Dean Smith believes Brentford's travelling away support could make all the difference when the Bees head to Reading on Saturday.

Brentford have won four of their last five games and are now just three points behind Sheffield United in the last play-off place.

Smith believes this run of form has meant the fans have started to dream about challenging for the play-offs come May.

He said: “There’s almost 3,000 fans going already which will be a tremendous following and it shows the connection the supporters have got with team. 

“It is nice when I walk out of the ground and bump into Brentford supporters who comment how much they are enjoying the football they are seeing. 

“The run that we have been on is starting to capture the imagination of a lot of supporters.” 

Smith pleased with professional and clinical Brentford

Reading might have failed to win in the league since the start of December but Smith believes the Royals are still very much the same team who made it all the way to the Championship play-off final last season.

He said: “It was difficult because they missed out on promotion on penalties and so their season was extended longer than everybody else.

“They had a shorter pre-season and there was also the disappointment that could carry over. They have got good players.

“I am surprised with where they are this season, but a couple of wins and they could be mid-table.”

Brentford will welcome back John Egan and Henrik Dalsgaard who had both been side-lined, and Rico Henry remains an absentee as he recovers from a cruciate injury.