Dean Smith felt tonight’s 3-0 Sky Bet Championship win over Wolverhampton Wanderers laid to rest some of the ghosts from The Bees recent defeats. Smith’s side went into the match at Griffin Park on the back of three straight league reversals but that run never looked like being extended to four once John Swift scored just before the break. Sergi Canos added a second ten minutes after the interval and Swift wrapped up the points midway through the half.
Speaking to Bees Player after the victory Dean said: “It was very satisfying because we have put the ghosts to rest from the last couple of results. We won’t deny that we have had a tough time and some of the goals that we have conceded haven’t been great. It was very pleasing to put on a performance like that and get the result. It was important to keep a clean sheet tonight because we have conceded a number of goals over the last few weeks. It was a really good performance and I was really pleased with everyone. That gives everyone a boost going into the weekend.”
The Bees had only scored one goal in their previous three matches but Dean was much happier with his side’s attacking intent over the 90 minutes on Tuesday night. Dean felt the timing of the goals was important and was pleased with some of the football that his side played after going ahead.
“I wanted them to start on the front foot because I thought that we could be a threat,” said Dean. “Sergi Canos, Alan Judge and John Swift are really good ball carriers and we wanted them to front up to the Wolves defenders and run at them. We had a number of chances before the goal and we wondered if it was going to be another one of those nights. It was a fortunate ricochet when it bounced back off Swift and we got the goal but it was no more than we deserved. David Button made a wonderful save just after half-time and then Sergi Canos scored a great goal. After that we were very good and could have scored a few more.”
Despite the recent defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County, Dean felt the performances had been improving. The Bees Head Coach said it was especially pleasing to put on a good display for the full match and get the rewards for that.
“It is right up there as a performance for me,” said Dean. “I thought we were good against MK Dons, Huddersfield and away at Preston North End but in terms of controlling the game I thought we were excellent today. We have been through a tough period of time against clubs with bigger budgets than us. We try and be as competitive as we can. Losing a man at Sheffield Wednesday made it difficult and I thought that we were competitive on Saturday until they brought their subs on and got their first goal. Today just shows what we can do when we put a 90 minute performance together.”
Bees Player subscribers can watch the full interview below