Brentford’s first half ‘like a horror movie’ – Frank

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Under-pressure Brentford boss Thomas Frank likened his side’s start against Swansea to a “horror movie” that turned “more and more scary” as they slumped to their seventh defeat in nine games.

The Bees were three down inside 27 minutes, the first goal coming after 25 seconds, before fighting back to lose 3-2 and have now taken just four points from a possible 27 under the Dane’s leadership.

“We felt the draw at West Brom was a turning point that would give us momentum that we could build on back at Griffin Park. We prepared well, trained well and then we are behind after 20 seconds,” Frank said.

“The first half-an-hour was like a horror movie and it got more and more scary. We are making too many simple mistakes. They had three chances on target and scored three goals within 27 minutes and you think, ‘How does that happen?'”

Wayne Routledge scored the early goal and a Chris Mepham own goal and a Leroy Fer effort had the Swans in complete control. Ollie Watkins pulled one back before the break before Said Benrahma gave the hosts further hope in the second half.

Frank insisted he felt “calm” despite the chorus of boos that rang around Griffin Park at half-time and said he was not afraid his struggling side could get dragged into a relegation fight.

He said: “I looked the boys in the eyes after West Brom game and I am not afraid that we cannot get out of this, but we do need to understand that we are in a very difficult situation.

“When you’re under pressure things are more difficult, but you can see in their eyes they want it badly and they showed that in their character today. There are things we need to address, but I know we are on the right path.”

Brentford’s two highly-rated young centre-backs Mepham and Ezri Konsa looked like rabbits in headlights against Swansea’s experienced front line and Frank conceded injuries and lack of experience were factors in the dismal run.

“We’ve lost Emiliano Marcondes with an ankle ligament issue and have others out and sometimes you do need experience, but this is about a combination of little things,” he said.