Ian Holloway: Millwall manager praises Brentford's approach

Holloway was appointed Millwall manager in January

Millwall manager Ian Holloway says Brentford boss Mark Warburton deserves credit for how well the club has adapted to life in the Championship.

The Bees moved into the play-off places after Saturday's 3-2 win at The Den.

"I must congratulates Mark, his staff and Brentford for the way they have metamorphosed into a wonderful football establishment," Holloway said.

"We have got a long way to catch up with the knowledge, understanding and the group that he has developed there."

After Warburton replaced Uwe Rosler as manager in December 2013, following the German's departure to Wigan, Brentford went on to finish second in League One last season.

The west London club, who are back in the second tier for the first time since 1992-93, are sixth in the table after winning eight of their 17 league games so far this season.

Holloway was impressed with Brentford's style of play when the two sides met at the weekend.

"They have put a way of playing in place that the lads know, with or without the ball. I guarantee they are doing it from the academy all the way up," he told BBC London 94.9.

"They lost who I think is their best player, Jonathan Douglas, who organises people really well.

"Yet every one of their players knew exactly what they were doing and got their distances right, apart from the time we gained a bit of the ascendancy and shocked them and scored two.

"I think their manager deserves a medal the size of a coal bunker lid."

Millwall, meanwhile, have won only one of their last 12 games and are now just two points above the relegation zone.

Holloway, who took charge at The Den in January, admitted he had a lot of work to do.

"The boys have got character and effort but have got to apply that with knowledge and how to press," the 51-year-old said.

"I've got to have a right good think about what we are actually doing. I'll study that for three or four days.

"There is a bit of us that looked really comfortable with 3-4-3."