Daniel Farke says he likes it when Ao Tanaka is taking risks in Leeds United's midfield. To do so takes confidence, and that more than anything is what the Whites gained when their so-called week from hell turned into something verging on heavenly.

The trick for his team is not to let it lapse into over-confidence against opponents tougher than many outsiders may realise at Brentford's Community Stadium.

Only seven weeks ago, after a win over West Ham United, Tanaka candidly told the media he was not performing well enough in his first taste of Premier League football.

But in the absence of the injured Sean Longstaff, his goal in the win over Chelsea and stoppage-time equaliser against Liverpool – his first strikes at the level – built on the performance in defeat at Manchester City and turned what threatened to be Farke's last week in the job into one of his best.

"I think it was an important week for him," says his manager. "He was there with many minutes and a really good performance at Man City – a tough ground as we all know – then excellent performance against Chelsea and the Liverpool game was the third was in seven days.

"The plan was always that he would manage his minutes a little bit after this tough week and then we're hoping that if we bring him into the game he can influence the game in a positive way and he did.

"Performance-wise he was really good. There's still space for improvement. In the last game, for example, Ao is always an emotional player and it's a strength that he can find another gear in possession against the ball because he's driven so much with his emotions.

"Sometimes if you play like this you can be a bit over-motivated.

AO, LET'S GO: Ao Tanaka had an excellent week for Leeds United (Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

placeholder image — AO, LET'S GO: Ao Tanaka had an excellent week for Leeds United (Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

"Before the third goal (Liverpool scored) I think he stepped out a bit too early for example but I would rather have this type of player instead of a player who is scared of mistakes and is just trying to hide.

"He's a brave player. He wants to get on the ball. He wants to press and this is what I love to work with.

"He's not the finished product and has to find a good balance sometimes to find the right trigger when to press or when to play the most risky pass.

"But overall he's an important player for us and we must not forget it's his first year at the top level. For that I think he's quite impressive in his performances and we all love Ao.

CONFIDENCE BOOST: Leeds United enjoy the point they rescued at home to Liverpool (Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

"He should take a lot of confidence especially out of the last three games and an important player for us."

So should Leeds as a team – but not too much.

If you only looked at reputations, a game against Brentford would be a huge step-down in difficulty from Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Actually, Keith Andrews' side have more Premier League points at home this season than Chelsea or Liverpool have away, and from a game fewer.

The sooner Leeds can add to their solitary away match without defeat – taking sweets from hapless Wolverhampton Wanderers – the sooner they can stop their form on the road becoming "a thing". But doing it in west London will be far from straight-forward.

GOALS: Brentford's Igor Thiago (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

"We had a good week and are happy with this, but we already have drawn a line under it," insists Farke.

"Brentford have a fantastic home record. They've beaten all their opponents (including Liverpool) in the last (four) home games.

"I wouldn't label it an easy moment to go there, perhaps even more difficult after back-to-back away defeats (for Brentford) and they need to win the points at home. Probably they will be even a bit more on it.

"We also know if we deliver a good performance, we can win points wherever we go. We have proven this in our last away game (at Manchester City) and we are optimistic."

As well as Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester United have foundered on the ground where Jesse Marsch memorably kept Leeds in the Premier League three years ago. Chelsea and Aston Villa could only draw there. In their last game they saw off Burnley 3-1, so they are not just Big Time Charlies either.

This was supposed to be the season the Brentford project finally crumbled after losing Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, Bryan Mbuemo to Manchester United, Christian Norgaard to Arsenal and Yoane Wissa to Newcastle.

RESPECT: Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is full of admiration for Brentford (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

But former Sheffield United coach Andrews has stepped up to his first managerial post with aplomb, Jordan Henderson has replaced Norgaard's reassuring midfield presence, Igor Thiago has put an injury-ruined debut season behind him to be named November's player of the month, and the long throws have rained in.

"Many things are consistent," said Farke. "They were really well coached before and are also in the keys (key areas) the same right now.

"They always have a very special and effective approach and this allows them to have offensive players with really good numbers.

"They are always well drilled and really on it on the key topics of how to stop the opposition. Then they execute it with great intensity.

"I think he (Andrews) is doing a really fantastic job given that he had to spring more or less into the cold water and he's proven he's more than capable to swim. He's doing a fantastic job."