Thomas Frank has his sights set on winning the Carabao Cup after Brentford survived an early scare to beat League One Leyton Orient 3-1 in the third round at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The Bees reached the semi-finals during their Premier League promotion campaign in 2020-21 but victory over Orient, earned in part thanks to a stunning overhead-kick equaliser from summer signing Fabio Carvalho, means it is the first time in three years that they have made it as far as the fourth round.
Brentford have never won one of English football’s major honours but having comfortably eased past their third-tier opponents despite making eight changes from the team that lost to Manchester City on Saturday, Frank said he believed he has the resources to lead his side to Wembley.
“It depends on the strength of other clubs,” he said. “It’s been 11 years in a row of one of the top six winning it, so it’s difficult. But I think we’ve got enough depth in the squad.
“We just need to be less unlucky with injuries. Right now we have eight of our first-team players (out), normally you’d have two, three or maybe four. If it was only four then no problem. If we have them available, I think we have a strong squad.
“The aim is to go as far as possible and in the best case to win it. We played with great tempo and intensity. Big respect to (Orient), they started the game well, we couldn’t get on top of the game at 1-0.”
Orient defender Brandon Cooper stunned home supporters in west London when he arrived at the far post in the 11th minute to tap home Tom James’s low cross and hand the visitors a deserved lead.
Fears of a cup shock were quickly extinguished when Frank’s stand-ins hit back via a brilliant first goal for the club scored by Carvalho, before the former Liverpool player turned provider for Mikkel Damsgaard to head in the at the back post.
On the stroke of half-time Christian Norgaard rifled a lovely finish into the corner for 3-1, then Orient captain Jack Simpson was shown a second yellow card 20 minutes from time for hauling down Kevin Schade off the ball.
The game was notable for a stand-out display on his first home start from Carvalho, who registered a goal and an assist.
“He’s taking steps in the right direction in the last five, six weeks,” said Frank.
“Very pleased with what I saw from him today. Great goal, great assist. He’s growing into what I thought he would bring to us.”
Orient boss Richie Wellens reflected on a game in which Brentford’s Premier League quality ultimately proved too much for the team currently 22nd in League One.
“First half we were very good, took the lead, but gave a couple of very poor goals away,” he said.
“The difference is when (Brentford) get to the final third their runs are explosive. With us, it was pass-pass and we slowed it down too much.”
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