Brentford manager Thomas Frank hailed a big win for his side against Norwich but knows the Bees can be even better going forward. 

Frank’s men claimed their first victory since January 2 to stop a rotten run of form thanks to a hat-trick from striker Ivan Toney as the Bees ran out 3-1 winners. 

The Brentford boss was relieved to get the win but knows his side must be more consistent if they are to keep the distance between themselves and the relegation battle below them, which currently stands at six points.

“I think it was okay, I think it was a solid performance,” said Frank after the game. 

“I think on the ball we need to do better. I think Norwich pressed well so it’s not easy to play out, but I think we can do that a tiny bit better. 

“I think we can keep the ball in their half a tiny bit better, we need more composure in those moments.” 

Victory at Carrow Road halted a worrying slide for the Bees whose form in 2022 has seen them slip towards the relegation spots, and Frank acknowledged that it was one of his most special wins as Brentford boss. 

He said: “I think that’s a fair assessment. I think that’s closest to the Bolton win after we only won one in ten games and then you really badly want the next one, it was similar today. I would say it’s not happiness, it’s relief. 

“I think it’s very, very important. As everyone in football, you love to win football matches and when you don’t do that for a while it hurts so to get that win. 

“It was a fine performance not through the roof but because of the narrative that we score some goals it’s suddenly much better, of course it is, but we need to be consistent in the performance going forward but of course the win is big.” 

Striker Ivan Toney stole the show on Saturday with Brentford’s first top-flight hat-trick since 1937, and Frank was full of praise for his star forward. 

“Not only for the three goals, but in general, he top performed today,” said the Dane. 

“You need in a game like this your top players to top perform and he did that. Obviously the first one, a well-worked set-piece and he was in the position that he had to be and then two penalties where the second one he gets himself.  

“I said it many times before, the more penalties he scores the closer we are to the proof that I think he is the best penalty taker in the world.” 

The game also saw more football for Christian Eriksen on his return from the cardiac arrest he suffered at the European Championships in June and Frank knows there is more to come from his fellow countryman. 

“I think he was good but I think he can be even better than this and I think if you ask him he will say he can be even better,” said Frank  

“Fantastic to see him, he’s very important for us. I think the delivery for the first goal was fantastic, you saw some of his passes in behind; left first-timer, right first-timer.  

“He had a fantastic ball for Sergi Canos in the first-half – unbelievable.” 

Frank is also confident that the former Tottenham midfielder is fit enough to be a regular fixture for the Bees going forward. 

He added: “I think he’s fine to do that and hopefully after each game going forward, I think we’ll add more and more to his game in terms of his quality.”