Brentford midfielder Stuart Dallas admitted it was important not to lose at play-off rivals Ipswich Town on Saturday.

A Jonathan Douglas header secured a 1-1 draw at Portman Road to keep the Bees sixth in the Championship play-offs and above the Tractor Boys.

Results elsewhere mean boss Mark Warburton's men are four points off the top of the table and there is a four point gap between them and eighth placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“We’re disappointed we haven’t come away with a win,” Dallas told the club website.

“Obviously, you want to win every game and if you don’t win it you’ve got to make sure you don’t lose it.

“It’s a good point coming here, we just knew we couldn’t get beat.

“We came to win the game but unfortunately couldn’t do that.”

Brentford host Cardiff City on Saturday for the first of their remaining 10 games of a campaign that could yet end in promotion to the Premier League.

Derby County are the only team in the current top eight that Brentford must face during the run-in and Warburton has warned his men they must maintain their professionalism. 

"We're in the home stretch, the last 10 games," he added.

"When you talk about games involving the top eight we go to Derby County next month and they are the last team in the top eight we play.

"The message to the players is to keep doing what you do. If we come to a game and impose ourselves, in a respectful way, we know we can dominate games in terms of the football.

"We must prepare ourselves well, rest well, train well and everything now is focused on delivering performances.

"There are no easy games, now. We have to be ultra professional. With this group of players and their work ethic, we'll be in a good place."