Thomas Frank proud of defensive work against Preston North End

Frank's men took an early lead through Ollie Watkins, going on to control the early portions of the game.

A lot has been said about the Bees' front three but that isn't the area of the pitch that the Dane is most proud of.

He said: "The one single area that we have improved the most this year is the defensive side of the game.

"I am extremely proud of how we handled the second half. I thought in the first half we were by far the dominant team, I think it was 70 to 30 in possession.

"We scored the goal and we were on top of the game, it was only dangerous when we threw the ball away."

Preston came at the home side more and more as the game went on, in the end five attacking substitutions were made by Alex Neil but Frank thought his side coped well with the pressure.

He said: "In the second half they just, which we knew was coming, put the ball in behind us and ran at us, they played for the second balls and for set pieces and they made it difficult work.

"We were good in the air and defended everything, we didn't give a massive chance away, which is difficult.

"If you look at it, just pumping it up the back four, pushing up every single time and playing with a high line, it's impressive.

"There's three things we've been working on as a team, a big desire to defend, as a structure we need to love to defend.

"The tactical structure of how to defend, as a team and individuals and bringing in some good players at the start of the season as a part of our recruitment."