Thomas Frank knows that, while defences win titles, goals win games, as he looks for more than just a miserly defence to help Brentford return to winning ways. 

Midweek defeat at home to Nottingham Forest was just their second in their last nine Championship games to leave them fifth in the table. 

And while Frank was left frustrated by a fortuitous Joe Lolley winner on Tuesday night, the Dane questioned his critics as the Bees, who boast the best defensive record in the division, were dealt an eighth 1-0 defeat of the season.

“There will be people who say it’s a disaster, but for me, that’s bull***t,” he said.

“If you watch all the games back, at how many chances we created, for whatever reason on the day we haven’t been able to take them.

“One thing we could be better at is that we need to be more cool, more patient, stick to the plan. If we’re 1-0 we need to work harder and play better.”

But the fixture list has been kind to the Griffin Park side, with a trip to Hull to face a side who have lost their last four on the spin an appealing prospect.

And though the Tigers look set to lose star winger Jarrod Bowen to West Ham, Frank says that his charges will not be allowed to underestimate their opponents on the road, especially after the Bees were made to come from behind to salvage a point against Grant McCann’s men back in August.

“I remember Hull did very well in that game and I said I think they could be a top-10 side,” he continued.

“We came back in that game and produced a few chances to win it. It’s going to be another tough game in the Championship.

“We lost the last couple of times we’ve been up there. We have that hunger, that desire – we want to bounce back.

“I think they are one of the most interesting teams going forward. Now they play at home I think they need to attack, so we need to handle that.

“I think we just need to continue to defend well as we have done and see if we can hit them on the counter.”