Sam Saunders said Brentford’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over AFC Wimbledon was a good work out for everyone involved and value for money for those who watched.
The Club reduced adult ticket prices to just £5 to stand for last night’s Southern Section First Round match.
The Bees booked their place in the next round with a 5-3 win.
Farid El Alagui scored twice and Luke Norris, ben Nugent and Javi Venta got Brentford’s other goals.
Sam said Brentford started slowly but grew in confidence after taking the lead late in the first half and played superb football early in the second period.
He admitted they took their foot off the gas late on and allowed League Two Wimbledon to come back from 5-1 to 5-3 but overall it was a good night.
“We didn’t start well for the first 20 minutes both individually and as a team,” said Sam, speaking to Bees Player after the match.
“Then we started to hold the ball up front.
“Our pressing and defending got a lot better.
“We were a bit slack for the first 20.
“We picked up, got a goal and got a bit of confidence.
“The gaffer told us to pick up in the second half where we left off.
“Farid and Luke did very well, especially at the beginning of the second half; I thought they were on fire.
“We built our play off them.
“We got a few goals.
“We took our foot off at the end and it could have got a bit itchy if they had got another one.
“Overall it was a good work out and we are through to the next round.
“We have players that haven’t been playing, others coming back from injury and it’s a good game to get for people to come in and get match fitness against some good sides.
“All in all it was a good night and it was a fiver to get in, that’s good entertainment for a fiver.”
Many of the players involved in the win last night played in a 5-0 Capital One Cup defeat to Derby County last week and others in the 0-0 Sky Bet League One draw with Carlisle United on Saturday.
Sam, who played in both games, said it was good to get goals and hopefully it would continue.
“It was nice to win and nice to get goals,” he said.
“We haven’t scored as many as we would have liked so to get five and give the fans something to cheer about and celebrate is nice.
“It was a good evening.
“Personally, I haven’t played much this season so three games in a week is good for me.
“When you score goals the fans don’t mind you passing backwards and sideways.
“That’s not the case when it’s 0-0.
“Sometimes it will be frustrating; teams will make it hard to break them down.
“The goals came tonight and hopefully they will come.”
Sam was playing his 149th game for Brentford last night and has recently turned 30.
Whilst keen to point out he was not the oldest man in the line-up he said he enjoyed the responsibility of being one of the experienced players.
Development Squad striker Luke Norris started his first professional game while defender Aaron Pierre, who is also in the Under-21 squad, came on at left back.
Josh Clarke, also in the Development Squad, played against Derby last week and Sam was full of praise for the younger players.
“As one of the older players you do feel a responsibility to guide and give advice,” he said.
“It’s a nice thing to do.
“We have some good young players and good professionals.
“They want to learn and are willing to listen.
“It’s great for me to try and give them as much knowledge as I know.
“Luke was delighted and I am delighted for him.
“When he scored he picked me up and I thought he was going to throw me at one point.
“He has worked hard and scored goals in the Development Squad.
“He always trains hard.
“Josh played last week, Jake Reeves has come through and is playing every week and showing how good he is.
“Aaron did well tonight.
“I am pleased for the lads, they worked hard and got their chance tonight.”
Sam was part of the Brentford team which lost the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final to Carlisle in 2011 and said it was a competition The Bees wanted to win.
“It is a competition where it is good to get momentum, confidence and games, especially for those players who haven’t played,” he said.
“We will see where we go.
“We got to the final a couple of years ago and that was a great occasion.
“We are in it so we want to win it.
“Hopefully we can get another home draw and get through again.”
Brentford’s next game is a Sky Bet League One trip to Bradford City on Saturday.
Sam said Bradford had the ability to hurt The Bees if they were not at their best.
He added Brentford had to improve on their away record if they wanted to win promotion this season.
“It will be a tough game,” he said.
“They have a big following, decent budget and good players.
“If we are not on our game they will hurt us.
“We have to be up for it, stick to our game plan and try to get a decent result.
“I think our season will be determined by how we do against lesser sides.
“The better sides, like Bradford, will try and play football and we will do well.
“Our results the sides that sit and defend and make it difficult will determine our season.
“Our away form killed us last year and we have to improve on that.
“It’s not easy but we have to keep improving.
“The boys are hungry and if we keep improving I don’t think we will be far away.”
A full video interview with Sam Saunders is available here for Bees Player subscribers.