Winger Kyjuon Marsh-Brown felt Brentford put in two very different performances in one match as they took a point from their Under-21 Professional Development League Two South encounter with Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.
Lee Carsley’s side dominated the first-half but only led through a solitary Zain Westbrooke goal despite creating numerous chances.
The Bees never really reached those same levels in the second period and, after Mikhail Kennedy levelled for The Addicks, Brentford rather clung on for a point in the closing stages.
Speaking to Bees Player after the match Kyjuon felt the side didn’t look after the ball well enough in the second-half and, on a very hot afternoon in South East London, that took its toll.
“After the first-half I wouldn’t have said a draw was a fair result but the way we ended the game it probably was,” said Kyjuon.
“We did really well in the first-half.
“We lost the ball but we regained it quickly.
“We passed and moved with intricate play but we just needed to finish it.
“Before the game we talked about when we lost the ball we needed to get around it quickly and attack again.
“We wanted to keep them in their half and I think we did that really well.
“In the second-half we lacked quality getting around the ball.
“We started to get tired because we kept losing it more.
“In this type of heat running around is not going to benefit you so you need to keep the ball and then take your chances.”
The Bees, including Kyjuon, passed up a number of chances to put the game to bed in the first-half and the winger admits that is something they need to work on.
The match was 17-year-old Kyjuon’s first Under-21 league start of the season, after eight substitute appearances, and he feels he is getting more confident as he spends time around the Development Squad.
“I think I did well in the first-half,” said Kyjuon.
“I tried to be direct but I needed to put away the chance that I got.
“That is something I need to work on in training.
“In training I will get into those places but then I will finish, today it didn’t happen for me.
“I need to go back and keep working on it and hopefully I will get another chance.
“I am started to get more confident playing Under-21s football.
“I started today and that was a target which I set myself.
“Now I have reached it I have to keep pushing on.
“I have made really big strides in coming back from my injuries and not getting injured again.
“I have been working hard with the squad to keep improving and that is why I am playing now.”
Kyjuon has only just returned from attending an Antigua and Barbuda World Cup 2018 Training Camp.
While there Kyjuon scored in a practice match against a local university side and also took part in a second game against a Miami based side.
The winger said it was a great confidence booster to go and play with professional footballers and something he really enjoyed.
“It was a great experience to play out there and to train with professionals,” said Kyjuon.
“It was a bit nerve-wracking at first.
“Once I got out there and started training with them and settled in it went quite well.
“I started in the first practice game and my brother [Keanu Marsh-Brown] set up my goal.
“In the second match I came on for the last 45 minutes and thought I did quite well.
“To score was a real confidence booster and it helped me to show my quality more.”