Development Squad Head Coach Kevin O’Connor felt his side’s performance in their 3-1 win over Ipswich Town this afternoon was much more like it after last week’s defeat to Sheffield United.
The Blades had ended The Bees five match winning run last Monday but Brentford returned to winning ways in East Anglia today. The hosts took an early lead but O’Connor’s side hit back through Courtney Senior, Jan Holldack and Reece Cole.
Speaking to Bees Player after the match Kevin said: “It was a pleasing reaction after last Monday. We spoke during the week about how we needed to get last week’s performance out of our system and we did just that. We started the game slowly and conceded a poor goal but we grew into the game and started to create chances. We took a chance and then went out in the second-half, as I hoped we would, created more chances and scored more goals.
“Reece Cole came on at left-back, which isn’t his position, and he did tremendously. Jan never gave up. We told him at half-time that we needed more from him and he has delivered and scored. We had a big chance through Herson Rodrigues Alves in the first-half that we should have scored and they had a few chances as well. It was probably a little bit too open in the first-half for my liking but we dominated the second-half in terms of chances and we deserved it.”
Brentford dominated possession and territory in the first-half despite falling behind to a fifth minute Sam Ford goal. However it took until midway through the first-half for that dominance to tell as Montell Moore released Senior to slide home past Jonathan Henly.
Jan Holldack poked home a second after the break before Reece Cole wrapped things up moments later with a powerful finish. The Bees had chances to add to their goal-tally but failed to find the back of the net again, an area Kevin felt could be improved on despite the win.
“It took us a while to realise that we needed to be patient but we started to do that and move it quickly to create chances,” said Kevin. “We looked dangerous when we moved it quick but we needed to make that right decision in the final third. That is what we need to get better at because when we got it right we scored some good goals. We deserved to score more today so that is something that we can improve on. No matter how well you play you can always improve at this level.”
It was a young Brentford XI to take to the field this afternoon with two Under-18s in the squad and five first-year professionals in the starting line-up. Having fallen behind Kevin was pleased with the professionalism of his players in getting back into the game.
“The younger lads are slowly starting to become leaders and I saw glimpses of that today,” said Kevin. “It was a test today when we went behind. We spoke about putting last week out of the system but then we went behind which way a test. All credit to them they came through that test. It was the manner which we won in as well. Once we went 3-1 up it was very comfortable and I am really happy. We were back to our normal levels today so we have to make sure that last week doesn’t happen again.”