Brentford’s Development Squad were beaten 4-2 by Queens Park Rangers to end a four match unbeaten run in the Under-21 Professional Development League.
The Bees conceded poor goals at bad times and although Sam Griffiths equalised in the first half and Lee Hodson scored late on, they were well beaten on a freezing afternoon.
For much of the first half the teams were even and The Bees had enough possession and chances to be ahead at the break but QPR took control after the re-start and never looked like losing their half time lead.
Brentford could not have got off to a worse start, conceding inside the first two minutes.
Luke Young, the former England international playing at right back for the Premier League side, twisted his way clear on the right and crossed to the far post, Hodson stopped Peter Skapetis scoring but the ball dropped loose and Mo Sharif smashed it home.
The Bees could have levelled immediately when Farid El Alagui headed a Hodson cross wide and the striker did have the ball in the net soon after but was flagged offside.
El Alagui came through 79 minutes on his second appearance after injury.
The striker, who suffered a serious knee injury in October, looked mobile and fit but did not have many sights of goal.
Club Captain Kevin O’Connor, who was also playing his second game after a serious ankle injury in November, came through 90 minutes.
He started in the centre of midfield and then switched to a position in a three-man central defence at half time, looking assured throughout.
The Bees were like O’Connor in the first half, assured in possession and with the upper hand in the game.
Jake Larkins was forced in to a low save by goal scorer Sharif but Brentford looked most likely to get the next goal.
Luke Norris fired just over and when the striker had a shot blocked, Aaron Pierre couldn’t force it home and Jake Reeves lashed over.
Charlie Adams had a shot blocked, Pierre fired wide on the turn and when Stuart Dallas crossed from the left Reeves appeared to be bundled over before he could shoot and O’Connor was crowded out as he tried to profit.
Michael Petrasso shot over for the visitors but they were on the back foot and it was no surprise when Brentford equalised.
The goal was as simple as it was effective, Reeves chipped a free kick in to the box and Griffiths rose highest, nodding the ball past the onrushing Joe Lumley and in to the net.
The Bees could have made it two moments later when Dallas broke away and fed Reeves but the midfield player took a heavy touch and Lumley saved at his feet.
And seconds later QPR had restored their lead.
A free kick was curled in from the left by Sharif and Max Ehmer arrived to volley in with little attention from Brentford defenders.
Lumley saved at the feed of El Alagui as Brentford tried to respond and Dallas had a volley blocked.
Emmanuel Oyeleke headed wide while Larkins made a fine save at the other end, tipping over a shot from Manny Monthe.
Brentford could have levelled at the end of the first half when a Reeves free kick was deflected wide and when the resulting corner was worked to Oyeleke, he fired over.
The Bees made a tactical change at the break, bringing O’Connor in to a central defensive three, switching Hodson and Dallas to wing back and moving Oyeleke and Adams in to central roles.
But any thought of what impact that might have went out of the window when QPR scored 45 seconds in to the second half.
A cross was cleared and when Michael Petrasso helped it back in, it floated over Larkins and in to the far corner.
El Alagui had a shot saved as Brentford tried to respond but QPR had a measure of control after the break.
Larkins saved from Sharif before they went 4-1 up with 20 minutes to go.
A free kick was worked to Sharif, his shot was blocked but the ball bobbled around and Ben Brown back heeled it over the line.
The Bees had been unable to get forward momentum after the break and QPR were happy to let the hosts pass the ball in their own half.
With three goals to chase Brentford started to create openings but it was too little too late.
Hodson smashed over before Adams fired in a low shot that cannoned away off a post and Lumley saved from Oyeleke.
QPR had chances from set pieces to go further clear – an Ehmer flick from a low corner was scrambled away and Taylor Parmenter headed over from close range.
The Bees pulled one back when a Reeves shot broke to Josh Clarke and he cross for Hodson to convert at the far post.
Lumley saved from Griffiths as Brentford tried to mount an incredible comeback but it wasn’t to be and QPR took the points.
Brentford Development Squad: Jake Larkins; Lee Hodson, Sam Griffiths, Aaron Pierre, Emmanuel Oyeleke; Kevin O’Connor; Stuart Dallas (sub Josh Clarke 62 mins), Jake Reeves, Charlie Adams; Farid El Alagui (sub Leon Redwood 79 mins), Luke Norris
Subs (not used): James Bransgrove, Tyrell Miller-Rodney
Queens Park Rangers Development Squad: Joe Lumley; Luke Young (sub Manny Monthe 27 mins), Taylor Parmenter, Ben Brown, Sam Magri; Josh Hunt-Laurent, Max Ehmer; Michael Petrasso, Dylan Carreiro, Mo Sharif; Peter Skapetis
Subs (not used): Tommaso Trani, Bradley Simmonds, David Fitzpatrick
By Chris Wickham