Brentford manager Uwe Rösler said he is happy with his side’s preparations for the trip to Crawley on Saturday but has warned there can be no complacency.
After three games in a week last week Uwe said he has been glad of the full week to prepare for this Saturday’s trip to the Checkatrade Stadium to take on Ritchie Barker’s Crawley.
The Bees go into the game on the back of three straight wins in Sky Bet League One following victories over Colchester United, Bristol City and Shrewsbury Town.
Uwe said that the group is well prepared but that, despite the good run of results, nobody can rest if they want to retain their place in the starting XI.
“Monday was good for everybody to recharge their batteries and Tuesday we had a good training session,” said Uwe.
“We have the same rhythm as usual and Thursday was a good day’s training so I think we are well prepared.
“Having a week to prepare for games has worked for us in the past and it will work for us in the future.
“We have done our homework on the opposition and there are always small details about how we want to address the game.
“In general we have a good rhythm so there is no reason why we should make changes.
“The competition is there in training and nobody can rest.
“If I get the impression that somebody has taken their foot off the pedal and somebody else really impresses in training then I will have to make changes.
“We have a good dynamic in the group at the moment and with the results we have had that helps.
“There is no difference in training now and from the weeks when we weren’t winning.
“I was very confident going into the Stevenage game but that is football.
“We are all humans we are not machines.
“The mood is better now and everybody is more relaxed but we are still working hard.
“We are still concentrating on the job at hand and that is very important.”
Brentford have won all three competitive games played against Crawley Town; each of which came last season.
A 2-1 league victory at Griffin Park in October was followed up three days later by a 1-0 home Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory.
The Bees also won an extraordinary game at Broadfield’s Stadium in late February which saw Crawley reduced to ten-men and The Bees miss a penalty in the opening 90 seconds.
Clayton Donaldson and Sam Saunders netted for The Bees on that occasion as The Bees came out 2-1 victors.
This campaign Crawley sit 12th in Sky Bet League One three points outside the Play-Off pictures and Uwe believes that Saturday will be a tough test for his side but believes that The Bees travelling support can help his side over the line.
Brentford sold out their initial advanced allocation of 900 tickets and around 1500 fans are expected to make the journey to the Checkatrade stadium.
For Uwe, the fans’ backing has been fantastic and he has called on them to support his side again in West Sussex on Saturday.
“All the Crawley games last season, especially the away game, were on the edge and we could easily have dropped points,” said Uwe.
“Crawley have a very good manager who works well with limited resources.
“They are able to bring people in, especially on loan, who other people don’t think of and they perform for him.
“They have a good balance in their team and I have respect for our opposition but I know we can beat them.
“It will be tough.
“The supporters are backing me in general.
“It was a fantastic atmosphere at the weekend.
“I said to the players that we are responsible to spread the dynamic from the pitch over to the stands and that is what we did on Saturday.
“We had 25 attempts on goal and we really went for it, especially in the first-half.
“Even when we were leading 1-0 in the last 15 minutes we went for the second and the third goal.
“Even though we didn’t succeed it was still an attacking performance.
“That pleased our supporters and the atmosphere was brilliant.
“Away from home our hardcore fans have been through thick and thin with us in the last two and a half year.
“I have highlighted on many occasions that we have had fantastic away support.
“This is a sort of derby for us and I am looking forward to it.
“It will be a tough game but a manageable one if we are on top of our performance level.”
Uwe said he has decisions to make on the future of The Bees players currently out on loan in Sky Bet League Two as their deals expire soon.
Stuart Dallas and Luke Norris are both on loan at Northampton at the moment while Paul Hayes is with Plymouth.
Luke has scored three in three appearances for Northampton and Uwe said that if he continues that run then he will get opportunities at Griffin Park.
Overall Uwe is happy with the depth of his squad but admits that injuries can also disrupt his future plans.
“Most likely Stuart will stay there for another month and then he will prepare himself for Christmas and January which is a busy period,” said Uwe.
“Unless something massive happens at the weekend he will stay for another month at Northampton.
“They have come back with very good reports on Luke Norris.
“This is his first taste of league football and he is full of energy and enthusiasm.
“He has done very well for himself and also for Northampton.
“His goals to games ratio is very impressive and the question now is whether he can keep that level up week in week out.
“If he can do that then he has a future here at Brentford.
“He is enjoying himself and we will evaluate his situation when it comes nearer to the 15th November which is when his loan deal expires.
“I have had no contact with Paul or his agent.
“We will have that at the end of the week.
“We have heard nothing from Plymouth or from his agent so I can’t give you any news on that.
“I’ve said from day one that I am happy with the squad.
“Injuries played their part meaning that we had to change too often but now we have got some consistency in terms of players being able to train and play week in week out.
“We have to manage one or two but I will not go into the details.
“One or two did not train for the full session today and I don’t know how they will be after Saturday or in a week’s time.
“At the moment things are going fine but you know how football is.”
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