Zain Westbrooke’s first Under-21 goal capped off a good day for the 18-year-old following Brentford’s 4-1 win against Cardiff City in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South.
Zain scored the leveller for The Bees as he crashed home from the edge of the box after Abdi Noor had put the visitors ahead.
A second-half double from Jermaine Udumaga and one from Herson Rodrigues Alves completed the comeback win, Brentford’s sixth in nine matches.
Speaking to Bees Player after the match Zain felt it was a good performance from his side, especially in the second-half.
“It has been a good day,” said Zain.
“It was a good performance from the team, especially to get out of a sticky first-half and really open up in the second-half.
“We were a bit lax in the first-half.
“We had a good win and a good performance against Barnsley and we came out thinking it would be as easy.
“They were a bit better and more organised than Barnsley and we came out in the second-half realising they were better and we had to do a bit more to win the game.
“That is the hard thing about winning so comfortably that you do need to get up for the next game and realise that it is going to be as hard as you thought the last game would be.
“You can’t go into the game thinking it would be as easy as the last one was.
“At half-time we talked about taking fewer touches.
“We thought we had more time than we did and we were vulnerable to the counter-attack when we did that.
“When we moved the ball around quicker we got in behind and created a lot more chances.”
Zain revealed after the match that he had been doing extra shooting practice after training to work on his ball-striking.
The 18-year-old said it was great that extra work paid off with his equalising goal just before half-time.
The attacking midfielder felt it was a great time to score and was pleased that his goal helped his side get back into the game.
“The goal happened quite quickly to be fair,” said Zain.
“I thought about getting a shot off and after we got that goal we relaxed a bit more.
“We were back on level terms and realised we could play a bit more.
“The goal helped us out.
“We went down early and it was an uphill struggle from there.
“We were fighting to get that goal and forcing passes that we wouldn’t usually force.
“Getting that goal made everyone relax and we could start again.
“Everyone calmed down and we started to play the game that we played against Barnsley.
“The goal added to my performance.
“You don’t want to go through the game without getting a goal or an assist when you play as high as I do.
“Bartek has come in and we have done some ball striking practice and that does help.
“I am pretty sure he will be pleased with that goal.
“When you work hard on your extra bits and it comes off that it is really pleasing.
“I think I did well.
“It wasn’t my best performance but I did well because I was adapting from Under-18s games.
“It is a lot faster and more physical and I think I did.”
Zain was one of seven Youth Team players involved in Friday’s win and he feels that shows just how well the Under-18s have been doing this season.
With the Under-18s set to win their league this season, Zain thinks the players playing up bring great confidence to the group.
Zain said it is pleasing the Under-18s who are playing up look the part in the Under-21s and is looking forward to that continuing on Monday at Elland Road against Leeds United.
“It shows how well we have been doing in the Under-18s league,” said Zain.
“We got ourselves in the play-offs and we are playing really well.
“The Under-21s are coming up and getting towards the top of the league.
“We had a bad start but they are coming up towards the top of the league
“Both teams have real confidence and a will to win and play well.
“There is a lot of competition for places.
“We are not looking like average Under-18s players.
“We can come into the Under-21s and look like them.
“All I can do is play well, train well and hopefully be involved in the Under-21s.
“If not I just have to get back to the Under-18s and get going again.
“In the Under-18s you don’t play many games in the stadiums so when you do it is a big task.
“It is nice to be involved in because being at a stadium is a different environment.”