MX23RW : Friday, February 7 05:11:38| >> :120:35256:35256:

Thomas Frank hopes previous playoff heartache can benefit Brentford

Thomas Frank hopes previous playoff heartache can benefit Brentford
© Reuters
Bournemouth have injury worries after key duo Steve Cook and Ben Pearson limped out of the first leg.

Thomas Frank believes Brentford's play-off heartbreak last year will help them overturn Bournemouth's first-leg lead.

The Bees, beaten play-off finalists last season, trail 1-0 going into Saturday's return leg on home turf.

Frank said: "Everyone is fit, energised and ready, it's almost like Christmas Eve.

"It's different, but it helps us, it's a tiny bit more calm, when you know what you're facing.

"The experience will give us calmness and we know are a good team.

"It's going to be crucial having the fans back in, where it comes into the fine margins.

"We need to win the next important moment, like a tackle. The team coolest in the next moments of the match will win the match.

"The atmosphere in this group is extremely good, and the confidence, but also extremely humble.

"We know we need to play a football match and play it well."

Midfielder Josh Dasilva will be missing due to a hip injury but Frank has an otherwise full squad to pick from, including 31-goal top scorer Ivan Toney.

Bournemouth have injury worries after key duo Steve Cook and Ben Pearson limped out of the first leg.

Manager Jonathan Woodgate told his press conference: "Steve Cook is 50-50 for the game, so is Ben Pearson. Let's see how they are.

"Cook is an important player like any other player, he's the leader, he's the captain but we'd have an equally good replacement coming in with Chris Mepham, a Wales international.

"He was really good when he came on against Brentford, in the second half I thought he was fantastic. It would be a loss injury-wise, but Meps is a really top player for us.

"The mentality is to try and win the game. We don't want to sit back and try and soak the pressure up, that's not us or how we play.

"We know they're going to come out and try to win the game, I've heard Thomas Frank say after the game that they think they can win the game and maybe think we're a bit scared – but let's see how the game unfolds.

"They'll have 4,000 fans there, so it's going to be a big game and I'm really looking forward to it."

ID:448534: cacheID:448534:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3952:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Brentford manager Thomas Frank pictured on March 3, 2021
Read Next:
Thomas Frank bemoans absence of VAR as Brentford lose to Bournemouth
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23175156213556
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea24127547311643
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brentford24103114342133
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton248973539-433
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
16Everton236892328-526
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!