Brentford boss Frank on tactical approach to try and blunt Millwall’s free-kick threat

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Thomas Frank felt Brentford’s tactic of taking a high defensive line for Millwall free-kicks helped to negate some of the South London club’s effectiveness in Saturday’s derby.

Sergi Canos and Ollie Watkins scored for the Bees as they won 2-0 at Griffin Park. 

Asked about a clash of playing approaches, head coach Frank said: “In football there are a lot of different styles, and no style is better than others.

“There were two very different styles – one very direct and one that wants to have more passes before they find a solution.

“I’m very pleased that we had a high line. The back four, in general, but also in all the deep free-kicks – the side free-kicks – you can see we were very, very high.

“I think that avoided the second ball closer to the goal where it can be even more dangerous and then [produces] another long throw and another corner.

“But we need to be brave doing that. We had practised it. 

“On the ball I was actually quite angry. I thought we should have done even better. Especially on goal-kicks, we need to outplay three [pressing Millwall] players. It must be possible to take a step up in that area.

“We did well defensively. The boys did brilliant. Dan [Bentley] did well in goal, the back four did well. The two young centre-backs – wow. Now they are learning. If you can compete against Gregory, Elliott and Morison in this league then they are starting to learn and grow.

“The whole team needed to fight for the second ball – and they did.

“The first half we did well, but not top. The second half we started well and after the goal you could see we got nervous or they changed a little bit – I’m not satisfied with the 15 minutes where it was too much a second ball game.

“We were a little more playing to Millwall’s strengths. But after the second goal it was a clear win.”

IMAGE BY BRIAN TONKS