Frank praises players after Bees draw

Thomas Frank praised his Brentford side for “stepping up” in the absence of several key players in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest – including Kristoffer Ajer, who has suffered a serious knee injury.

Yoane Wissa looked to have secured Brentford all three points after Bryan Mbeumo had equalised from the spot in the first half, but an attempted clearance came back off Zanka and into the goal in the final minute of play to deny the Bees the win.

But Frank says he is proud of the performance his players put in.

“We are a little bit down to the bare bones of missing key players like Pontus (Jansson), Norgaard, Ivan Toney, Kristoffer Ajer, Aaron Hickey.

“But all the others are stepping up. Our second half was perfect, apart from the last six minutes. And then we lose the win in literally the last kick of the game, so that is tough to take but I’m still very proud of the boys.”

Frank also revealed Ajer missed the game with a serious knee injury which is due to be assessed more next week, ahead of the World Cup break.

“We will assess him more in the week, but we know it is the MCL which is ruptured unfortunately,” he said.

“He’s out for the next two games, that’s what I’m focusing on.”

Forest took a deserved lead on 19 minutes when Morgan Gibbs-White worked enough space to curl an excellent strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

But the Bees were awarded a penalty right on the stroke of half-time when Wissa was clipped by Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson, allowing Mbeumo to slot home in the absence of the suspended Ivan Toney.

Wissa then found the net himself with 15 minutes remaining, lobbing the ball over Henderson after being sent through by Jensen.

But Zanka’s inadvertent own goal in the final minute means the Bees’ wait for a first away win of the season goes on.

Brentford: Raya, Roerslev, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Jensen (Ghoddos 86′), Janelt (Onyeka 45′), Dasilva (Zanka 81′), Mbeumo (Canos 81′), Wissa, Lewis-Potter (Damsgaard 59′)