Brentford head coach Dean Smith explained Scott Hogan’s half-time substitution in the win over Fulham was pre-planned as part of the player’s recovery process.
Hogan scored twice in the first half as the Bees eased into a 3-0 lead against their west London rivals, but he did not reappear after the break.
Smith joked that the striker was not happy at being taken off – but insisted it would benefit Hogan’s long-term fitness.
He said: “I don’t think he’s speaking to me at the moment for taking him off at half-time having scored two goals!
“But it was always a plan between me and the medical staff because of the injuries that he’s had. You have to go softly-softly and he’s had a couple of soft tissue injuries as well.
“When I came out for the second half, I knew he was angry with me but I saw him with ice on his knee, ice on his hamstring and ice on his head, so I knew it was the right decision.
“We have to manage him in the correct way so we can get the best out of him.”
Smith added he was pleased with the way his young team had collected 19 points from a possible 24 during a busy April, having had poor results in the previous two months.
The Bees boss said: “There were lots of positives – a good performance and a super result against local rivals.
“After [poor form in] February and March, to turn April into six wins, a draw and a defeat is a credit to the players.”
This post was last modified on 30/04/2016