Brentford’s preparations for their FA Cup third round clash hit the buffers over Christmas with back-to-back Championship defeats.

A 4-2 Boxing Day defeat at home to Ipswich Town was followed on Sunday by a 2-1 reverse at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Boss Mark Warburton was at a loss to explain the scoreline in the Midlands, insisting his side would play worse games, but still come away with the points.

He said: “We dominated long parts of the play, we got some good balls in and we created chance after chance.

“I don’t know how we’ve lost, we’ll play much worse than that and win.”

He added: “Maybe we need to be a little more clinical in front of goal but I am amazed that we’ve lost.

“I think Wolves will be feeling very grateful that they got the result after we took the game to them.”

The double defeat saw the Bees drop to sixth in the table ahead of the Cup visit of league rivals Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.

Warburton said: “The FA Cup is the biggest cup competition in the world, I loved it when I was growing up as a kid.

“The players will be up for the game, why wouldn’t they be?

“Griffin Park will be full, the fans have paid good money to watch a game of football, and it is our job to deliver that.”

Brighton arrive at Griffin Park struggling at the wrong end of the Championship, but they have renewed hope after manager Sami Hyypia resigned just before Christmas Day.