Skuse: We're Enjoying Ourselves Monday, 21st Aug 2017 06:00 Stand-in Town skipper Cole Skuse says he and his team-mates are enjoying their 100 per cent start to the season, a stark contrast to their struggles during 2016/17. The Blues, second in the Champinship behind Cardiff on goal difference, have won their opening five games in all competitions for the first time since 1999/00 and they were last victorious in their first four league matches in 1974/75. “We are definitely enjoying ourselves and it is certainly a bit different to last season,” Skuse said having worn the armband during Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Brentford with regular captain Luke Chambers absent due to an ankle injury which is expected to sideline him for a month. “Back then we had a bit of a topsy-turvy season, especially at the tail end. We are not getting ahead of ourselves though, we know it is only the beginning of the season so we are looking to these next couple of games, then go into the international break and recharge the batteries. “We have had a cluster of injuries the like of which I have never seen before in my career. I have never known so many injuries and illnesses hit a team so early in the season. “What it’s done though is show the true make up of the lads. There has been no grumbling, everyone has just got on with it and done a shift, like today with Jonas Knudsen and Jordan Spence playing at centre-half. “They were immense, like leaders, dug in and kept a clean sheet. The two young lads either side were outstanding too.” Strikers Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn took their goal tallies to three and four respectively since joining the Blues from Rangers with the team overall having scored nine times in the Championship, more than anyone else in the division. Skuse, 31, says the duo’s early success hasn’t come as too much of a surprise to him. “I expected it of them in a way because I have played against them before and know what they are like," he continued. "You don’t want to be playing against them because they are horrible in the nicest way.
“To come in and kick-off they way they have though, I have never seen that before, the pair have been incredible and Didzy has come into his own too. “It is looking good, we are doing our bit at the back to stop them going in, then giving the ball to the boys up front to do their magic and it is working. “We had been working on taking a very shrewd look at Brentford. They are a very good side. We knew that and it showed, they are not going to be where they are in the league right now for very long. “They are expansive and play very good football, so we knew we had to be tight, narrow and then hit them on the break.” Brentford defender Harlee Dean says the Bees, who dropped to the bottom of the table following Saturday’s game having taken only a point from their four games this season, need to improve in front of goal. “I think we've got to be better offensively,” he said. “We've had 20-odd shots on goal and not scored.” The 26-year-old, who insisted he was fouled by David McGoldrick in the run-up to the corner from which Garner scored Town’s second goal, also says they have to be tighter at the back. “The goals are poor,” he admitted. “But they shouldn't have had a corner — it was a foul on me from the long ball. “We've got to defend it better. I've looked at the corners in there and they've had the first contact with every one but two. “The marking has to be better and we have to be better all round. We moved the ball but never looked like scoring, especially in the second half. “In the first half, I thought we were really good. For the first goal the fella [McGoldrick] just ran through the middle of the pitch, fell over, got a touch on it and it became a through ball. “We can't get the rub of the green at the minute. We've got to be better when attacking, cleverer and a bit more patient." The Blues’ second goal was given after Hawk-Eye had indicated to the referee that the ball had crossed the line from Garner’s header. “Regardless of the goalline [technology], their lad has got the first contact and headed it at the goal,” Dean added. “Nico [Yennaris] did all he could and if there wasn't the technology it wouldn't have been a goal.” He added: “We're playing well but we're not scoring goals and conceding. Whether they're lucky goals, maybe. We've got to score goals and stop conceding. That's it. It's as simple as that. “Luck on their side or otherwise, I'm not happy with the corners. There's no way they should have a free header in the six-yard box. “Yes, it was a foul on me and they shouldn't have had it. But after that, we've got to stand up and be counted and defend with our hearts and be strong and brave.” He believes he and his team-mates need to work on defending corners: “It's down to the gaffer. It's my opinion. It's something I've looked at and am disappointed with. “At the end of the day, we've got to get wins. I'd rather play ugly football and get wins like Ipswich did. Maybe we've got to do that, get back to basics and put points on the board.”
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