Cardiff City boss Neil Harris believes this is the best Brentford side he has come up against in years.

Following the Bees’ 2-1 victory over the Bluebirds at Griffin Park, the former Millwall boss praised his conquerors and admitted he learned a lot about his side in defeat.

Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins inflicted Harris’s first defeat since taking charge in South Wales despite a Marlon Pack thunderbolt of a strike that ultimately proved to be a consolation.

“Griffin Park is a tough place to come,” said Harris who saw Brentford leapfrog them in the table.

“One of the best home teams in the division who use the ball really well.

“For me they are the best they’ve been for a long time because they can play, but they can also go direct as well to Watkins.”

Griffin Park

Victory sent Brentford to within one point of the play-off places in what will be their last season at Griffin Park.

The club’s hope that the move to the new stadium near Kew Bridge will be welcomed with Premiership football, although Harris felt the history and set-up of Griffin Park is something that intimidated teams.

“It’s a tough place because the environment of it,” he added.

“I love coming here, it’s an old-fashioned stadium, you won’t mind me saying that because you’re moving next year.

“It’s a tight stadium, tight changing room, and ultimately the biggest thing is you’re playing against good players.”

First Defeat 

Harris admitted his side weren’t up to the task for the first hour and revealed he had some stern words for his men at the break.

“The last half hour we were on the front foot, aggressive, mixing play from going direct and being able to pass the ball as well.

"Sometimes it's easy to do that when you're chasing but you have to do it from the start.

"We played some good stuff for an hour but some poor stuff too. It was the first time I've had to raise my voice at the club."