Brentford boss Thomas Frank has admitted playing against Huddersfield and Middlesbrough represents a different challenge in the Championship because of the man-to-man marking approach they both use.

The tactic is very aggressive in the sense that the defenders will follow their opposite number around the pitch looking to prevent players from picking up the ball.

It's something that Marcelo Bielsa did with Leeds United to great success last season and it has caused debate in the Premier League as it is unique at that level.

And, speaking to Teesside Live, Frank, who has come up against both Boro and the Terriers this season, revealed how it differs to the rest of the league.

"The way Middlesbrough play is completely different to 22 other teams in this division, Huddersfield are doing something similar. They (Huddersfield) also do man marking but a bit more high pressing. When a team does man marking it's different.

"Because Middlesbrough are very good at it, the one v one battles are crucial. They’re a good team, there’s a reason why they’ve done relatively well in the first 11 games."

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The verdict

This is a very intriguing insight from Frank and it shows the challenges a manager will face when he comes up against Boro or Huddersfield.

Carlos Corberan, who worked under Bielsa, and Neil Warnock both deserve credit because it's a risky method to adopt but it's working for their teams, particularly the latter.

This is part of what makes the Championship a great watch and it will be interesting to see if others follow suit in the future.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.