Brentford manager Thomas Frank feels his side are in good shape despite their recent lack of activity.

The Bees have not played in the Premier League for a fortnight after matches against Manchester United and Southampton were postponed.

They returned to action in midweek as they faced Chelsea in their Carabao Cup quarter-final and, even though they lost, Frank was pleased enough with how the team looked.

The Dane is now feeling confident ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Brighton.

“I’m very pleased,” said Frank, whose side are 12th in the table after 16 games of their first Premier League campaign.

“I would say, from the Everton game to the Chelsea game, all five performances were very good.

“We were very strong defensively, giving very limited chances away to the opponents and trying to build more on the attacking side. I’m pleased, we’re in a good place and we’d like to carry on.”

Brighton condemned Brentford to their first Premier League defeat when they nicked a 1-0 victory with an injury-time Leandro Trossard goal when the sides last met in September.

Frank expects another tight contest at the Amex Stadium this time around.

He said: “It was a totally even game but if there should have been a narrow winner it should have been us.

“They just showed a bit of quality and class in the last minute with Trossard. From our side, especially the first half, I was very pleased.

“It will be two teams that try to get on the ball. The team that shows the quality in the crucial moments will win the game and hopefully that will be us.”

The two sides are currently level on points with Brentford just a place ahead courtesy of a slightly superior goal difference.

Frank said: “I think they have done very well. Graham (Potter) and his staff are doing a job down there. They have developed year on year and this season I think they have been a bit like us, they should have more points.”