On Loan Pratley Speaks

Last updated : 13 April 2005 By Smallsy

 

From BBC.co.uk:

Brentford midfielder Darren Pratley feels manager Martin Allen's "winning mentality" has been a big factor in their push for the play-offs.

The on-loan Fulham man helped the Bees to a 1-0 win over Tranmere on Tuesday.

He told BBC Sport: "I've settled in quite quickly here. The fans have been good, and the manager's good.

"The coaching at Fulham is more technical, but I've had to learn the 'nasty' bits of football here, like tackling, heading and second balls."

The result pushes Brentford up to fourth in the table, while confirming promotion for Luton - whose manager Mike Newell was at Griffin Park to see Tranmere's mathematical hopes of taking top spot disappear.

Brian Little's Rovers still hold a six-point lead over the Bees and look set to claim third place, but Brentford have now edged ahead of rivals Sheffield Wednesday, Hartlepool and Bournemouth in the scrap for the other three play-off places.

The Bees still have a game in hand over their rivals, although Pratley insisted: "We know what's going on around us, but we don't really look at the table much.

"We've just got to keep concentrating on ourselves, and take each game as it comes - hopefully we'll make the play-offs.

"We created a few chances in the first half, without really causing Tranmere's keeper problems.

"But the manager's got a winning mentality. He told us to get at them in the second half and keep them under pressure - and it paid off."

The 19-year-old, a former Arsenal youth player, has made just two substitute appearances for Fulham's first team but is clearly enjoying more regular action in League One during his loan spell.

"We've got a good bunch of lads here," he added.

"It's a bit different to reserve football it's more competitive, whereas reserve games are more about gaining experience. But I'm enjoying my football here."

Allen himself is still focused on taking the Bees to a possible trip to the Millennium Stadium in May - just over a year after taking over and saving them from relegation.

"It's another win - if this competition (the League) finished today it would be great, but what we're trying to do is qualify for another competition (the play-offs)," he explained.

"As joyous as it might be for some people to get into that next competition, winning this competition is not what it's about. Winning the next competition is what it's about - not just qualifying for it. That's our ultimate goal.

"We've got just under a month to go - that's when the League table will be reviewed, after the last game."

The Bees boss has also been impressed with the attitude his players have shown this season.

"They're such a down-to-earth bunch of blokes, you wouldn't believe," he insisted.

"There aren't any stereotypical 'Footballers' Wives'-type footballers here at Brentford. They're focused, and their desire to get better is incredible.

"You have to pull them in off the training ground and tell them to stop, so I'm very lucky."

"We've even got somebody with a Mercedes Sports in our car park now, so things are looking up," he joked.

"But my advice is, he'd better sell it soon!"