Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler said Conor McAleny had suffered a “nasty” injury in his team’s 1-0 win over Walsall yesterday.
Clayton Donaldson scored the only goal as Brentford recorded their third win in three home games in 2013/14.
But the Manager was downbeat after Conor, on loan from Everton, was taken off on a stretcher early on.
Four minutes in to the match the loanee cut in off the left and prepared to shoot when Adam Chambers came in with a sliding tackle.
Conor came off worse and, after five minutes of treatment, had to be taken off.
“It is not very good news,” said Uwe after the match.
“It is nasty.
“It is a bad day for all of us.
“I feel so much for him.
“He is a promising player and it is awful for him to get an injury like that.”
The Brentford Manager, speaking after the match, said his team picked up an ugly win.
Uwe said the injury shocked his team and they had to change from their starting 4-3-3 system to 4-4-2, before switching back later in the first half.
He paid tribute to Walsall and said they exploited the errors Brentford made in their new system.
“We have not had many ugly wins in the last two years,” said Uwe.
“Today we had one.
“All credit to Walsall.
“What happened to Conor after four minutes shocked us.
“We changed the system.
“I felt we had too many of our new signings on the pitch and couldn’t fall back on switching formations.
“There were too many tactical mistakes when we played 4-4-2 and Walsall punished us.
“They used the extra man and punished us without really making our keeper work.
“All credit to Walsall, not many teams come here and play like that.
“They are a very good side.”
Uwe hailed the way his players dug in to get the win on a wet and wild afternoon at Griffin Park.
He said he was delighted with the way his players found a way to win when they were not playing their best.
Uwe said he was more pleased with the win than when his team beat Sheffield United in their first home game earlier in the month.
“The players dug in,” said the Brentford boss.
“We had big chances to kill the game off.
“We didn’t do it and it the end it was all about defending the lead and doing the right things to get the three points.
“All credit to the players.
“I know we can play better but they really dug in.
“I am delighted, more delighted at those three points than the win against Sheffield United.
“It is an improvement for us to win those games that are on an edge and not losing points by conceding late goals.
“We got three points and you can argue if it was correct or not.
“In terms of chances we had similar numbers of chances to Walsall and better ones but in terms of play Walsall were probably the better team.”
Brentford’s goal came when Shaleum Logan cut in off the right to curl in a cross that Clayton Donaldson headed home.
Uwe said Shaleum and Martin Fillo did well on the right and also praised goalkeeper David Button, central defenders Harlee Dean and Tony Craig and central midfield player Alan McCormack.
The Manager said the weather, injury to Conor and also losing Will Grigg and Jake Bidwell to injury in the past week affected his team.
He said his team dealt well with Walsall’s counter-attacking style and the visitors didn’t really threaten the goal that much.
“Our big momentum in the first half came from the right hand side, Shaleum Logan and Martin Fillo,” said Uwe.
“Clayton converted one.
“The two centre halves and the goalkeeper did a magnificent job.
“It was our first clean sheet.
“Alan McCormack was very solid.
“We had good performances but we can play better.
“The circumstances – what happened with Conor, the rain and the changes we had to make – affected today.
“We focussed on dealing with their counter-attack but we were too late pressing the defence.
“We didn’t have the right structure but we always re-grouped, coming back behind the ball.
“At times we were too deep but in the end for all the good play Walsall had they didn’t test our goalkeeper enough.
“The clean sheet was crucial.”
Brentford’s next match is on Tuesday, when they face Championship Derby County in a Capital One Cup Second Round tie.
Uwe said the injuries have forced him to re-think who would play in that game.
“We lost a few players,” he said.
“That has changed everything.
“I had a plan but we lost a few players and I have to re-think.
“I have to see who is available.
“We are thin in some positions due to injury.
“We will re-group tomorrow and see where we are for Tuesday.
“We have lost a few players, we have to have a think as to who will play.”
Bees Player subscribers can see Uwe Rösler’s full post-match interview here.