Brentford manager Mark Warburton is wary of a Wolverhampton Wanderers backlash as Kenny Jackett’s side come to Griffin Park on the back of three straight defeats.
Wolves were amongst the early season pace-setters but a run of just two wins in 10 has seen them drop out of the play-off places.
Jackett’s side are one of only two sides to have beaten Brentford at Griffin Park under Warburton and the Brentford boss is not underestimating their threat to The Bees four match winning run.
Speaking to Bees Player ahead of the match Mark said: “We are well aware of the threat they pose.”
“Wolves have a very experienced manager and some very talented players and if we are not on our form we will pay the price.
“They are a wounded animal right now having lost 5-0 and 3-0.
“That is not typical for Kenny Jackett’s teams and the players in that squad.
“We are well aware of their threat and they will be keen to come out and make an impression and show the manager what they can do.
“We have to negate that threat and impose ourselves on the game.
“I say that every week but we need to go out and impose our style of play and dominate possession.
“Is Nouha Dicko fit, we don’t know; will he play Dicko and Graham, we don’t know; will Dave Edwards play deeper, possibly; will it be Bakary Sako left and James Henry right, we don’t know.
“That is the same as us, we have got options here and our side is not set yet.
“The way the boys trained this morning has caused us more selection problems but we have been fairly consistent in our selection and we will look at what we think is the best option for Saturday and use the squad accordingly.
“I’m sure they will have one or two changes for us and we will have to deal with it.”
If Wanderers come into the game in mixed form then The Bees run of form in recent weeks has been at the complete opposite end of the spectrum.
Mark Warburton’s side are in the midst of their best run in the second tier since the 1950’s and last Friday’s 2-1 win over Fulham was their fourth straight league win, a win which elevated The Bees to fifth in the Sky Bet Championship.
Mark admitted that the way his side came back against their fierce local rivals in front of a packed Griffin Park made Friday’s win all the more pleasing and he is hopeful there can be a similar atmosphere for the visit of Wanderers tomorrow.
“The players knew the importance of the Fulham game but it is not until you play in it that you really realise it,” said Mark.
“It wasn’t until kick-off that you saw just how intense the rivalry is and what the meaning to the supporters was.
“It was great to give them that win.
“It was a good performance but we didn’t get that reward before half-time but to come back from 1-0 down that way was pleasing for the players let alone for the supporters.
“It was a good evening all-round.
“Griffin Park under lights with a packed house is fantastic.
“The Sky cameras being there was the icing on the cake but now we have to get back to business again.
“Hopefully we will have a packed Griffin Park and give them something to cheer about.
“If we can keep the crowd happy and keep them cheering we are doing something right and will be in good shape.”
Off the back of four straight league wins the mood in the Brentford camp is understandably good.
For Mark nothing indicates that better than the attitude and quality that has been shown in training this week.
With such a strong squad of players at his disposal Mark sees players staking a claim for a starting spot in every training session.
The Bees manager said that desire to make the starting XI is only helping to raise the performances of both individuals and the team.
“Thursday was a good training session,” said Mark.
“I spoke to Sam Saunders who has been here four years plus and the difference from where we are now to four-and-a-half years ago is chalk and cheese.
“Some of the play this morning was excellent; we have some really talented players here now.
“They are hungry and it’s about the conviction and the self-belief and consistency in our performance.
“The boys are using training every day to show me things.
“Tommy Smith trained outstandingly well on Thursday, likewise Jon Toral, Sam Saunders, Toumani Diagouraga and Jonathan Douglas.
“They all realise it’s a strong squad now and there is strong competition for places.
“Right now there will be some boys who are disappointed who can’t make the 18 who a year and a half ago would have walked into our team.
“That is where we are and that is all credit to the owner and Frank McParland and his recruitment team.
“They are professionals and we have to keep reminding them how good they can be.”
Despite their positive start to the season Mark has warned his side that they cannot afford to let their standards drop or they will be punished.
For Mark the one time that standards did fall this season was the 4-0 defeat away at Middlesbrough and Brentford’s boss believes that defeat shows what happens if you take your foot off the gas in this division.
“It is important for us just to go about our business,” said Mark.
“I know it sounds like a bit of a basic comment but we need to make sure we are prepared for every game.
“The games come thick and fast.
“There are no easy games whether you are playing the top or the bottom.
“We have got to make sure that we are prepared for it and move forward from there.
“Come May I would love for there to be a queue a mile long outside the training ground because the players have achieved what I know they can achieve.
“Right now it is about going about our business and preparing as best we can.
“We have played 18 games and we have had one bad half of football.
“The first-half at Middlesbrough was fairly cagey I felt and then there was a 30-year wonder-strike from Grant Leadbitter and we go in 1-0 down.
“We were still in the game but then we had one bad half where our standards did drop.
“Our intensity and tempo dropped and our quality and care on the ball was below par and it was 4-0 although it could have been six.
“We have to appreciate that’s the standard we are playing in now.
“If we can maintain our standards we have shown that we can do well: any slight drop and we are in trouble.”
Ahead of last Friday’s match against Fulham the club held its 125th Anniversary Dinner at the Hurlingham Club in South-West London.
Mark and a number of the coaching staff were in attendance at the gala event joined by former players, celebrities and supporters.
The one thing that stood out from the dinner for Mark was the passion of the fans and staff for the club, something which the players, in the form of the 125th Anniversary video, were reminded of ahead of Friday’s derby with Fulham.
“It was a lovely dinner and a lovely setting and that was all great,” said Mark.
“What I didn’t really realise was the passion for the club from a variety of people.
“The club has a long history with highs and lows and you heard that passion.
“There was also the family aspect of the club; a variety of supporters spoke about their family links to the club.
“It showed a real family spirit and the fantastic community side to the club.
“That came through loud and clear and the future is bright when you have people that passionate supporting the club.
“We showed the players part of the film shown that night before the Fulham game and said that this is what it means.
“We showed them the players being inducted into the Hall of Fame, we showed them the highs and lows and the fire at the stadium etc.
“It is important and people like Kevin O’Connor, who have been here a while, can talk to the players and they can see if and hear it for themselves.
“We played it before the Fulham game and that worked out quite well.”
Bees Player subscribers can listen to the full interview here