Luke Norris said the performance of Cardiff City’s Under-21 side last night showed the level Brentford’s young players have to reach.
Brentford’s Development Squad were beaten 3-1 by Cardiff in an Under-21 Professional Development League Two South game in Wales last night.
Luke said Cardiff were the better team and deserved their win.
The striker levelled it up at 1-1 for Brentford from the penalty spot with 20 minutes to go, a goal against the run of play.
But Cardiff, who had forced Brentford goalkeeper Jack Bonham in to a series of fine saves, scored twice more to take the win.
Luke said the hosts had a number of players with Championship and Premier League experience and showed what it took to play at that level.
“It was obvious they were the better team tonight,” said Luke.
“We did a lot of running around in the first half and went in 1-0 down.
“We looked bright at the start of the second half.
“We started well, got back in to the game and then it was just waves and waves of them coming at us.
“There are things to work on but at the end of the day they were the better team.
“They have a few players that have played a lot of Championship and Premier League games.
“That is what we all strive to do.
“It’s the level we want to get to.
“If that is the bar, we have to get to it.
“This is what we have to aspire to, to get as high as we can.”
Luke partnered Farid El Alagui in attack and said he enjoyed playing with him.
He said the pair did all they could to get Brentford in to the game.
Luke won Brentford’s penalty when he was pulled back and converted it against former team mate Simon Moore, now at Cardiff.
He said Brentford didn’t push on after equalising.
“I like playing with Farid, we play well together and I thought we did all we could,” he told Bees Player.
“When we got Josh Clarke in to the game we could create something.
“It just didn’t happen enough.
“For the penalty, the guy was pulling my shirt, it was a penalty.
“It was nice to score against Simon, I took a lot against him in training.
“I had to put it in, that is what I did.
“We were back in the game but dropped from there.
“We didn’t push on.”
It was Luke’s first goal in the Under-21 Professional Development League this season.
The striker scored his first goal for the First Team in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over AFC Wimbledon in September and said his fitness was a factor in his continued improvement.
“Last year I scored a few at this level,” said Luke, who scored 13 Under-21 goals in 21 competitive games last season.
“This year I have scored the same at First Team level as these games.
“That is good, I can’t fault that.
“I would rather score First Team goals.
“I am happy with how the year has gone so far.
“This is the fittest I have ever been.
“Before I would get a run of games and pick up an injury.
“This is the longest I have been fit, I don’t miss training.
“If I can keep myself fit I am sure I can be in and around it.
“We have some good games coming up at under-21 level.
“We need to put this right and I think we will do OK.”
Luke was used as a substitute for the First Team in the Sky Bet League One defeat against Stevenage on Saturday.
The Bees lost 2-1 in Hertfordshire but Luke said his involvement gave him a boost.
“The league is the most important thing for the Club this year,” he said.
“For the manager to put me in the squad and bring me in is a real boost for me.
“I know he does believe in me.
“If I can get chances I think I can repay him.”
A full interview with Luke Norris is available here for Bees Player subscribers.