Thomas Frank has played down talk that his Brentford side are favourites as they travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on Saturday.

The Bees are three places and two points ahead of the Red Devils in the standings after seven games and will face a United side who have lost their last two Premier League home fixtures 3-0.

Yet while Brentford head north in high spirits after a thrilling 5-3 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, Frank is not taking anything for granted.

Speaking to club media, the Dane said:  "I've experienced it too many times in my career: we face a team that has lost three games in a row, but they come out absolutely flying. Then, other times, we play a team that has won five games in a row but we beat them.

"I don't really pay too much attention to [form]. The only thing I focus on is how we can make sure we are up there and how we can do everything we can to perform and come out flying - and hopefully we score early again!

"I believe that we can go anywhere and beat any team, but I'm also aware that, when we go to Old Trafford to face Manchester United - a massive club with top players - they are favourites.

"But we need to go there with the approach and mindset that we can win.

"We try to come up with a gameplan that will optimise our chances of winning. That's my approach to every game."

United have endured a disappointing campaign thus far this season, with ten Hag cutting an embattled figure in the Old Trafford dugout amid speculation about his future.  

And Frank defended his Dutch counterpart, insisting that the criticism his opponent has faced is 'too much'.

Frank added: "It's incredible how much scrutiny he's had to face. As a head coach, I acknowledge how it feels to be in a situation like this. I think [the criticism] is too much."

"He's clearly a good coach, he's won two trophies in two seasons but I understand how it is: if the team wins, the head coach is absolutely fantastic; if the team loses, the head coach is absolutely s***! Whereas it's probably somewhere in between.

"It's never only the head coach, or the players, or the fans, or the board - it's a combination of all of these things