Brentford skipper Pontus Jansson has warned Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion that it would be 'stupid' for his side not to be targeting the automatic promotion places.
The Bees kept their 100 per cent post-lockdown record alive with a 3-1 win over playoff-chasing Derby County at Pride Park as they registered a seventh consecutive victory.
The win means they moved within two points of West Brom prior to their clash at Blackburn Rovers and within three of pace-setting Leeds United, who take on Swansea City on Sunday.
Asked about the Bees' promotion hopes, the former Leeds centre-back was in bullish mood.
"Of course I want to say I'm very convinced and as it looks now, it is very good and very positive of course," he told Sky Sports following the win. "But we know playoffs is tough. It's more or less a lottery. But if you go in with high confidence hopefully we can do something good about that.
"At the moment of course there is everyone looking at automatic promotion and we would be stupid not to do that. I saw Mitrovic yesterday at Fulham saying they're looking for automatic promotion so I think we're doing the same."
Thomas Frank's side have been in relentless form since the Championship restarted last month, winning all six games and conceding just two goals to give themselves a chance of upsetting Leeds and Albion's top two hopes.
"At the moment we are on a good run, we said after Fulham the first game, to win nine games in the Championship is tough but to win the next one is always possible," the Swede continued. "We're still going and hopefully, West Brom have a tough game against Blackburn and it's going to be a nice journey home."
Ollie Watkins netted the opener before a Said Benrahma brace, the second of which was one of the Championship goals of the season as their in-form frontline continues to fire.
The Bees have three games to play and Jansson is not concerned that his side are peaking too soon.
"I think the fans of other teams think we're peaking too early but I don't think it's like that. I think we're better for it with every game that goes. We're not scared we've peaked too early. Said (Benrahma), Bryan (Mbeumo) and Ollie (Watkins) have more to come. We're defending well although we've conceded two games in a row which isn't good enough. We feel strong.
"Some tired legs in the first half today but the early goal in the second half gave us energy and then a fantastic goal from Said."
