Bees boss Frank looks on bright side as Toney accentuates the positives in a frustrating draw

Thomas Frank refused to be downhearted by the concession of a late goal which deprived the Brentford of all three points against Norwich.

The Bees were looking good value for a third home win of the season after leading through Ivan Toney’s 27th minute goal.

But they were undone by a freakish deflection three minutes from time when a shot from sub Kenny McLean cannoned into the far corner of the net off Mads Bech Sorensen.

“When you concede a goal like that, that is very, very random,” said the Bees’ head coach.

“I prefer that they score one of the half-chances they had or a top shot to the top corner. In a way, you can accept that, but that’s football.

“But the positive is, good performance. We played with good intensity and I think we came slightly on top, though unfortunately not with the three points.

“I was very pleased with the way we pressed Norwich, especially in the second half. I think we had 15-20 minutes when we were really on top of the game. We had chances and opportunities where we won the ball high and should have got more out of those situations.

“It was the decisive factor that we couldn’t score the 2-0 goal. 

“Overall, I think we defended well, but of course I’d prefer us to be higher up the pitch and take better care of the ball.”

Frank was again left with a good feeling about Toney, who as well as rounding off a slick move for his eight of the season, nearly scored again with a header kept out by Tim Krul, set up a golden chance for Henrik Dalsgaard and was always imposing in the box.

“I like to think we recruited well,” he said. “We could see he was a goalscorer and is good at finding positions in the box.

“Our goal was a top action. That’s exactly the movement I would like in the box, where he finds that position on the shoulder of the centre-back. We just need to put a little ball in there and know he will be there. That’s a key attacking principle.

“Besides that, I think you can see he’s an intelligent player in terms of his link-up play. I think the header he heads down to Henrik, we see that, and I think he’s got that dominant physical presence in the box also for a header at a set piece in the first half. 

“And I really liked his effort in terms of the pressing today. I think he’s getting better and better.”