Brentford striker Gary Alexander took his season's goal tally to eight and roared never mind the play-offs we're after automatic promotion.

The 31-year-old former Millwall man hit the winner in Saturday's 2-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge as the Bees kept touch with the top six.

A 3-1 defeat at AFC Bournemouth did nothing to dent the optimism at Griffin Park with boss Andy Scott's men only six points off second place Southampton with a game in hand.

The manager bolstered his squad in capturing 25-year-old Millwall midfielder Marc Laird on a month's loan and has promised more activity in the January transfer window.

And Alexander reckons that makes Brentford ones to watch over the next four months.

“We've got one or two games in hand on the two above us and if we can win them we are right in the mix,” he said.

“We're not just looking at the play-offs now we can get ourselves in touch with the top two.

“It is important we have a big squad because we've got a lot of games to come and we need to be able to cope.

“We're just outside the chasing pack and no-one is mentioning us as contenders yet.

“The pressure is all on the teams above us and hopefully we can just keep things ticking over, keep under the radar and come with a late run.”

A Lee Bradbury own goal was scant consolation as the Bees were well beaten in the end at Dean Court on Monday.

But Alexander reckons they can bounce back to winning ways in quick time.

“We had chances to win the Bournemouth game, which meant it was disappointing to lose,” he added.

“We are not going to win every game between now and the end of the season, but every time we have been beaten we have responded.

“Yeovil is a tough place to go, but if we can get a win – no matter how it comes – we've shown we can get on a run and get back in the mix.”

Brentford's next three games: Jan 8 Yeovil Town (a), 11 Peterborough United (a), 14 Exeter City (h).