Brentford goalkeeping coach Simon Royce believes that Dan Bentley has taken to Championship football like a duck to water but would like him to improve his command in the six-yard box.

The Bees signed the stopper a year ago from Southend and he kept 13 clean sheets over the course of the campaign.

Bentley has improved his ball control and distribution over the course of the campaign, something which Royce had been pushing him to do.

The coach said: “It’s his first season in the Championship and he’s taken to it like a duck to water. I think he’s been one of our most consistent performers.

“Because of the way we play, our centre halves drop deep and our full backs push high you have to be good with your feet.

“We’re a team that like to play out from the back and use the goalkeeper with his feet. We look for that with our keepers.”

GPG FC, featuring Simon Royce

Bentley is not short of confidence and studys the mental side of the game extensively and is determined to be even better next year, particularly with how he commands his area.

Royce added: “He’s a confident boy. I gave him a target of 14 clean sheets and while he’s disappointed not to get that but 13 is a good return.

“He believes in his own ability and in his after season meeting with myself and the manager he wants to kick on again. Daniel will work twice as hard.

“With Dan, it’s dominating his six-yard area. It has improved and, by his own admission, he feels he needs to improve that. We will be working hard on that.”

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