Harlee Dean said Brentford would take confidence from the way they came from behind to earn a point against Birmingham City with ten men.

But he admitted there was some disappointment among the players that they had not won the game.

The Bees drew 1-1 with Birmingham at Griffin Park yesterday.

Tony Craig was sent off 15 minutes in when referee Robert Madley adjudged he had denied Clayton Donaldson a clear goal scoring opportunity.

The visitors went ahead from the resulting penalty but could not kill the game off.

Brentford dominated after the break and equalised through Moses Odubajo with ten minutes to go.

Harlee, speaking to Bees Player after the match, said Brentford could then have gone on to win.

“We could have won the game but we got a point having played with ten men for a lot of the game,” he said.

“We have mixed feelings but we have another point in The Championship and it gives us a bit of confidence.

“It came against an established team and it shows how good we are.

“It’s a strange feeling but we have a point.

“We move on and get on with the next game.

“We will look at the chances we had, as well as the chances they had, and gain confidence from it.

“Birmingham were in the Premier League recently.

“It’s definitely a positive.”

Harlee started on the bench but came on to play alongside James Tarkowski in the centre of defence after the sending off.

It was his first appearance in The Championship.

Harlee had been a regular for more than two years before picking up an injury last year.

He has not been able to displace Tarkowski or Craig in the team since his return and admitted to frustration at not starting.

He added he found it difficult to come on early but wanted to give a good account of himself.

“I didn’t find it easy to come on when I did,” said Harlee.

“We had warmed up and then sat down for 15 minutes, everything stiffens up and you have to come on and be 100 per cent.

“If you are not, you will be caught out.

“It is definitely difficult but you have to prepare as best you can.

“I prepared well and you have to be ready when you come on.

“I have felt good all pre-season and have been disappointed not to start games.

“I knew I had to go on and lay down a marker.

“I had to show the manager and the fans that I should be playing.

“Football can be fickle and my confidence has been knocked.

“I have waited for many years for my first Championship game and I wanted to give a good account of myself.

“We got the draw.”

Brentford responded well to falling behind but Birmingham dominated the end of the first half.

However, The Bees kept them out and were able to find a goal after the break.

“We had a good spell after the sending off but my feeling for the last ten minutes of the first half was to get to half time,” said Harlee.

“That would be a good marker.

“We hit the ball longer and got to half time.

“We didn’t need to rush about equalising, we had 60 minutes.

“We got to half time, got the goal and got a point.”

Birmingham took off strikers Donaldson and Wes Thomas and moved Lee Novak in to a central attacking role.

“I was delighted with the changes they made,” said Harlee.

“I know Clayton and Wes.

“Clayton is faster than both of us.

“With Novak up top it was a fight, that’s more my game.

“It gave us a psychological boost, they weren’t going to run in behind.”

Harlee said now he made his first league appearance of the season, he wanted to keep his shirt.

He said he had to pose Brentford Manager Mark Warburton a big problem when selecting his side.

“It is very difficult being out of the team,” said Harlee.

“I have worked hard, come back and feel like I am in the best shape I have ever been.

“I feel like I should be in the team but it’s the manager’s decision.

“It has been tough, I have kept my head up but I haven’t been my normal self, it affects me, I want to play.

“Hopefully I can keep the shirt.

“I got out there today and gave a good account of myself.

“I had to pose the gaffer a problem, hopefully I have done that.

“I need to progress and develop; hopefully I can keep the shirt.”

Harlee also had words of praise for the Brentford supporters.

“I have never heard noise like today,” he said.

“The fans got behind us.

“We also need them to be patient.

“If the fans stay behind us and stay confident, we will do the same.”

Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Harlee Dean here.