Frank upbeat despite Brentford’s derby loss

Brentford boss Thomas Frank refused to be downhearted after seeing his side shut out once again despite dominating possession in their 1-0 defeat against Charlton.

The Bees suffered a second consecutive away defeat but were the better side for much of their loss at their London rivals.

Frank’s side controlled possession in the first half yet somehow trailed at the break to a counter-attack goal by Conor Gallagher which proved enough to settle the match.

“We lacked that top quality on the day, but we do have it. We know that Sergio, Ollie and Said especially have it,” Frank said.

“It will come, but today the final decision, final touch or final pass was too slow or too long and that’s what we need to work on.”

Canos went close on three separate occasions in a one-sided first half, prodding an early effort over the bar, heading just over from an Ollie Watkins cross and also shooting wide from 18 yards.

But it was the Addicks who went ahead four minutes before the interval with their first attempt on goal when a cute Jonny Williams pass sent Gallagher through and the on-loan Chelsea midfielder fired the ball home.

The Bees, beaten away at Leeds in midweek, continued to have the upper hand and created numerous half-chances but could not find the equaliser.

With a week before Brentford host Derby County and then go into the international break, Frank is focused on getting his side to be more clinical in front of goal.

“We need to work on our offensive structure and then keep working hard on that sharpness and quality in the final third. That will come over time and the players will really click.”

Frank was also hopeful new signing Nikos Karelis could feature on the bench against the Rams.