Development Squad coach Kevin O’Connor felt his side didn’t deserve to win their Under 21 Professional Development League Two match at home to Leeds United despite leading with less than five minutes to play.

Euan Mulhern put the visitors ahead in early on in a first-half which they dominated but The Bees were a different team in the second-half, scoring twice in 11 minutes through Jan Holldack.

However Mulhern scored again with four minutes to go to ensure that Leeds left West London with a point which Kevin felt they deserved.

“It was disappointing to let that late lead slip but overall we didn’t deserve to win,” said Kevin, speaking to Bees Player after the match. “We started very slowly in the first-half and we didn’t move the ball quick enough and that let them get back into their defensive shape. We had a good chat with them at half-time and we got a good reaction from them. It seemed like Leeds were up for the game more than us which was a bit disappointing.

“We gave them a bit of a gee up along those lines at half-time and we got the response we wanted. In the second-half we moved the ball quicker and we won it further up the pitch which created more opportunities. We are good when we get in between the lines like we did second-half. It was disappointing to go 2-1 up and not to win but I don’t think we did enough to win.”

It was a mixture of youth and experience in Tuesday’s starting XI with two youth team players, Chris Mepham and Reece Cole, in the starting XI alongside first-team players Jack Bonham, Ryan Woods, Marcos Tebar and Jack O’Connell.

Kevin was impressed with the way the younger players in the team stood up to the test against Leeds, helped by the more experienced heads around them.

“The two full-backs did well all game because they are not natural full-backs,” said Kevin. “They were Under-18 lads playing up and I felt that they did really well. We told them after the game that we were pleased with them because those are not their natural positions and they came in last minute and filled in really well. Jack O’Connell was at the back and he was talking to Chris Mepham a lot. Gradi Milenge is gaining experience and we had a fair amount of experience in the midfield as well.”

A succession of injuries in the first-team have given opportunities for Development Squad players to stake a claim for a first-team spot with Jermaine Udumaga, Josh Clarke, Josh Laurent and Courtney Senior all featuring so far this season.

Brentford Head Coach Marinus Dijkhuizen and his assistant Roy Hendriksen watched Tuesday’s match against Leeds and Kevin believes it is vital for those players with first-team ambitions to impress when given the chance.

“Josh Clarke made his first start at the weekend and I thought he did really well while Jermaine Udumaga has been involved as well,” said Kevin. “That is good for them but it also bumps up the Under-18s so it is giving people an opportunity. Seeing our boys in the first-team gives the boys a boost that if they are doing well they are going to get a chance. It is a great opportunity in home games for the boys to show everyone what they can do. Marinus Dijkhuizen, Roy Hendriksen, Flemming Pedersen and others will all be watching so it is a great opportunity to make a good impression of yourself.”

Bees Player subscribers can listen to the full interview below