Thomas Frank was full of praise for Brentford’s back-up boys after a shoestring side saw off Stoke City in the FA Cup Third Round. 

The Bees continued their fine home form as Emilano Marcondes' superb free-kick made it six wins on the bounce in all competitions at Griffin Park. 

Frank opted for ten changes after a very busy Christmas period, including seven youth-team players, and the head coach couldn’t have been prouder of his callow side.  

“We needed some fresh players in”, he said. “There were some players that deserved to prove themselves and I was so pleased with their attitude.” 

“We went up against an experienced Stoke side and they'd played 9,000 minutes as a group in the Championship this year, our team had played 2,000 compared.”

"Our average age was 20.1, theirs was 24.5, so that says everything about the Brentford model and the B team,” he added. 

Marcondes, who recently returned from a loan spell at the end of December, settled the cagey all-Championship affair with a looping free-kick from the tightest of angles, his first goal for the club.  

The Brentford boss said he was also pleased with debutant Turkish youngster Halil Dervisoglu, which could mean he opts not to splash out for a striker in January.  

“Honestly I’m in a little bit of doubt signing a new striker now,” said Frank.

“We know Halil is a good player and he showed against Stoke we can use him.”

The Bees are in the hat for the Fourth Round draw, which takes place tonight at around 7:35pm. Ties will be played on the weekend of Saturday 25 January.