Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza said he was pleased with Brentford’s 2-1 Professional Development League Two South win over Bristol City but unhappy with aspects of their performance.
Brentford’s Under-21 side beat Bristol City 2-1 in their first competitive game of the 2013/14 season yesterday afternoon.
Paul Hayes scored twice, including the winner with the last kick of the game, to give The Bees the points.
Jon, speaking to Bees Player after the match, said he was pleased with his side’s first half performance but felt the tempo was not high enough, particularly after the break
“I am pleased with the result,” he said.
“If you had asked me at half time I would have been pleased with the performance.
“I thought we did well in the first half.
“Second half I was extremely disappointed.
“I felt it had a pre-season feel to it, there was no real tempo in the game.
“I thought we dictated the game in the first half so I wasn’t too concerned.
“We kept the ball, passed it and dictated the tempo of the game; I felt we were in control.
“In the second half I thought we were lazy in possession and didn’t show enough tempo and intensity in all our play.
“I hope it wasn’t down to fitness.
“It may have played a part; some of the players haven’t played for two weeks.
“I feel it was more desire and energy.
“Both teams treated it like a pre-season game.
“The weather may have played a part; we will have to look at all areas.
“I am not happy.
“I have been pleased with our intensity and tempo in pre-season; we have competed and done well.
“Today I was disappointed.”
Brentford dominated the early stages and went ahead when Luke Norris crossed for Paul Hayes to score.
But City came back in to the game, equalised from the penalty spot and had the better of the end of the first half.
Brentford got the ascendency back but created fewer chances and looked set for a draw when a Luke Norris penalty was spectacularly saved.
However, Paul Hayes got the slightest touch to a Charlie Adams shot and diverted home a last minute winner.
“Sometimes goals change games,” said Jon.
“I don’t know if the players thought that when we went 1-0 up it would be comfortable and we would go on and dominate the game.
“It wasn’t good enough.
“For their goal we gave possession away, didn’t recover well, didn’t get our shape.
“We made wrong decisions on pressing the ball.
“There were lots of things that went wrong.
“It is my job to dissect and find out what went wrong.
“The biggest thing for me is decision making and a lack of care in what we did.”
Brentford played with three central defenders – Alfie Mawson, Ben Nugent and Aaron Pierre – and with Josh Clarke and 16-year-old Tom Field as wing backs.
Jon said teams had used the system successfully last season and it was something he and First Team Manager Uwe Rösler wanted to look at.
“It is something that we have discussed, 3-5-2 is a shape that is creeping back in to the game,” said Jon.
“Manchester City and Watford did it successfully last year and it gives the Manager another shape he can have in his armoury if he needs it this season.
“In the Development Squad it is about winning but it is also about trying things.
“Josh Clarke was a threat but needed to be more purposeful in the final third.
“Tom, as a first year scholar, put a good shift in.
“Playing wing back in that system is a demanding task, they have to cover the whole side.
“We did OK overall.”
Jon said there may be a chance for Development Squad players to go out on loan, like Emmanuel Oyeleke who is at Aldershot Town.
He said it was important for those in the Under-21 squad to play games at a first team level this season.
Brentford challenged for honours in the Under-21 Professional Development League last season, eventually finishing fourth and Jon said pushing for the top spots again would be good for his players.
“There is something to build on,” he said.
“If you can get to February and be in contention it gives the players the pressure of needing to win and play with our style.
“A game like today, I didn’t feel there was the tempo.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Jon De Souza here.