Brentford boss Thomas Frank says his side need to regain their defensive solidarity quickly after the Bees lost 2-1 away at relegation strugglers Luton on Tuesday night.

Brentford knew that the Hatters would be looking for revenge after a 7-0 thrashing in the reverse fixture and Luton achieved that feet. It’s now four games without a win for Frank’s men, whose play-off place and chances of promotion will be hanging in the balance if results don’t turn in the next few weeks.

“I think we started this game very well, in the first ten minutes we were on top of the game,” said Frank. “Then we went 1-0 down to an own-goal from a set-piece where we should’ve done better.

“I think we should’ve cleared it, but I won’t blame anyone. A s*** goal to concede of course.”

Brentford started strongly, winning a corner which led to a first real chance, Rico Henry heading just wide of the post.

Nonetheless, Luton went straight up the other end and won a free-kick on the right flank, the ball was whipped in and misjudged by not one but two Brentford players, before finding its way into the bottom corner of the net courtesy of Shandon Baptiste.

Brentford had a couple of half-chances before the interval, the most notable being a Said Benrahma effort on the edge of the box that was fisted away in the centre of the goal by James Shea.

Frank continued: “Second half we started badly, back and forth for 20 minutes, I think we did build pressure.

“I saw a lot of will-power, I saw a lot of effort. But on the day, the quality was not top and that happens sometimes.”

Brentford certainly lacked a cutting edge in front of goal and struggled defensively. A very uncharacteristic performance from a side that have had one of the best defensive records in the league.

The Bees boss continued: “I think the big thing is the fact that we have the best defensive record, we need to get back on track with that’s because we’ve been conceding too many and they have been soft goals, strange goals, lack of concentration.

“Small things like lack of awareness or strength. So, we need to get back on track and have a good defensive record.”

Brentford have also struggled with injury problems throughout this season, but Frank is sure that his side will step up to the plate while players recover.

“Every team in the division will go through a sticky period with injuries,” continued Frank. “I must admit we have five key players out at this moment in time, which doesn’t help.

“We have players that will step up, who have stepped up and they will step up going forward as well so we just need to handle that and put the best possible team together.”

Next on the agenda for the Bees is a trip to Cardiff, who are also eyeing a play-off finish, but are currently struggling in tenth behind rivals Swansea.

“We need to go to Cardiff and get three points and end February which has overall, been a good month. We all support Brentford and I know we lost to bottom of the table Luton, but we all know there are no easy games in the Championship, bottom line, it was very disappointing, but we will go again.”