Brentford only had themselves to blame in their 1-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest according to manager Thomas Frank.

The admission comes after Joe Lolley’s first half strike was enough to hand the initiative to the visitors in the hunt for promotion, sending thee Bees fifth in the process, six points behind West Brom in second. 

Sabri Lamouchi’s men executed what seemed a very clear tactic at Griffin Park, to slow the game down and stifle Frank’s usually slick side.

“It’s a big win for them,” he said as Forest climbed to third in the league.

“They know this is one of the most difficult grounds in the Championship to go to.

“But I need to say we can only blame ourselves, we need to do better.

“They’re a really good side, they defend well, work hard and are well organised, but they came with one purpose, to make it scrappy, which is fair.

“We need to handle that better we didn’t do that today, we have the last six games, but not today.”

READ: REPORT: Brentford 0 Nottingham Forest 1

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One tactic that was evident throughout was Forest’s intent on wasting time, so much so that goalkeeper Brice Samba was shown a yellow card as early as the 24th minute.

“It’s part of football, they’re not the only team in the world that’ll do it,” a frustrated Frank said.

“If we are 2-1 up with seconds left, we will do it, but when you do it after minute one it’s a bit different, but people choose how they want to play.”

Ultimately Frank felt it was his side that let victory slip from them.

“We had too many sixes and sevens today, it wasn’t a good game of football, for both sides.

“A 0-0 game.

“Nottingham are a very good team and we knew it would be a tight game, and in tight games you need that quality, but we didn’t have that quality today, or that bit of luck like they did for the goal.”