RAY Harford already owes Brentford manager David Webb one vote of thanks.

For it was while in charge of Chelsea that Webb allowed Graeme Le Saux to move to Blackburn Rovers and the Channel Islander went on to make the Ewood and England full back spot his own.

But the Rovers boss knows he cannot expect any more favours from the crafty Cockney tonight when Division Two pacemakers Brentford aim to claim a prize Premiership scalp in the second round (first leg) clash at Griffin Park.

"I can't say I know Dave over-well, but I've seen a lot of him around the grounds and he's a popular guy," said Harford.

"But, while he likes to give the impression that he's the good-fun type who doesn't really care about things, make no mistake he's a winner.

"And he has built a good team at Brentford, who have made a very good start. "I know his assistant Kevin Lock very well. He was a player at Fulham when I was coach there and we had an excellent team at the time.

"He has gone on to do well for himself as a coach and has worked with Dave at both Southend and Chelsea."

The Bees - as Brentford are known - have really hit top note this season, though problems at the end of last Saturday's match against Blackpool cast a cloud over their unbeaten run and could mean they are without skipper Jamie Bates tonight.

But, whatever their line-up, Harford knows that Rovers will be in for scrap tonight and that Brentford will be wound up by Webb, who was known as "Desperate Dan" in his own playing days at Chelsea.

"Yes, Iam sure his team will reflect him and his whole-hearted attitude to the game," added Harford.

"But we'll be concentrating on ourselves." Rovers' players will also anticipate a stern test in tonight's first leg, with Brentford keen to cause an upset.

With Rovers bottom of one table and the Bees top of another, the setting would seem ripe for one of those awkward evenings that Rovers have experienced many times in the past.

The players, certainly, will not be complacent as they search for what could be a morale-boosting result, albeit against opposition from a lower division.

Any win at the moment would be a lift.

Stuart Ripley, who will be hoping for a start - on either flank - acknowledged: "It could be very difficult. By all accounts they are playing very well at the moment, so we are going to have to be on top form. "I thought the lads played well at Newcastle, especially in the first half.

"They stopped Newcastle playing and did quite well on the break. Unfortunately, we are not getting the luck we need.

"If you look at a lot of the games we have played this season, we have just needed a stroke of luck and we could have got something out of them."

It's time for Rovers' luck to turn, perhaps the appearance of Webb in the opposing dug-out can do the trick.

But games against Brentford have been tricky in the past. The clubs have met twice before in the League Cup second round, with one success apiece.

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