Brentford 5-1 Rotherham: Newly-promoted Millers thrashed on Championship return
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Dean Smith led Brentford to their best start to a season since they won 5-1 at Plymouth Argyle in what is now League One
Brentford manager Dean Smith says he is excited at how his side could fare this season after their impressive 5-1 opening day win over Rotherham.
Neal Maupay scored twice while Sergi Canos, Ollie Watkins and Lewis MacLeod were also on target as they got their biggest opening day win since 1994.
"We're all excited about the group and what the potential is," Smith told BBC Radio London as they topped the early Championship table.
"But at the moment the word is potential and I've just said to the players that I was disappointed with the goal we conceded at the end.
"I think 5-1 is a good score, 5-0 is probably a statement that we're very good defensively as well and I was disappointed with the goal as it was just a second ball drop from a long throw."
Newly-promoted Rotherham were outclassed by Brentford - a one-sided first half saw the Bees take a fourth-minute lead as Maupay converted from close range after MacLeod's shot was saved.
Canos lashed home a second after a flick-on from MacLeod's corner, and Watkins smashed a third off the underside of the bar soon after the restart.
Neal Maupay has scored five goals in his last seven Brentford appearances
Maupay tapped in a fourth on the hour after Marek Rodak's save, and MacLeod got the fifth late on from 20 yards before Will Vaulks scored an injury-time consolation with a powerful strike from 25 yards out.
Perhaps Rotherham fans expected nothing less from their side - the Millers have not won an opening game of the season since 2011.
But Brentford will be excited at their attacking quartet of Maupay, Watkins, Canos and Romaine Sawyers, who all had other chances to score as the home side dominated possession.
Meanwhile, Millers manager Paul Warne will know his side, who won the League One play-off final in May, will have to improve if they are shake off the tag of favourites to be relegated.
Rotherham boss Paul Warne said: "They gave me everything but collectively we weren't good enough to cause them problems.
"This is a much better standard than League One. Their movement was great and it's very difficult to deal with.
"But even when we were losing we kept trying to score a goal. We have had a chat in the dressing room and there's no one shouting at each other."
