Manager Simon Grayson says his squad are looking to use the home victory over Cardiff City as a platform to get another positive result at Brentford this weekend.
The Lilywhites were convincing winners against Paul Trollope’s Bluebirds, but face a confident Bees outfit, who have taken four points from tricky back-to-back away games with Brighton and Villa this week.
The North End boss was at Villa Park on Wednesday night to see Dean Smith’s side in action, but says that his own side are just looking to add to their recent displays.
“We’ve been trying to build off every game,” said the gaffer. “The performances have been decent, without getting the just rewards of the victories until the other night. There was a lot of outcry after the Barnsley game, but we played really well and I felt that if we can add from that second half performance on Tuesday, then we could win the game and that proved the case.
“I had a lot of faith in the players that they weren’t playing poorly and weren’t warranting defeats, but now we have got the win, we have to build on it. We go to Brentford who have had a decent start, got a couple of good results this week at Brighton and then on Wednesday night at Villa, so we know what we face.
“We are looking forward to it. The players have a spring in their step and are looking forward to try and get another three points.”
The Lilywhites haven’t had a great record at Brentford in recent seasons; their last win at Griffin Park coming when a Neil Mellor brace and one from Iain Hume gave Phil Brown’s side a victory back in September 2011.
However, Grayson feels that his side can be a coupon buster on the weekend: “Griffin Park is a tough place for anyone to go to. It is a tight ground and everyone down there will be buoyant from the run of results they have had,” he continued.
“However, we will also go there in good spirits. We will go there to try and cause an upset. We will look to build off Tuesday night.
“Dean will know how well we have played in the last couple of games, but we have to be on our guard as well. We have to deal with the threats of the likes of Hogan up front.
“They play an expansive style of football and we need to do the basics right, like you do to win any match, as well as having the ability to imprint your own beliefs and style on a game.”
The Lilywhites were in a similar position in the table 12 months ago, before finishing the season in 11th place and despite raising expectations with that finish in the first season back in the Championship, the manager sees no reason why it can’t be improved upon in 2016/17.
“When you finish 11th in your first season, you set a high bar, especially when you consider the level finance teams are spending in the division.
“We have always said that a lot of big teams who finished below us last season underachieved. They are big clubs, with big budgets and expect to be higher – Fulham are a good example, who have had a good start this season – so it is a tough division, but we get on with our own business.
“We give it everything we’ve got, as we did last season, and wherever we finish will be a reflection of the hard work and effort that is put in and hopefully we can replicate last season and finish even higher,” he added.
The North End boss was at Villa Park on Wednesday night to see Dean Smith’s side in action, but says that his own side are just looking to add to their recent displays.
“We’ve been trying to build off every game,” said the gaffer. “The performances have been decent, without getting the just rewards of the victories until the other night. There was a lot of outcry after the Barnsley game, but we played really well and I felt that if we can add from that second half performance on Tuesday, then we could win the game and that proved the case.
“I had a lot of faith in the players that they weren’t playing poorly and weren’t warranting defeats, but now we have got the win, we have to build on it. We go to Brentford who have had a decent start, got a couple of good results this week at Brighton and then on Wednesday night at Villa, so we know what we face.
“We are looking forward to it. The players have a spring in their step and are looking forward to try and get another three points.”
The Lilywhites haven’t had a great record at Brentford in recent seasons; their last win at Griffin Park coming when a Neil Mellor brace and one from Iain Hume gave Phil Brown’s side a victory back in September 2011.
However, Grayson feels that his side can be a coupon buster on the weekend: “Griffin Park is a tough place for anyone to go to. It is a tight ground and everyone down there will be buoyant from the run of results they have had,” he continued.
“However, we will also go there in good spirits. We will go there to try and cause an upset. We will look to build off Tuesday night.
“Dean will know how well we have played in the last couple of games, but we have to be on our guard as well. We have to deal with the threats of the likes of Hogan up front.
“They play an expansive style of football and we need to do the basics right, like you do to win any match, as well as having the ability to imprint your own beliefs and style on a game.”
The Lilywhites were in a similar position in the table 12 months ago, before finishing the season in 11th place and despite raising expectations with that finish in the first season back in the Championship, the manager sees no reason why it can’t be improved upon in 2016/17.
“When you finish 11th in your first season, you set a high bar, especially when you consider the level finance teams are spending in the division.
“We have always said that a lot of big teams who finished below us last season underachieved. They are big clubs, with big budgets and expect to be higher – Fulham are a good example, who have had a good start this season – so it is a tough division, but we get on with our own business.
“We give it everything we’ve got, as we did last season, and wherever we finish will be a reflection of the hard work and effort that is put in and hopefully we can replicate last season and finish even higher,” he added.