It had appeared Brentford had handled their summer business early, bringing in five players and clearing the dead-weight from their already strong squad, with the expectation of challenging for a place in the top six.

The arrival of the final days of the transfer window had fans sweating, with Harlee Dean edging closer to a move to Birmingham, and interest in several of their star players mounting.

Transfer deadline day hit, and it all became too much.

Jota, one of the stars of the division, followed Dean to Birmingham, when he had stressed earlier in the summer that he would only depart the Bees for the top flight.

Finally, in the dying hours of the window, it was revealed that French full-back Maxime Colin was also on his way to St Andrews, with the Bees and the Blues suddenly appearing to form their very own version of the Southampton/Liverpool relationship in the second tier.

Redknapp had stolen some of the Bees best players, and there appeared to be nothing the club could do about it.

However, all is not lost at Griffin Park.

The squad at the club is deep, and Dean Smith had ensured that at least two players were available for every position, including those vying for a first team spot from the reserve side.

Ollie Watkins is showing excellent early form, and could certainly become as good, if not better than the gifted Jota this year.

Colin will perhaps be replaced by Nico Yennaris, the midfielder who has experience of filling in in defence, or new signing Henrikh Dalsgaard, who is adjusting to the role, having adopted a more attacking one before his arrival.

As for Dean, the likes of John Egan and Yoann Barbet are perhaps better in their own ways, and record signing Andreas Bjelland may finally be given a chance to play in his more natural central position.

It will have been a blow to the Bees to lose several of their better players, but with cash in the bank, the club will go again, and relegation is far from an option for the well-run club who have continually punched above their weight in this division for the past four years.