Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:25 pm
The game between Cardiff City and Brentford will be a high-energy affair between two well-organised teams, according to Brentford FC Head Coach Dean Smith. The Bees have lost just one in their last ten matches – a defeat to high-flying Hull City – and head to South Wales tomorrow, Tuesday 15 December, for a match against another team in the top ten. Cardiff are seventh in the table – one point and three places above The Bees – and, like Brentford, will be seeking a spot in the top six.
The Bees head to Wales after a 2-2 draw at Fulham on Saturday – a game Dean, speaking to Bees PlayerHD, said he felt his team would have won if a goal scored by Jota had not been incorrectly ruled out for offside. Dean said that West London derby was an end-to-end encounter and he didn’t expect the same in Cardiff. But the Brentford Head Coach said he hoped his team could extend their unbeaten run.
“I expect it to be a cagey game,” said Dean. “Both teams will have a look at each other. But I think both teams are energetic as well. Both will pride themselves on being well organised, I don’t think we will have the end-to-end we had at Fulham on Saturday. We have one defeat in ten and I hope we can continue that.”
Cardiff drew 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday having been 2-0 up. Dean said his team would have to deal with Kenwyne Jones’ strength but others including Anthony Pilkington and Craig Noone would also pose a threat. Dean told Bees PlayerHD he always liked to know how the opposition would set up but he focussed on how his team would play rather than worrying about Cardiff.
Dean said: “Cardiff took a deserved lead on Saturday, they were winning 2-0 and looked comfortable. Sheffield Wednesday started passing it better in the second half, scored a goal from outside the box and put a lot of pressure on after that. They scored a really good goal from a passing move and Cardiff had some chances after that.
“Cardiff have some really good players, a good target man in Kenwyne Jones, who makes it stick and brings others in to play. He will be a handful. They have Pilkington, Noone and some other really good footballers. They also have powerful ones as well so we will need to be at our best.
“I have an idea of the opposition before I name my team but I concentrate on ourselves. It is about what we want to do and how we want to play. But you have to look for weaknesses to explore. All the players are good after Saturday, they are very professional and have recovered well. Our medical and sports science side is very good, the players are well looked after and will be ready.”
Mon Dec 14, 2015 8:38 pm
Dean Smith then continued "I know what they will do, 2 banks of four and I am going to play in that space, Noone will look dangerous but won't actually do anything that contributes to a goal" "Tony Watt will run his bollocks off often passing Jones in doing so and of course Pilkington can only turn left like Derek Zoolander"
With a slight smile Smith continued "It won't matter if they score, because I can throw players forward knowing Cardiff won't adapt, the place is like a morgue and if we score first the fans will turn (those that can be bothered to turn up)