“When we perform the way we can, we can play anyone off the park” — Nico Yennaris is confident ahead of Brentford’s second successive derby
Nico Yennaris was upbeat as he faced the press ahead of Brentford’s next match against Queen’s Park Rangers this Saturday, as the Bees prepare for the prospect of their second local derby in succession. Their trip to Loftus Road comes just seven days after a dominant home triumph against Millwall.
The midfielder is certain that the Bees can beat anyone in the league as long as they finish their chances.
“We just focus on ourselves,” Yennaris said ahead of the game. “We focus on what we need to do on the pitch, because when we perform the way we can, we can play anyone off the park.
“We just focus on forgetting about the occasion, we just need to focus on the game.”
Prior to last Saturday’s win over the Lions, Brentford had gone nine matches without a victory in all competitions, but Yennaris is confident that the three points gained against Millwall can kick-start their season.
“Three points always helps the club. It lifted the team spirit. Our performances haven’t been that bad, but we were just not getting that final goal and the three points.”
The derby against Steven McLaren’s side will be Brentford’s fifth game under Thomas Frank’s management, with his first victory coming last weekend. Frank was former manager Dean Smith’s assistant last season, though, so the 2-2 draw against the same opposition — in which the Bees squandered a 2-0 lead in the final minutes of added time — remains fresh in his memory.
“It was a strange experience because I think we dominated the game,” he said.
“We were 2-0 up and things change very quickly. We are in a different place now. If and when we go 2-0 up, we will not concede two goals in the last minutes like the last time.”
Frank continued: “I was mostly happy with the performance [against Millwall] and of course a local derby is always different compared to playing other teams, so we can take that experience into the next game.
“But, besides that, they are two different teams, two different styles of players. That’s even more important. We are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of QPR compared to what we can take from the Millwall game.”
Featured Photograph/Peter White
