"We Need To Make Sure We Are On Our Game"

Assistant boss Jody Morris is expecting a tough encounter as high-flying Brentford are the visitors to Pride Park tomorrow afternoon (3pm kick off).

The visitors have started the season in blistering form and find themselves in the higher echelons of the Sky Bet Championship.

After four wins and three draws, they find themselves third in the table behind early pace-setters Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

They have picked up some good home results, including victories over Rotherham United, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Wigan Athletic.

The Bees have only lost one game this season, away at Blackburn Rovers, however, they have still yet to pick up a victory on the road this campaign.

Morris, who spoke to the press ahead of the game, believes the visitors will prove to be tough opposition.

“I kept an eye on Brentford over the last couple of years because I like the way they play,” admitted the assistant boss, who was speaking to RamsTV.

“I think the manager has done a very good job and whenever I’ve seen Brentford I’ve been impressed with their style of play and the way that they keep possession and build but they have also got a ruthless streak up top.”

Bees striker Neal Maupay is the league’s top goalscorer with eight goals in only six appearances and has been involved in 11 of their 15 goals this season.

“I think they will be confident,” Morris said. “It’s away from home and maybe their away form isn’t as good as their home but at the same time, when you are higher up the league, albeit after not many games, you take confidence from it.

“We should be looking at it, they are coming to Pride Park, and we need to make sure we are on our game because we will be a match for them.”

Tom Lawrence will sit out the second of his three match ban tomorrow afternoon whilst there is good news on the injury front as two players are nearing a return.

“Curtis Davies is a slightly ahead of George Evans at this stage,” commented the 29-year-old. “They are slowly progressing. Fingers crossed if things go well with Curtis over the next couple of days then we will integrate him into training next week but George is a bit behind on that. It’s all good for them at the minute going forward.”