Dean Smith: Brentford star Scott Hogan deserved a hat-trick vs Brighton

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images
Standard Sport10 September 2016

Brentford manager Dean Smith felt Scott Hogan was unlucky not to have claimed a hat-trick as his side deservedly clinched their first away win of the season with a 2-0 Championship victory at Brighton.

Albion, who had gone a dozen Amex games undefeated and had not lost there since Wolves triumphed 1-0 on January 1, were undone by two clinical finishes by former Rochdale striker Hogan.

Smith said: "I am pleased with the result and the performance and Hogan will be disappointed not to have got a hat-trick.

"The better team won. We restricted a good team to a few chances and didn't give them much time on the ball.

"Having seen Brighton in their previous two home games, I changed our system to 4-1-4-1 and it is very pleasing to be the first side to score at the Amex this season and first to win."

The Bees had only won one of their previous six league visits to Brighton and Smith felt the victory was a perfect way for them to go into the clash at Aston Villa in midweek.

He added: "We are looking forward to it.To a man, we were very good at Brighton. In players like (Glenn) Murray and (Tomer) Hemed they have good players who can hurt you.

"But we restricted them time and space and Hogan could have had a couple more goals."

Brighton boss Chris Hughton admitted his men were "beaten by the better side" and offered no excuses, saying: "We were beaten by the better side. Brentford kept the ball better and we didn't impose ourselves on the game.

"There is no doubt that goals change games and it's how you react afterwards. In this game it was important for the team who got the first goal and it made us a bit desperate in our game.

"Brentford were better on the ball but, from a defensive point of view, the first goal was very disappointing.The second goal was about individual quality from the lad Hogan."

Hughton is pleased his men have a chance to bounce back quickly with the visit of Huddersfield on Tuesday, but admits they have to be better in order to give themselves an opportunity of a result.

He added: "Brentford have made a good start but the team who have made the best start is Huddersfield, and we'll have to be better on Tuesday."

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