.
“It will be another tough game on Saturday against Reading,” said Mark.
“We think they will be a 4-4-2 and they are a well organised team.
“It will be a high quality, competitive game and hopefully we come out with the right result.
“They will be a tough test.
“We know about Simon Cox and Glenn Murray up front with their cleverness and one dropping in the hole and the other more physical.
“They have an attacking full-back in Jordan Obita and we know about Oliver Norwood being the playmaker.
“Alex Pearce is a real aerial presence at centre-half so we know about that but they know about us too.
“We will look to do what we do best and if we impose ourselves on the game hopefully we will be fine.”
The Sky Bet Championship is traditionally viewed as one of the most competitive leagues in Europe and that is no exception this season.
A win on Saturday could move The Bees to within three points of the promotion spots while a defeat could leave Brentford as low as 18th in the table.
With so few points separating teams Mark knows that a positive run of results can see the side catapult up the league table.
“I spoke a lot to Malky McKay and Sean Dyche and guys like that who know the division really well,” said Mark.
“You had a situation last year where you win two games and you move from 17th to 9th.
“It is that type of division.
“It is very tight and the margins are fine as we speak about week after week.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all because if you put a run together in this league you can move up the division very quickly as you saw last year with the likes of Bournemouth and Brighton.
“We have to heed that and give ourselves the chance to get as many points on the board as possible and to see where we are.”
After Saturday’s match against Reading there is another international break which will give players time to recover and, in some cases, return to full fitness.
A number of Brentford’s injured players are close to full fitness and Mark said it is a question of when to re-introduce them to the first-team set-up.
An Under-21 league match has been arranged for next Saturday at Griffin Park against Huddersfield Town which gives Mark the option to re-introduce players to a match situation after their lay-off.
However he also is wary of the need to give players time off to rest after what has been a punishing schedule.
“Both Stuart Dallas and Nico Yennaris are training,” said Mark.
“We will see how they shape up on Friday because it is important to get it right on the day before a game.
“As with all players we don’t want to rush them back too soon.
“If they are ready and can be involved at the weekend then fantastic but if not then we won’t rush them back.
“The international break gives us a long time to get them fit.
“With the ones who are on the fringe of being back you think about could they get 20 minutes and then work in the international break?
“Some of the boys who have had a heavy schedule will have three or four days off so it is about getting the balance right.
“It will be generic in some aspects but we have to look at the individual as well.
“Some of the players have played every game so how best do we give them the break to recharge the batteries and come back ready for the Wigan Athletic game.
“A lot of the boys are training really well so it is too easy to tell them to come in and play that game.
“If you do that then they will have the hard training next week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday they will be preparing for the game, Sunday is off and the first-team are back in on Monday so they haven’t had any break.
“If we do use those boys then how best do we use them so that they get the right type of break to recharge and at the same time get the appropriate game time.
“It is not generic it is about looking at every case individually and hopefully making the right decisions for the right individuals.”
One player who won’t be getting a rest over the international break is midfielder Alex Pritchard.
The loan player from Tottenham Hotspur has been called up to the England Under-21 squad for their Euro 2015 Qualifying play-off against Croatia.
Alex featured from the bench in England’s final two qualifiers against Lithuania and Moldova and Mark is hopeful he can see more action with the Young Lions this time.
“I understand that Alex Pritchard caught the eye,” said Mark.
“He is a technically gifted player, he has done very well for us and he has fully justified the call-up.
“I am delighted for him that he impressed the staff.
“He will want more game time because I think trip one was him getting used to the culture and the environment of the Under-21s.
“Now having done that hopefully he will get more game time, he will come back again having gone to the next level and we will see the best of Alex.”