Frank reveals what Brentford should’ve done better to defeat Tottenham

Brentford boss Thomas Frank was full of praise for his side’s spirited display in defeat to Tottenham, but highlighted one key area in which his side let themselves down.

Despite a spirited display, Brentford succumbed to Tottenham’s Premier League quality as they bowed out of the EFL Cup at the semi-final stage.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Frank spoke of his side’s lack of pressing high up the pitch as a factor behind their defeat after initially stating: “First and foremost, I must say I’m very proud of my team.

“The first VAR decision, we were inches from equalising. It was an open game, we had a top attitude, we were brave and an equaliser wouldn’t have been a totally unfair result against a world-class team.

“If you want to go to a final against a top team, you need the margins with you but then they show class to get a second and after that it was game over.

“We need to remember Tottenham is a good team, so maybe in the beginning we could’ve pressed a tiny bit higher but it’s a combination of their quality as well.

FULL MATCH REPORT: Wembley awaits as Tottenham quality perseveres over spirited Brentford

“We gave that goal away but were in control and created chances. I praise the boys but we need to do better. For 65 minutes we completed against a world-class team.

“We were brave, we pressed high, we wanted to play and try and control the game.

“Maybe they had a chance more than us but we created opportunities and if you do that against a world-class team, then we know we need the margins to go our way too.”

On Josh Da Silva’s red card, Frank added: “The way you have to look at it, if you look at the Da Silva, he’s never had a red card before.

“I’ve never seen him go physical into a tackle, he didn’t do it on purpose and I think he caught him.”