David Moyes
Was that the result you needed at the moment?
“Yes. Always getting through in any cup competition is the most important thing and we just got there today. Thankfully, we’re in the next round.”
The performance in the first hour lacked confidence, but did the end have the potential to build it?
“I agree, I think we looked like that and we played like that but I think the result in midweek, we had a good draw at Leeds and a good win here today as well. We’ve got something to build on here now and hopefully, we can get back on track. It was really important to stop conceding goals, that was the first thing.
“I think if you do that, you’ve always got a chance of winning, someone can get you a goal, someone can score a screamer. I said last week in the press conference, someone could do with scoring screamer and Said certainly did that. Really pleased.”
How much of an impact did Said Benrahma have after coming off the bench? Were you more of a threat?
“We did, we pushed on. I think Said has done this in different games and he’s come on off the bench and been an impact. So much in football, you saw it heavily in the World Cup, how much the subsitutes played a part and made a difference. Thankfully, Said did that for us. I could have easily started Said today but we changed the system, but his impact was excellent.”
Was it down to the system and starting two up front why you didn’t start him?
“We were going to play Benrahma as one of the strikers as well today and we were [thinking about] going to do that. I think I can play Said in several positions. In the end, I bought him on and it was great. It was a terrific goal and he almost made another. He was a wee bit unlucky with another, I think he was offside when he got through.
“Good, you need impacts off the bench and we need the players to make it a tough game, which it was. I don’t know about those who come here regularly, but the pitch was not good at all. It’s not that easy to play on. I’ve got to say, Brentford have made a good go at it so we can’t make any excuses.”
Why were Gianluca Scamacca, Manuel Lanzini and Alphonse Areola absent?
“Scamacca just felt his knee since after the [Leeds] game. Areola was playing and the last kick of yesterday in training he just felt something at the top of his hip and Lanzini felt [he had] a tight groin so that was difficult.”
Are any of them serious concerns?
“I don’t think any of them are too bad. Gianluca we don’t think is too bad, we are hoping it’s not too bad, he was going for a scan. Phonse, I didn’t even see it happening, I thought we were finished but he got it in his last kick. Manu, we think should be okay.”
There was a rugby game on this pitch a few days ago. Do you think that is okay?
“I don’t want to get into who is right because Brentford have got a great set up, a great business, a great way of how they do things. They’ve also got a really good football team and normally, really good football teams would like to have a good pitch. I’m sure you know their players will be feeling that as well.
“The standard of pitches in the Premier League are very good I’d say. It’s the same everybody, Liverpool had to play here last week, I’m not sure that was much different to what it was today. Everybody else has to so that’s part of the job.”
Do you think this cup result can act as a catalyst for league form?
“I hope so, but I was hoping that winning the group stages of the Conference League again and not losing any games would’ve done that. To be fair, we did so well last year at the same thing that it gave the players a big lift. I do, I want a run in the cup, I want to try and all of the managers are the same and out of how many teams that start in the FA Cup, there can only be one winner in the end. The cup would be a real bonus for us. Us getting our Premier League form and getting our position correct is obviously a big priority.”
Does a win, away win and clean sheet against an in form make it a perfect result?
|We’ve got something to build on because we’ve had a pretty good week now. Went to Leeds, got a draw and it got us moving again today so we have to start somewhere. This was a really tough draw. When you saw this draw in the FA Cup, wow, what a difficult draw. We obviously had them last week in the league as well. We’re thrilled to be through and see if we can have a go at it.”
Was Declan Rice’s old school tackle as pleasurable as the goal?
“100%. Declan Rice to win the ball back with his tackle, his ability to get it quickly. It’s been tough for him, but he keeps at it and he’s a huge influence in the team’s performances when he plays. I think one of the best bits about it was before the goal, on the left hand side, he nearly gets in and sets it up. He’s such a big player, he really is.”
