Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler said his team got it wrong in the later stages of their 2-2 draw with Hartlepool United.
The visitors earned a share of the spoils with a 90th minute goal – when Tony Craig headed in to his own net.
The Bees had gone ahead twice through two Paul Hayes goals although Hartlepool had levelled in the first half, when Harlee Dean scored an own goal, and had the better of the first period.
Uwe said his team had control in the second half – after he had brought on Leon Legge in defence and made a tactical switch – but did not do what was needed to see the game out.
“It was not one of our better performances,” said the Brentford Manager.
“In the first half Hartlepool were the better team, they had more clear cut chances.
“In the second half we steadied the ship, Leon Legge was very good.
“They didn’t have as many chances in the second half.
“We got control and we got the second goal.
“With two minutes to go we have to play in to the corners.
“We have to play diagonal balls in to the corners and squeeze them; do not let them come high up.
“We dribble inside; we try to play one-twos and the football we want to play when we are chasing a result.
“Not the football we should be playing when we are defending a result.”
Uwe said his team had “problems” in the first 45 and he had to make changes.
Hartlepool continually got in behind Brentford in the first half and their first goal came when Antony Sweeney made a run on the left and his cross deflected in off Harlee Dean.
The alterations started before half time when Uwe moved to a 4-2-3-1 system, changing from 4-4-2, with Clayton Donaldson, Adam Forshaw and Harry Forrester in behind Paul Hayes.
He then took off central defender Harlee Dean at half time and brought on Leon Legge to partner Tony Craig at the heart of Brentford’s defence.
“We expected them to play 4-5-1,” said Uwe.
“They had Sweeney, who was fantastic; he made fantastic diagonal runs behind our left centre half.
“Communication between Harlee Dean and Tony Craig and between Harlee and the central midfield players wasn’t as good as I hoped.
“We have to track runners and when we don’t, we have to make other players aware there is a runner.
“They got in positions to hurt us often.
“Days like this happen.
“I took off Harlee at half time, he is only 21-years-old we must not forget.
“I could have taken off Shaleum Logan; we had problems with his positional play on the right hand side.
“Shaleum is more experienced, we solved that problem, he got told what he had to do and he played much better.
“We had problems in the first half and I had to react.”
Uwe said he wanted to stick with the team that beat Coventry City 2-1 on Tuesday night, the same line-up that has now started four of Brentford’s last five League One games.
He said his team had learned a “bitter lesson” from the draw.
“Last year I was criticised for rotating too much,” said Uwe.
“I thought about making one change from Tuesday but I wanted to keep the defence together and the midfield was functioning well.
“We have been playing well at home.
“We had problems in the first half, nothing to do with not making changes, but the tactical switch solved the problem.
“We should have won the game.
“It is a bitter lesson for us.”
Uwe said he was “very pleased” for striker Paul Hayes, who notched his first two goals for The Bees.
Uwe had called on Brentford fans to back the striker after he missed some chances in the win over Coventry on Tuesday.
“I always said it was a matter of time until Paul Hayes scored,” said Uwe.
“At times today he was exceptional, as he was on Tuesday in terms of his link up play.
“Today he got his two goals and I am very pleased for him.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Uwe Rösler here.