Boss Smith hails Macleod after Bees draw

Brentford boss Dean Smith hailed Lewis Macleod after the fit-again midfielder scored in the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.

Macleod netted his first goal for the club after three years of injury problems.

Smith said: “He’s worked very hard with the fitness team, looks bigger and stronger and he deserved his start.”

But for the second game in a row, Smith was critical of the officials, in particular referee Simon Hooper, who showed Romaine Sawyers two yellow cards in the space of five minutes after he came on as a 75th-minute substitute for the Bees.

“The second was very harsh as he couldn’t get out of the way,” Smith said. “I could show you five clips of Boro players who didn’t get booked for doing exactly the same thing.

“He also doesn’t make the decision straight away but sends him off after he’s been surrounded by Middlesbrough players.

“I thought the FA had issued an edict about that so it’s up to them to enforce it.

“It’s a shame we have to talk about that because I thought we were very good today.

“It’s easy to forget after watching that performance that they were a Premier League team last season.”