They may have suffered the body blow of losing three first team players on deadline day – but Brentford have the strength in depth to do more than just survive.
So said keeper Dan Bentley after the Bees grafted to a well-earned point at Aston Villa in their first game since that triple swoop by Villa's city rivals.
But while Harlee Dean, Maxime Colin and Jota were going down to a defeat on their Birmingham debuts, there was little sign of the team they left behind missing them at Villa Park.
“I think we've got 11 players who can take the ball on rather than just one man,” said Bentley. “We've got people who for different reasons are in the team – different skills, different qualities – the reason they're at this club and they're in this team is they've got those qualities.
“We've got players who are willing and able to step in for the boys who have moved on and do more than just a job. We trust those who have come in in place of them.
“Jota may have been the man to save us on a few occasions last year, but it's a team game, without sounding boring or cliched. That's the beauty of the team spirit we have here – we'd believe in each other whether those three players had gone or not.
“Obviously it was a bit of last minute thing with them all going to Birmingham. It felt a little bit strange as that doesn't happen very often, and you can understand the frustrations to an extent, but we done our own business very early in the window.
“We've got a squad that's deep enough to cope with those three players going, as you saw today. I keep saying we believe in each other and that shows in games. We trust each other, and that's why we're playing the way we're playing.
“I'm tearing the backside out of that word but it rings true. We all know the three have gone, so it's up to the players who come in for them to stamp their authority on the shirt. If the manager gives you the shirt you have to show you're good enough to keep it.”
Back in January it was the same with Scott Hogan – flogged to Villa for a reported £15million, after which the Bees never looked back despite losing his goals.
Hogan came on as a sub in the goalless draw at Villa Park yesterday and never really got troubled Bentley, although the Bees man was prepared for anything his former team-mate could throw at him.
“We know Scott's movement is very clever,” he said. “He's always on the move and always on the shoulder. It was something we had to be aware of, whether from Scott or any of the other Villa players, as they've all got different qualities.
“We do our homework as a team and as individuals, but Scott was slightly different as we all know him, and it was that extra thing of not wanting him to score – you never want a former team-mate to score against you.
“He's very good player, but he moved on for his reasons and we've moved on with the squad we've got.”
Bentley and co travel to Sheffield Wednesday tonight hoping for a similar performance to that at Villa Park – but they are in no way underestimating the size of the task in hand, despite winning at Hillsborough last season.
“They're a very good team and a very sizeable club,” he added. “We went there last year and I was a busy man. If we can be a bit more clinical think I we can go there and give them more than a game.
“They will be more than up for it. They're a very good team who have got some very good players, but it's up to us to go there and stamp our authority on the game.”
