Dean Smith has warned his Brentford squad that anyone who watches the Carabao Cup third round draw will be fined.

The EFL has, in its infinite wisdom, decided to host the draw at 4.15am on Thursday morning from Beijing.

The league explained "The UK will be waking up and the breakfast media will be able to report and get reaction... which we feel is an interesting move away from the usual post-game evening draws.

“We understand that not everyone will agree on the timing of this week’s Round Three Draw, but in staging in this way it will give the competition both the maximum exposure in the UK, Chinese and South East Asian markets. This is not only an important factor for the EFL but also our new sponsors Carabao, who, like ourselves, plan to use the growing global appeal of the competition to reach new audiences.

“Once the logistics have been completed in Beijing, the UK will be waking up and the breakfast media will be able to report and get reaction on the 16 ties that will take place next month, which we feel is an interesting move away from the usual post-game evening draws.

Smith, though, is not impressed and, as big a fan as he is of the Chinese capital, he doesn't want to see it at 4am in west London.

He said: “I've told the players that anyone who is up to watch the cup draw will be fined. 4am in Beijing – I went there in the summer.

“It's a lovely place but I don't want to see a cup draw from there at that time in the morning.”