Anthony Hayes praised the Youth Team for the way they handled the departure of Jeremy Steele as manager earlier this week.
Jeremy left as Youth Team Manager after just under two years in charge on Monday leaving Anthony in charge for the visit of Leeds United on Saturday.
Speaking to Bees Player after Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Leeds United Anthony admitted it had been a difficult week for players and staff alike.
Anthony praised the players for the professional way that they approached Saturday’s game and believes that the level of maturity shown by the players bodes well for the future.
“It has been a difficult week for the players and staff with Jeremy Steele leaving but the players have had to react and be professional,” said Anthony.
“I don’t think their outcome has changed and training was good this week.
“We got good work done with them on Thursday and Friday.
“It is good to get the Huddersfield Town performance out of our system because it was very unlike us.
“We expect it once in a while with this age group because they can be inconsistent but it is great to put it behind us.
“We spoke to the players at length of Tuesday about Jeremy leaving to put their minds at ease.
“Sometimes they can blame themselves but it was good to have a breather on Wednesday and then come Thursday it was back to normal and they were focused on their goals.
“To be fair to the players they have been very professional and they have trained well.
“Unfortunately we are in an industry where it can be like this and the players have just got to look after themselves and make sure that their performance in training and in matches is of the level to get them into the Under-21s and then hopefully on to the first-team.”
Any doubts that Anthony might have had about the mental state of the players were banished early as Brentford took a fourth minute lead against The Whites through Tom Field.
Bradley Clayton doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time before Tyla Bell made it 2-1 from the spot just before the hour.
Clayton grabbed his second, and The Bees’ third, five minutes later and Reece Cole added some gloss to the score-line with a fantastic long-range strike late on.
Anthony said his side were set-up to attack and was very pleased that they were able to show so much attacking intent throughout the 90 minutes.
“It was a good performance for the majority of the game,” said Anthony.
“We have worked a lot on defending for the first couple of weeks of October and it was nice because I thought we were good defensively.
“We restricted Leeds to three chances in the whole game, one of which was the penalty they scored from.
“Attacking wise it is always nice to score a few goals.
“The aim of the starting XI that we had was to give us attacking intent.
“Kyjuon Marsh-Brown and Courtney Senior down the side gave us really good attacking ability.
“The relationship between Reece Cole and Zain Westbrooke in the middle is really starting to develop and we have some really good attacking players in the team.
“I have to credit Kingsley Eshun who came in as an Under-16 but didn’t look out of place and Bradley Clayton showed his quality in front of goal scoring twice.
“It is pleasing to get goals throughout the team and it takes a little bit of pressure off the centre-forwards.
“With how we play we are expecting our full-backs to get into those positions where they are either creating or scoring goals, that is the same with our central midfield players.
“We don’t play with a four or a ten we expect them to link, try and get forward and create and score as well.
“With the football that we play we are trying to copy the first-team and we have played some good stuff so far.
“There is always a little thought in your mind that 2-0 is a dangerous score-line.
“I thought the players were comfortable and they really controlled the game.
“In the first-half they probably had a 15 minute spell where we lost control and they grew into the game but they very rarely threatened us.
“In the main I felt we were in control of the game, comfortable defensively and scored some good goals.
"I wasn’t particularly worried when they scored.
“I thought the players reacted really well afterwards and to get the third and then a terrific fourth goal from Reece Cole was pleasing.”
Kingsley Eshun joined an increasing list of Under-16s to appear for the Youth Team on Saturday and Anthony has been delighted with how well the younger age group has done stepping up this season.
Danny Parish and Joshua Bohui both opened their Youth Team goals account against Coventry City in September while George Harmes has impressed in his two appearances so far.
Anthony believes that the most exciting thing is that there are more Under-16s waiting to get their chance who the Irishman believes can do as well as those who have already made the step up.
“It is very encouraging to see the Under-16s step up so well,” said Anthony.
“We are also looking at them as potential scholars so we have to test them in the environment and see if they can sink or swim really.
“They have all done really well and adapted well when they have come up.
“The good thing and the exciting thing for us as a department, and as an Academy, is that there are probably three or four more who can come in and compete at that level.
“The signs are good moving forward.”