TONY HAILS ‘BIG PERFORMANCE’
Defender says Sheffield United win shows Bees progress.
Brentford defender Tony Craig believes that Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Sheffield United showed just how far The Bees have progressed this season.
The victory made it seven points from three games against fellow promotion contenders in a week – after a win against Swindon Town and a draw with Preston North End – and saw The Bees jump to fifth in npower League One.
Tony is part of a defence that has kept four clean sheets in their last six games; something which the former Millwall man says is encouraging as he feels they are still getting to know each other’s games.
“It was a big performance from start to finish last Saturday,” said Tony, speaking to Bees Player yesterday.
“I think everybody played exceptionally well.
“It was nice to get a clean sheet against one of the big teams in this league.
“This shows we have come a long way because we have done well against the big teams this season.
“We would definitely have taken seven points at the beginning of the week and as a defender two clean sheets in three only conceding one goal is a bonus as well, and hopefully long may it continue.
“We are still a new defensive unit.
“We have played 20 odd games together which may seem like a lot but we are still learning each other’s games.
“It’s still a little bit of a work in progress but we are working on it day in day out in training.
“We are working on each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we are getting a good understanding now.”
“It’s always important to be in and around the top six.
“That’s our aim for this season to be there and thereabouts come the end of the season.
“We are there on merit at the moment and hopefully that can continue.”
Brentford’s next outing is a trip to Bradford in the FA Cup with Budweiser Second Round tomorrow.
Tony said the FA Cup is special for all players but he insisted that the team are not letting themselves get distracted by potential Third Round opponents prematurely.
“The FA Cup is very important for any player,” said Tony.
“It is a great cup with tradition and something you all want to be a part of.
“The Third Round is at stake and in the Third Round you can get a big boy.
“It would be a big thing for us but we need to get through Bradford first and then worry about the draw.
“If we got up there with the wrong attitude we will get beaten.
“You can’t go up there and take them lightly because we will come unstuck.
“We know what they are all about.
“We’ve gone through the set-plays and everything like that so we know what to expect and hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves.
“We want to do as well as possible in all cup competitions.
“We want to get to the Third Round in the FA Cup.
“Bradford is a hard test for ourselves and one which we are all looking forward to.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Tony Craig here.