MX23RW : Tuesday, February 25 21:46:18| >> :600:1478984:1478984:
Feb 8, 2020 at 3pm UK at ​Griffin Park
Attendance: 12,285
Brentford
3-2
Middlesbrough
Jeanvier (24'), Mbeumo (60'), Watkins (87')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Wing (58'), Fletcher (63')

Thomas Frank salutes Brentford's "coolness and discipline"

Thomas Frank salutes Brentford's
© Reuters
The Bees were twice pegged back at Griffin Park.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank believes his side's coolness under pressure will be crucial in their bid to secure promotion.

Ollie Watkins struck three minutes from time to snatch a 3-2 victory in a pulsating clash against Middlesbrough at Griffin Park – their first home win over Boro since 1938.

Boro levelled through Lewis Wing and Ashley Fletcher after Julian Jeanvier and Bryan Mbeumo twice gave the hosts the lead.

But Watkins' 20th goal of the campaign sealed the win and kept the Bees hot on the heels of the top two.

Frank identified his young side's "coolness and discipline" as the thing that eventually clinched the three points.

"That is going to be more and more important as we move towards the end of the season," said the Dane.

"Middlesbrough as a side are a lot better than their league position suggests. For the first 15 minutes we were in control but then the game got open and there was a lot of space but we didn't use it to create enough.

"The biggest thing for me to take out of this game, apart from the three points, was the way we kept going, showed great character and calm and then scored the winner."

Frank believes his side has developed well and learned throughout the season and is relishing their clash against fellow promotion-chasers Leeds at Griffin Park on Tuesday.

He added: "Individually and as a side and a squad we always learn from mistakes and that's a big part of it. We have momentum at the moment but we want more.

"I am looking forward to the Leeds game because I think it's going to be a fantastic game between two sides who both want to play football and press high aggressively.

"We are trying to create magical moments at Griffin Park. Today's win against Middlesbrough was one but we'd like many more."

Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate was left frustrated after his side's late defeat.

"We had a lot of control for part of the game and that's encouraging, but they are a very good side," Woodgate said after only his side's second defeat in nine league games.

"For much of the game we matched them, so I'm very disappointed not to get a point from it, but you can't give good sides like Brentford a head start."

Woodgate bemoaned his side's defending from set pieces, adding: "You can't defend like that, especially here. The second goal was a big deflection and I need to see the third again.

"If I have to take positives out of it they would be that we kept on playing and trying to do the right things and showed a lot of character to get back into the game when we went behind."

Woodgate singled out centre-back debutant Harold Moukoudi, a transfer window signing from St Etienne, as a pivotal figure in Boro's end-of-season run-in.

He said: "He's a very good player, good on the ball, quick and strong and he's going to be a very good player in the future for us."

body check tags ::

Click here for more stories about Thomas Frank

Click here for more stories about Brentford

Share this article now:
New Instagram promo
Angry Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa on February 1, 2020
Read Next:
Championship week 30 predictions including Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Champions League
Championship
League One
League Two
National League
Scottish Premiership
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
Copa Sudamericana
Qatar Open Second Round
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool27261064174779
2Manchester CityMan City27183668293957
3Leicester CityLeicester27155754272750
4Chelsea2713594537844
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd27118841291241
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs2711794436840
7Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd27101072925440
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2791263832639
9Arsenal2781363936337
10Burnley27114123339-637
11Everton27106113641-536
12Southampton27104133448-1434
13Crystal Palace2789102432-833
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2787122441-1731
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton27610113239-728
16Bournemouth2775152643-1726
17Aston Villa2774163452-1825
18West Ham UnitedWest Ham2766153248-1624
19Watford2759132443-1924
20Norwich CityNorwich2746172451-2718

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!