Brentford’s Development Squad slipped to defeat in South London, losing to Crystal Palace in their latest Under-21 Professional Development League Two South match.

The Bees were second best in the first half, conceded two goals and gave themselves a mountain to climb

Louis Hutton halved the deficit early in the second half and Brentford looked set to mount a comeback as they improved markedly after the break.

But Palace got a third inside the final 15 minutes and that was enough to give them the win.

Palace had pace in abundance, attacking threat and a good defensive shape.

Brentford were not able to get their attacking play going in the first half and failed to really trouble the home back line.

The goals The Bees conceded in the opening 45 were, however, of their own making.

The first came when they conceded posession in an attacking area, Palace broke quickly and right back Mandela Egbo squared for Kyle De Silva to turn and poke home.

The second came late in the first half from a free kick.

Daniel O’Shaughnessy gave the ball to Dwight Gayle in a dangerous area and Raphaël Calvet brought down the Palace attacker.

Sullay Kaikai stepped up to curl a free kick over the defensive wall, past Jack Bonham and in to the net.

Gayle had earlier gone close with an audacious chip after picking up a loose Hutton pass and Bonham saved well when Egbo burst forward.

Brentford’s best attacking play in the first half involved Sam Saunders, returning after a lengthy spell out with injury to play 45 minutes.

He had a shot blocked after cutting inside and then another effort diverted away from goal after Nico Yennaris had stepped out of defence.

Lee Carsley, in his first match as Brentford Development Squad Manager, produced a half time team talk that gave an immediate return.

Chris Kettings made an early save from Montell Moore and Hutton had already fired wide before he reduced the arrears with a 20-yard effort.

Nick Proschwitz headed narrowly wide under pressure and then saw an effort deflect inches wide after he picked up a Betinho lay-off.

Brentford had the momentum and Moore could have equalised when he got on to a Betinho header but he poked wide.

Hutton then fired wide and Betinho missed the target with two efforts in similar inside right positions.

Bonham had been largely untroubled in the second period, getting down well to save from substitute Fisayo Adarabioyo and watching Kaikai fire across the face of goal.

And the Brentford goalkeeper could do nothing as, after a nice piece of interplay on the edge of the penalty area, Adléne Guedioura curled the ball home from 20 yards to effectively seal the game.

Proschwitz fired wide and Kettings saved from O’Shaughnessy as Brentford continued to press forward.

But there was no way back and Palace took the points.

Crystal Palace Development Squad: Chris Kettings; Mandela Egbo, Sam Magri, Luke Croll, Zeki Fryers; Kyle De Silva (sub Connor Dymond 72 mins), Hiram Boateng, Adléne Guedioura, Sullay Kaikai; Jake Gray (sub Reise Allassani 78 mins), Dwight Gayle (sub Fisayo Adarabioyo 59 mins)

Subs (not used): Oli Pain, Sonny Black

Brentford Development Squad: Jack Bonham; Nico Yennaris (sub Kieran Morris 61 mins), Raphaël Calvet, Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Aaron Greene; Louis Hutton; Sam Saunders (sub Tyrell Miller-Rodney h/t), Montell Moore, Jermaine Udumaga; Betinho (sub Courtney Senior 73 mins), Nick Proschwitz

Subs (not used): Mark Smith, Lionel Stone

By Chris Wickham