Jon De Souza he thought the 1-1 draw between Brentford’s Development Squad and their counterparts from Brighton and Hove Albion was a fair result.
The Bees drew in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South last night on the south coast.
They went ahead when Alfie Mawson headed home a Stuart Dallas corner and dominated most of the first half.
Brighton goalkeeper Grant Smith made a series of fine saves to keep his side in it and they equalised through a disputed penalty late in the first half.
Both sides chased the win in the second period but neither could find the crucial goal.
Development Squad Manager Jon said Brentford created more but the home side played better football.
“The performance was OK and to be fair was OK throughout the 90 minutes,” he said.
“I thought a draw was the fair result.
“They passed it better than us and showed more patterns in their play but we created a little bit more throughout the game.
“We surrendered possession too easily and didn’t make enough passes.
“In the first 15 to 20 minutes we opened them up with longer play and the players thought they’d go longer more often.
“That wasn’t good enough.
“I wanted us to try and get on the football.
“We look to play in behind when it’s on but you need to move the other team about.
“We went too long too early at times.
“Last 15 minutes we were trying to go long, that was a conscious decision but we were trying to play for the rest of the game.”
Jon said Brentford needed to take the chances they created if they wanted to turn the draw in to a win.
“We created a few good chances in the first half,” he said.
“Tyrell [Miller-Rodney] worked the goalkeeper, Stuart Dallas worked the goalkeeper, Paul Hayes could have scored.
“We had chances, but we need to take them.
“Brighton created a few chances in the last ten to 15 minutes but Luke Norris and Stuart Dallas had chances for us.
“We need to take those chances.
“Brighton like to pass the football and they passed it well.
“Sometimes we pressed well and stopped them from playing.”
Jon said he felt two key incidents went against The Bees.
Brighton were awarded a penalty when Luke Norris tussled with Ben Barclay and the hosts equalised.
They were then not awarded one in the later stages when the two were involved at the other end, the Brentford went through and was brought down by the Brighton defender but nothing was given.
“Luke didn’t think it was a penalty,” said Jon.
“I thought it was soft.
“These things happen.
“I won’t moan at a referee but I thought both those decisions were wrong.
“I don’t think we should have given away a penalty and I thought we had one.
“Ultimately people make mistakes; I have no problem with that.”
Brentford now have four points from two games in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South whole Brighton are top with ten points from four games.
The Bees now play six games in the next ten weeks and Jon said he was hoping they could build on their start.
“This was Brighton’s fourth league game and only our second,” he said.
“We have had some behind closed doors games but we have also had players with the First Team so it has been hard to put together a squad.
“We now have a run of five or six games in a row and hopefully we can build on this performance.”
In the past few weeks Development Squad players Josh Clarke and Alfie Mawson have made their debuts for the First Team in the Capital One Cup tie against Derby County while Aaron Pierre and Luke Norris have also made appearances, the latter scoring against AFC Wimbledon in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
Tyrell Miller-Rodney and Charlie Adams have also been substitutes for Uwe Rösler’s side in recent weeks.
Jon said he thought they had done OK in the First Team and needed to use those appearances to motivate them to make further progress.
Emmanuel Oyeleke, known as Manny, is currently out on loan at Aldershot Town and Jon said he was doing well.
“First Team football gives a taste of what we are all about,” said the Development Squad boss.
“We want to get players in to the First Team.
“The gaffer has been brilliant; he has trusted three or four of them in games.
“They have done OK overall.
“They need to use that to motivate them.
“I was on the bench for the Derby game and I speak to the Manager every day about what they need to do to get better and to get in to the First Team.
“We are really pleased with how Manny is doing.
“He has played almost every game and 90 minutes in the majority.
“The most important thing is that we will do what is best for the individual to give him the best chance to make the First Team.
“If we feel they should play in the Under-21s they will, if we think they need to play adult football we will get them out on loan.
“It is what is best for the individual.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Jon De Souza here.