Development Squad Manager Lee Carsley said he knows his side can play far better than they did during Saturday’s 3-0 Under-21 Professional Development League Two South defeat to Nottingham Forest.
The Bees fell behind to a Oliver Burke goal inside five minutes and then conceded twice just before half-time through Jorge Grant and a Jack Blake penalty as Forest threatened to run away with the match.
Lee’s side rallied in the second-half but could find no way through against an organised and hardworking outfit.
Saturday’s match was played in front of a sizeable crowd at Griffin Park and Lee admitted that made the performance all the more frustrating.
Speaking to Bees Player after the match Lee said that people watching his team for the first-time on Saturday did not see them perform anywhere near what they are capable of.
“It was a tough one for them to take.
“They were really looking forward to playing at home and putting on a good performance for the fans that had turned up.
“In that respect it is disappointing because people make their minds up about some of the players having seen them play now.
“They haven’t given a great account of themselves in that respect.
“This should drive them on because if they want to be footballers, which they all want to be, they are going to have plenty of disappointments.
“It is about how they react to that disappointment and I expect them to come back in Monday wanting to work.
“I see them day in day out and I see them be a lot better than they were today.
“They haven’t given a good account of themselves and that is disappointing.
“I see all the work that they put in but that is football and you have to recover quickly.
“We have potentially got a friendly on Tuesday so hopefully we will get a reaction then.”
Forest took the lead in the fifth minute when a Dimitar Evtimov goal-kick cleared everyone and Burke ran in to poke home from close range.
The lead was doubled eight minutes before the break when Grant pounced on a weak Mark Smith clearance and rounded the goalkeeper to slot home.
The points were secure two minutes later as the impressive Burke was clipped as he ran into the box and Blake coolly converted the penalty.
Lee felt it was a poor overall performance but the former Republic of Ireland midfielder was particularly disappointed with the manner in which The Bees conceded.
“I thought for 25 minutes today, especially in the first-half, we were really good,” said Lee.
“We had a couple of good chances but to come in 3-0 down at half-time, given the manner of some of the goals, was very disappointing.
“To concede from a goal kick, one big punt down the field that we didn’t deal with, a short back pass, and a penalty was quite disappointing.
“We had two or three good chances before they scored.
“I spoke to the players before the game about when you are on top you need to score and get that reward of going a goal in front.
“Unfortunately we didn’t take it.
“Of late we have scored a lot of goals so in that respect it is disappointing.
“I thought the effort was there in the second-half but that is the least that I expect.
“It shouldn’t just be given that Nottingham Forest come to Griffin Park and beat us.
“The club has moved on quicker than that and we were expected to win today.”
Following Saturday’s defeat The Bees have only two more league matches to play, home and away to Charlton Athletic in the middle of April.
Lee is looking to organise a number of friendlies before the end of the season and feels there is still a lot for his side to play for.
With a number of Youth Team players involved on Saturday likely to be around next season and with Development Squad players fighting for contracts Lee said he wants to see a reaction from his side.
“We have got the two Charlton Athletic games to play and I will organise a few friendlies in there as well,” said Lee.
“We are all looking forward to the next game and I wish it was tomorrow.
“Every player who played today will be here next season, bar maybe two.
“That is pretty much the future of the Under-21s so we have got a lot to do.
“It was good that we have been able to give a chance to a few of them.
“In the main today I didn’t think it was the younger players who were the problem, I thought it was the older players who were the problems.”