Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler described his team’s 1-0 win over Scunthorpe United as a “very solid, good performance”.
The Bees dominated against their relegation-threatened opponents and had numerous chances before Tom Adeyemi scored the winner with his first touch with 20 minutes to go.
Uwe said the number of attempts on goal his team had, 27, told the story of the match.
The Brentford boss said he went with an offensive team – and a midfield that contained Jake Reeves, Sam Saunders and Harry Forrester – and he was satisfied with the way they played.
“It was a very solid, good performance,” said Uwe, speaking to Bees Player after the match.
“When you have 27 attempts on goal, 17 on target, and you only win 1-0, that tells you the story.
“We were very offensive minded.
“That was the most offensive midfield I have selected since I have come to the Club.
“Jake Reeves made a very good impact; he switched the play, passed it well.
“The two wide players have not played for a while – Sam from the start and Harry, who is just back from injury.
“We knocked on the door, we created chances, we looked safe at the back.
“We restricted them in the first half to one chance.
“I am satisfied with the performance and with the win.”
Uwe said he chose the midfield he did as he felt those players could cause Scunthorpe problems.
The visitors came to Griffin Park with a defensive midfield player behind another four and full backs that barely ventured forward.
“We have nothing to lose and everything to win,” said Uwe.
“We felt we could cause them problems with the players we selected today.
“We knew we needed good set pieces with Sam Saunders, and crosses.
“We knew we needed the energy, running and dribbling of Harry Forrester.
“We needed the ability to switch the play that Jake Reeves gives us.
“He is never fazed to get on the ball.
“It is crucial we got him and the others in the team to control the game.
“That gives you the best chance to win the game.”
Brentford had dominated without scoring before Uwe brought on Stuart Dallas and Tom Adeyemi.
Both played a part in the winning goal.
Uwe said Stuart had shown what he could do.
“I am happy for the lads,” he said.
“Stuart Dallas is a role model for a young professional, coming from Northern Ireland, facing a different football culture.
“He adapted well and is fair ahead of where I thought he would be.
“I admire his professionalism, I admire his patience.
“We knew what we got, over time that will pay off; he will get more game time.
“Today he has shown what he can do.”
Against Walsall at Griffin Park last week Brentford dominated the first half in a similar manner but did not come up with a goal.
Uwe said his team kept up the tempo better in this match and the substitutes helped to do it.
“We said at half time we needed to keep the tempo high,” he said.
“Our substitutions helped us to do that.
“We knocked on the door and we got our goal.
“Jake Reeves played brilliantly but I felt the game was starting to go towards a battle for second balls.
“Tom adds more physicality and experience and power in those games.
“He is very, very important when we have to play that way.
“I encourage Tom to go in to the box and I told him if he stays with me he will score goals.
“He is doing that regularly now, he is getting regular goals.”
Brentford moved up to fourth in the table with a game in hand on the three teams above them and two on others in the race for promotion.
Their next match is at Stevenage on Tuesday night when The Bees will be able to welcome back Adam Forshaw, who was suspended, and Clayton Donaldson, who attended the funeral of his mother on Friday.
Uwe said the striker, who has 20 goals this season, was not in the right frame of mind to play against Scunthorpe and would be assessed ahead of the trip to Hertfordshire.
“We are in a nice position where most of our competitors have played two games more than us,” said Uwe.
“We are hanging right in there.
“We will take every game after the other.
“Our back four looks rock solid at the moment, we are not looking like conceding goals.
“I have to give credit to Liam Moore, who has come in and given us defensively stability.
“I have a nice problem to select the team against Stevenage.
“The players that came in today did really well and I have two top players available for Tuesday.”
Uwe Rösler’s full post-match reaction is available here for Bees Player subscribers.