Thomas Frank praised winger Said Benrahma as he starred in Brentford’s 2-0 victory over rivals Millwall.

The wideman was a handful for the Millwall defence throughout and the Brentford boss signalled the playmaker has responded well to being dropped to the bench recently.

Second half goals from Sergi Canos and Ollie Watkins secured Frank’s first win as Bees manager, who took over last month when Dean Smith left for Aston Villa.

But the Brentford boss was keen to single out Benrahma’s performance. “He was a handful,” said Frank.

“They doubled up, tripled up and they still couldn’t handle him. We kept him out on purpose to create this stronger character.

“But we all know his talent and he is a brilliant player.”

Benrahma had Brentford’s best chance of the first half, when he cut in off the left flank and saw his curling effort crash into the bar.

Brentford started the second half well and were ahead on 48 minutes after Canos calmly finished into the bottom corner, latching onto a clever through ball from striker Neal Maupay.

Substitute Ollie Watkins would add a second late on after he linked up well with Maupay to fire past Millwall keeper Ben Amos.

Frank was keen to emphasise the importance of getting the three points and keeping a clean sheet.

“It’s not only a win, it’s a clean sheet,” said Frank. “The back four did well and the two young centre-backs [Chris Mepham and Ezri Konsa], just wow!

“If they can compete against Lee Gregory, Tom Elliot and Steve Morison then they are starting to learn and are growing.”

Neil Harris was not happy with the away form of Millwall but thought the team played well in the opening 45 minutes.

“I’m frustrated with the away form in the sense that I thought we showed in the first half that we can dig in and grind,” said Harris.

“I said to the players at half time that we have to do that again for the second half now.

“But four minutes into the second half, we have had the ball in our final third for three-and-a-half minutes of it and suddenly we are one-nil down and that’s not acceptable.

“We have to find a way away from home of being better for 90 minutes and not just 45.”

Most of Millwall’s chances came from headers with Daniel Bentley superbly denying Jake Cooper’s looping header from a corner to prevent Millwall taking the lead early in the first half.

Harris was not happy that Millwall did not create more chances from open play.

“We didn’t get enough opportunities to put the ball into Brentford’s box,” said Harris.

“I think that’s the frustration of not being good enough on the ball.”