Phil SumblerThomas Frank is playing down the reports and suggestions that Brentford are the favourites ahead of tomorrow’s play off final where his Bees will take on the Swans with the prize for the victors being a place in next season’s Premier League.
Confidence has been high in the Brentford camp for most of the week – certainly from a fan perspective at least – and the media are certainly suggesting that Frank will lead the favourites out at Wembley tomorrow afternoon.
But the Brentford manager, who has led them to back to back play-off finals is quick to point to the fact that both games between the sides were drawn 1-1 this season and it really is a game that could go either way.
Like the Swans, Brentford were at the top end of the table for much of the season and harboured hopes of automatic promotion but neither side could keep up with Norwich and Watford who sealed the top two places leaving us – with Bournemouth and Barnsley to fight a way through the play-offs.
Brentford were 2-0 down on aggregate at one stage in their semi-final but came through to triumph 3-2 showing that they do have a steel in their side and will be determined to put behind them the disappointment of last season when they lost to Fulham in the final.
“Honestly, I don’t think there are any favourites in the game,” Frank told Sky Sports News.
“We played Swansea twice this season, two times, two 1-1 draws, two tight games. Swansea have done fantastically and Steve Cooper is one of the most promising English managers in this country.
“They have improved this year and it will be down to the finest margins which will decide this game.
“It is one of those like with other experiences in life, where you went to your first exam or another big occasion, you can’t really nail what it is you could potentially do better or be more calm because you experienced it before.
“So I think it could be a little bit intuitive – we’ve been there before, we tried it, we know what it’s all about so hopefully that can help us.
“But I need to say there is another team out there who will do everything they can to try to stop us and they will believe they can.”
The game at Wembley kicks off at 3pm.
