Reading’s league position isn’t a fair reflection of their performances this season says Brentford’s Thomas Frank.

Ahead of the Royals’ short trip to Griffin Park on Saturday the Bees boss revealed he felt his opponents who sit 17th have turned a corner, in a similar way to his side achieved after a stuttering start.

Reading have won three of their last four outings under new boss Mark Bowen who replaced Jose Gomes after a poor start to the campaign results wise but not performance wise according to Frank.

“That’s the business in football,” Frank said of Gomes’ sacking.

“The manager (Gomes) suffered because of results, because performance was up there.

“All the stats and goals they should’ve been higher in the league just like us.

“Unfortunately they weren’t so he left the club.

“Bowen has done well, especially in the last 4 games, it’s another team in form coming to Griffin Park doing everything they can to get a point, and on a good day maybe three.”

Brentford have scored three goals in four of their last five outings and Frank knows he will need his attack to be on their game against a side who’ll be set up to stifle.

Very busy period we are going into, but we can only focus today and tomorrow. We’ll go and attack.

“I know he’ll have organised the team very well,” Frank said of Bowen.

“Everyone knows when you play against a back five it’s not easy to open them up.

“Since the Huddersfield game, we’ve been looking to see how we can open up opponents that are banking in.

“Every team that comes to Griffin Park this season they respect us, which we are pleased with as it means we are doing something good.

“But we need to be better at opening opponents that are defending well.

“It’ll be a tough game against a team who are hard to break down and have quick counters.

“But we have belief, the atmosphere and we need to stay focused.”