Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted his side’s 1-0 victory over the Blues was as difficult as he had anticipated.

Kevin Schade’s 18th-minute goal proved enough to hand the three points to the Europe-chasing Bees, who recorded four Premier League wins on the trot for the first time in their history, but with Town having a number of opportunities in the latter stages and a point would have been a fair result.

“I’m always relieved after a game where we win,” Frank said. “It was exactly as difficult as I expected it to be.

“I said before the game that I have huge respect for Kieran McKenna and his staff, the Ipswich players and the club. I also said it could be the most difficult of our last three games.

“Clearly, Kieran and his players wanted to keep fighting and pushing. They gave everything. The home crowd was fantastic, so it was difficult.

“I liked the way we came out. First 10 minutes we came out and it was us - controlled, dominating and being on top. The first half I felt we were in control but maybe not fully dominant.

“Second half, control until the last five minutes. We were winning the ball high and lacked one touch or one pass or one dribble past a player to create big moments to kill the game.

“We unfortunately couldn’t do that and at the end it’s always going to be a little bit hectic, and we needed a big save from Mark [Flekken, tipping Omari Hutchinson’s strike onto the post] to get over the line.”

Regarding Town’s late opportunities, he added: “It’s very rare you can play any game in the Premier League and give no chances away, so we gave one away in the end.

“I think the first one was the biggest one, the second one I’d have liked to have avoided that as well, but the first one was definitely biggest one and that was the biggest save.”

On the grappling in the penalty area at set pieces which led to the game being held up for VAR reviews, Frank said: “It’s tough for the refs, I must admit. I’m happy I’m not a ref in those situations.

“Both teams are very physical defending. We need to look into it. If there’s anything we can change there because it’s getting more and more difficult, in both boxes.”

TWTD

midastouch added 21:15 - May 10 Classy respectful manager.
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Bert added 22:16 - May 10 At least he respects our club and team which is more than can be said for some of the post match posters on here. Funny how a lot of Brentford fans thought we gave them a hard game, as did most of the fantastic crowd, but the naysayers can only find fault. You cannot please folk who don’t wish to be balanced in their opinions.
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armchaircritic59 added 23:52 - May 10 You can't help but like TF. One of those managers you can wish well for the future. Know's the game and respectful to others. You can understand why there's such a culture of togetherness at Brentford, a club we should try and emulate over the next few seasons, starting with promotion back to the Premier League next season. As far as I'm concerned, a must not an option.

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bluesman added 06:30 - May 11 Got no respect for a coach that bases his game plan on causing chaos. Never seen so much shirt pulling and holding. And the ref was useless. He lost control of it in the first five minutes when he let an obvious pull on Enciso go unpunished. If he’d given them two or three yellows in the first half as he should have it would have been a different game. We weren’t singing 1-0 to the referee at the end for nothing.

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