Mark Warburton hailed the benefits of the loan system after his Brentford side gained a comfortable 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town to move into the Championship play-off places.

Debutant striker Chris Long claimed a brace either side of an equaliser from Harry Bunn, before second-half goals from Alex Pritchard and Jon Toral meant all four Bees scorers were loanees.

“The loan model is good, it is like buying a car and having the first three months for free,” said Warburton. “We can show them what we can offer here and how they can progress with their careers.

“That has been the model at Brentford. To sign young, hungry, talented players who have a lot of development left in them and it has worked for us so far. And if you get it right then it can benefit all parties.”

Warburton believes the Bees’ intelligent use of the loan system has been a part of the clubs rise from League One, built on good relations with other clubs.

“I think you have to look at the players who we have signed on loan over the years, the likes of Adam Forshaw, Harry Forrester, Marcello Trotta, Jake Bidwell, James Tarkowski, Harley Dean, where have they come from? They have come from contacts and having relationships with people and trusting them.”

The success of this system makes the departure of Warburton at the end of this season, regardless of whether Brentford gain a second successive promotion under him, all the more surprising. Everton loanee Long, whose brace set Brentford on the course for victory, is a good example of the detailed scouting work of which Warburton speaks.

“I first saw Chris when I took a young Watford squad up to play Everton. He played in the U13s and we lost 4-0 and he scored all four goals, that was at 13 and I have tracked him all the way through.

“I tracked him all the way through his development since that day and I know what he is about. The same with Jon Toral. Andre Gray has been outstanding for us but we knew Longy would provide strong competition.”

Long netted after just four minutes with a powerful low shot before Bunn equalised with a strike of comparable quality to equalise for the struggling Terriers.

Brentford showed their class in the second-half, regaining the lead early on when Jota beat three defenders before his shot was saved by Alex Smithies, only for Long to smash home the rebound.

Tottenham loanee Pritchard impressed in his calmness on the ball and gave Brentford deserved daylight when his curling shot deflected beyond Smithies and in. Pritchard also forced an excellent save from the keeper with a precise free-kick later on in the game that showed real quality from both involved.

Huddersfield struggled to contain Brentford as the game went on, with substitute Gray’s pace causing problems right from his introduction, finding the side-netting.

The pressure eventually told as, after a scramble in the box, Toral volleyed in to make the scoreline one that reflected the Bees domination of possession and territory, something Huddersfield manager Chris Powell acknowledged.

‘We were well and truly beaten,” he said. “We scored a good equaliser but once they went ahead in the second half it was an uphill struggle for us and it became a very long night for us.”

Brentford now re-enter the Championship play-off places, and have avoided the slump in form, that coincided with extensive discussion over manager Warburton’s future, becoming one that could cost them a top-six finish.