Tony Craig hailed Brentford’s showing in the 3-1 win against Crewe Alexandra yesterday as a “very professional away performance”.
The Bees won in Cheshire thanks to two goals from Alan Judge and one from Adam Forshaw.
Tony, speaking to Bees Player after the match, said Brentford’s first half performance must have been a “joy to watch”.
He said the players were a little disappointed they were only one up at the break but took the positives from the way they played and scored two early in the second period.
“It was a great team performance,” said Tony.
“It was a very professional away performance.
“In the first half it must have been a joy to watch.
“We played some exceptional stuff and it was a great game to be involved in.
“There was a slight disappointment it was only 1-0 at half time but we took the positives from it.
“Some of the stuff we played was of a great standard.
“We wanted a couple more but thankfully we got them early in the second half.”
Tony said Brentford’s goals came at crucial times and were “great goals”.
Alan Judge scored the first, smashing in to the top corner from 20 yards inside the first ten minutes.
He then made it two just after the break, scoring from 25 yards, before Adam Forshaw surpassed him by lashing in from 35 yards.
Tony said it was important for the defence to stay switched on while The Bees were attacking and admitted he should have scored when he met a cross unmarked from six yards late on.
“We had a lot of the ball, we played some great stuff,” said the defender.
“When you have so much of the ball you have to stay switched on, talk to others and concentrate.
“At the second half we wanted it to be the same again.
“Give Crewe credit, they came at us at the start of the second half.
“But we got goals at crucial times and played some good stuff again.
“We scored three great goals.
“There were others we should have scored, I include myself in that.
“I know I should have scored my header.
“Thankfully it doesn’t matter in the end.”
Crewe pulled a goal back from a disputed penalty.
Referee Tim Robinson decided an offence of handball had been committed when Harlee Dean headed away and the ball rolled down the arm of Clayton Donaldson.
Tony said it was unfortunate Brentford couldn’t keep Crewe out – Chuks Aneke scored from the spot – and would aim for a clean sheet next week.
“Defenders pride themselves on clean sheets,” he said.
“Unfortunately we haven’t got one today.
“Hopefully we can get one next time.
“As a defender I consider clean sheets very important.
“We have a very attacking side but I am paid to keep clean sheets.”
The game was Brentford’s first for two weeks.
They had seen two games postponed in the past seven days – at home to Crawley Town and away against Sheffield United – and Tony admitted it had been frustrating.
He said the players couldn’t wait to play and that showed at Crewe.
“The last two weeks have been frustrating,” said Tony.
“We did all the pre-match and analysis but it’s part and parcel of the game.
“The conditions have been very bad.
“We have done a lot of training and couldn’t wait to get out there.
“That showed today.”
Tony also had words for Brentford’s travelling fans, a band of more than 600.
“The fans were superb from start to finish,” said the defender.
“I’d like to thank them for coming this way to support us.
“It means a lot.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full interview with Tony Craig here.