Dean Smith celebrates his 100th game in charge of Brentford on Monday, and says it is “crazy” he is already the fourth longest-serving manager in the Championship.
Smith this week reaches two years as head coach and wants to mark the anniversary with a west London derby win against QPR at Loftus Road.
Victory would move them to within six points of the top six and Smith is building something promising in a division where managers’ tenures are short.
Only Mick McCarthy at Ipswich, Neil Harris (Millwall) and Carlos Carvalhal (Sheffield Wednesday) have been in charge longer than Smith.
“It is crazy,” said the 46-year-old. “But I have been thankful for the people I have worked under. It has been a very pleasurable two years.
“You are never comfortable, you are always on your toes and looking to get better. People are looking to push you and you are looking to push them too. It is great to get to 100 games. But it will only be special if we win.”
Brentford made a slow start to the season but they have now lost just once in 11 games.
So, how does Smith assess his time in charge? “There is a real identity to the club,” he said. “The quality of the squad stands out, and for people to be talking about us as possible play-off contenders shows we are on the right road. The biggest thing is how we have replaced top players. Players have moved on but it has not stopped our progress.”
QPR manager Ian Holloway is impressed with the progress at Brentford, but stoked the fires ahead of tonight’s game by saying Rangers are the bigger club.
“What they have been doing, as a QPR person I do not want to admit it, but it has been very good,” said Holloway.
“We have always been a bigger club than them — I hate to say it but that is the truth.”
Both clubs are taking part in Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces week, a campaign in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in sport.
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