Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler said he was “very happy” after watching his side progress to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Southern Section Quarter Finals.
Sam Saunders came off the substitute’s bench to score the only goal of the game as The Bees beat Crawley Town 1-0 at Griffin Park.
Uwe made five changes to the team which beat Crawley 2-1 in an npower League One clash on Saturday and the Brentford Manager said his line-up produced a “very good” performance.
He said his team created plenty of chances and he just wished they would put games to bed sooner.
“I was very happy,” said Uwe, speaking after the match.
“We had a different line-up today and I was very, very pleased with the way we started the game.
“We should have been up by two or three goals before they had their first chance.
“We had three chances to run in on the keeper in the first half, I think, and Antonio German did so again in the second half.
“There was a good header from Harlee Dean saved on the line.
“My players do not always make it easy for my heart.
“It would be nice to be two up.
“Overall, I think we had to fight to the end.
“It was nice to have Sam back after injury.
“He used the 45 minutes well.
“We need goals from Sam Saunders and Harry Forrester; this will take pressure off our strikers.
“In general, the back four was good.
“Kevin O’Connor used his experience and calmed it down when it needed to be calmed down.
“It was a very good team performance.”
Uwe said the players that had come in to his team had given him plenty to think about before he names his line up for Brentford’s next match, an npower League One game away to Scunthorpe United on Saturday.
He said he wanted to keep all the players at his disposal match fit and added the Brentford squad understood his methods.
“I said from day one we had a thin squad but, quality wise, one that is very interesting and exciting,” said Uwe.
“We are happy to manage that squad.
“The players showed again today that football is a squad game, it is not about 11 or 12 players.
“We want to be successful in all competitions, we showed that today with the way we performed and these players have put themselves in a good position for Saturday.
“Having had a year with me, I think the players understand better what I like to do and I use every opportunity to explain that we can’t use 12 or 13 players for half a season and then pick one who has not played for half a year.
“We have to make sure we keep everybody on their toes and we keep everyone match fit as much as we can.
“I am a manager that the players can talk to about performances in training and matches and there will be some interesting decisions for Saturday.”
One Brentford player who is not available at the moment is striker Farid El Alagui.
He was stretchered off during Saturday’s win over Crawley with a knee injury.
Uwe said it was still not known how long he will be out but it would be “a while”.
“Farid, unfortunately, will be out for a while,” he explained.
“We still have not diagnosed his injury.
“It is difficult because the knee is swollen, there is fluid in there.
“All we can say is there will be a lengthy period where he will be on the side-line.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Uwe Rösler here.