By Bruce Archer
Brentford’s Shaleum Logan reckons the secret to his fast start to the new League One campaign is finding happiness at home.
The Bees beat Walsall 1-0 at Griffin Park, with both sides going into the game undefeated, through Clayton Donaldson’s header from Logan’s whipped delivery just before half time.
The assist for Donaldson’s goal, on top of his stunning strike on the opening day against Port Vale, has made for a good start for the 25-year-old in his third season at the west London club.
The former Manchester City right back, below, moved to Brentford in 2011 and admits that everything is in place for him to have the best season of his career.
“I’m happy at home and I’ve been settled in London for a while now, everything seems to be going OK in my life. I’m a happy person,” he said.
“I think I’ve played well in the last two seasons and I know on my day I can be a match winner, even from full back – I just like to go into every game and give it 100 per cent.”
The clean sheet in Saturday’s match showed the strength in character that has occasionally been missing and Logan believes in the big games, like the one with Walsall, it is important they are able to shut them out when they go in front.
He said: “A clean sheet is always good for the back four and we were really pleased. It was the first thing the manager said after we had scored, and we know after the goal if we keep one, we’ll win the game.
“When you play a team like Walsall, who are capable of passing through any gaps you leave, it’s important to shore it up.”
A 5-0 Capital One Cup defeat to Derby County on Tuesday upset the apple cart, but in the league at least, Logan hopes the improved solidity at the back and their dynamic attacking qualities can sustain a promotion bid.
He added: “There’s teams in the league you think will be up there, and they’re the teams at the top already, including ourselves. Even though we came so close last year, it’s going to be even harder this time.
“The teams that came down are bigger teams than those that went up, but if we just do what we have been, hopefully we’ll be there at the end. There’s a big incentive for us to go up after last year.”
Thank you: Clayton Donaldson buries Shaleum Logan's cross in the 1-0 win over Walsall SP73046
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