Aaron Greene thinks Monday’s victory over Bristol City can be used as a fresh start for the Development Squad this season.
The 5-1 success, given to The Bees thanks to Montell Moore’s brace and strikes from Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Sam Saunders and a Jermaine Udamaga penalty, was their first in nearly three months and the first under Lee Carsley as Development Squad manager.
Having endured a tough start to the season Aaron believes this win can be the kick-start The Bees’s season needs, especially as it moved them off the bottom of the table at the expense of their West Country rivals.
Speaking to Bees Player after the win Aaron said he felt that Lee’s new coaching methods were starting to bear fruit and that could be seen in Monday’s performance.
“I hope we can build on this and I think we can only get better,” said Aaron.
“You can see on the pitch that the work rate and intensity that we work at keeps going up and up.
“Darren Stern got the stats out last week and it just shows that every week we are working harder and harder.
“Our pressing has got a lot better and I think we do work a lot harder.
“We have got to put the results we have had behind us, learn from them and hopefully we can go on from here and get better.”
Bristol City took the lead on Monday as Raphaël Calvet put into his own net under pressure from Jamie Horgan.
However The Bees hit back soon after to level and then scored twice in 10 minutes just shy of half-time to go in 3-1 ahead.
For a side that has gone so long without a win Aaron said it was vital that they got back into the game so soon after falling behind to ensure their heads didn’t drop.
The former Chelmsford City player said it was a great feeling in the dressing room after the match and it was nice to get a reward for the hard work they have been putting in.
“It is a lot better than it has been in the dressing room,” said Aaron.
“Everyone is a lot happier and the mood has got a lot better.
“Over the last few weeks we have been getting better and better and it has just shown today.
“We looked at the teams that we had to play and we looked at this game as one you would like to get three points from.
“They aren’t a bad side but it is a game where we should be picking up points and we have.
“It was nice to win 5-1 and to get a few goals and, as part of the back four, to not concede as many.
“Conceding a goal wasn’t nice but it is just great to get a win.
“It was so important to level quickly.
“You could feel it in the games before that conceding just kills us.
“Today getting one back early boosted us and we just went on from there.
“It was nice when it went 2-1, 3-1, 4-1.
“It is great for guys like Montell Moore to get a few goals and it is a confidence boost for them.
“We deserved it and I think we have been getting better over the last few weeks.
“We have been working hard in training and it showed today.”
Monday’s match was not a typical Development Squad match as Bristol City looked to play in a more direct and physical fashion that most sides in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South do.
In that sense Aaron said it was a great help to have James Tarkowski, Daniel O’Shaughnessy and Raphaël Calvet, all of whom have first-team experience, in the back four alongside him.
Aaron said has learnt a lot playing alongside James, Daniel and Raphaël in the back four and it gives him a confidence boost knowing he has the three of them alongside him.
“Today was almost like playing a men’s game like we did with the friendlies against Maidenhead United,” said Aaron.
“Sometimes it is a bit more realistic because not all games are like Brentford in the Championship where it is pass, pass, pass.
“Teams will go long against you and it was a good test for us to go from playing those keep ball matches to a game where the team goes long against us.
“It was different but I felt we dealt with it.
“It definitely helped us playing those friendlies because we knew we could deal with it.
“It helped having James Tarkowski, Daniel O’Shaughnessy and Raphael Calvet along the back four because they are used to long balls and winning everything as they did today.
“It is comforting knowing you have Daniel next to you and James and Raphael as well because they are always talking to you.
“James is always controlling the backline and you know that if a ball goes over your head you have Daniel winning it.
“You are always picking up good little tips and bits of information when you play with them.
“You learn a lot from what they say and it is a good experience.”
Bees Player subscribers can listen to the full interview here