Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza described Brentford’s Under-21 Professional Development League Two South win over Charlton Athletic as a “good day”.
The Bees trailed 2-0 just before half time but Farid El Alagui, on his return from injury, pulled one back and then set up an equaliser after the break for Josh Rees.
Josh Rees scored again soon after before setting up Emmanuel Oyeleke for the fourth goal.
Brentford, who started the day fourth in the table, beat the league leaders 4-2 to close within a point of them with four games remaining.
Jon said Charlton were “excellent” in the first half but he told his players to go out after half time and win their individual battle.
He said the Brentford side put a real shift in to take the win.
“It is a good day,” said Jon, speaking to Bees Player after the match.
“Charlton were very, very good in the first half.
“I wouldn’t say I was disappointed in our players, Charlton were excellent.
“At half time I felt it would be a tough task to get back in to the game but I can’t fault our players.
“I didn’t change much, tactically we didn’t change anything, I said very little.
“I felt Charlton were playing the same shape as us and I told the players they needed to be better than the person they were playing against.
“They did it second half.
“The goal before half time helped.
“It was a lot easier to go in 2-1 down, and it could have been 2-2, rather than 2-0 down.
“The boys looked like they were at it and they put a real shift in.”
Both teams lined up with a diamond midfield and although Farid El Alagui had an early header saved, Charlton took control.
They scored two goals from close range headers and also hit the woodwork twice.
But the momentum shifted before the break when Farid El Alagui reacted quickest to fire home via a deflection.
The striker then set up Josh Rees for his first and the second came when a Josh Clarke cross was half cleared.
The fourth was a thing of beauty – Luke Norris, Leon Redwood, Jake Reeves and Lee Hodson were all involved before Josh Rees cut back for Emmanuel Oyeleke to first home.
Charlton fielded a strong team including former Brentford loan goalkeeper Ben Hamer, Dale Stephens, who has played 27 games in The Championship this season, and Mark Gower, a recent loan acquisition from Swansea City.
But Brentford, who lost the reverse fixture 5-1 in South London, found a way to win.
“They are the best team in the league and that is why they are top,” said Jon.
“They were excellent in the first half.
“They moved the ball with quality, they pressed well, they were very good.
“Our boys worked hard, it is just they were better than us.
“I was very pleased that we scored when we were on top.
“In the second half we were very good, we got forwards well, created chances and the last goal was excellent.
“We look to get players in to the box and when Farid went off we went one up top so we needed runners from midfield.
“Charlton had some good players, substitute Ade Azeez scored a hat-trick against us last time, he has played for England at Under-19 level, Mark Gower and Dale Stephens, I am sure our supporters will recognise.
“They are First Team players, good footballers and they showed good quality.
“First half we gave the ball away and they were able to hurt us, in the second half we kept it better and they weren’t able to play the longer one over the top.”
Brentford included Farid El Alagui and Club Captain Kevin O’Connor, who have completed their rehabilitation from serious knee and ankle injuries respectively, as well as Lee Hodson plus Aaron Pierre, Jake Reeves, Charlie Adams and Emmanuel Oyeleke, who have all been in the First Team picture this season.
Jon was full of praise for the way the experienced players helped the younger members of the squad and said they may be involved when The Bees play Queens Park Rangers in the next Under-21 league game next Monday.
“The First Team staff are always here to watch, whether we have five First Team players or none,” said Jon.
“They always try to come.
“There is always a chance to shine in these games.
“The First Team players were terrific – Kev and Farid, especially, being senior pros, come in and helped the boys and Lee Hodson’s effort was terrific.
“We will see how Kevin and Farid go this week but I believe the plan is to have them involved next week so they can get in contention for the First Team.”
The win was Brentford’s third in four games and came a week after they won 3-2 against Ipswich Town in a Suffolk blizzard.
The Charlton match was played in driving rain with a pitch that had puddles on by the end but Jon said that was a good experience for the players.
“The past couple of games the conditions have played a part,” said Jon.
“You can’t play nice passing football.
“Last week was snow, this was torrential rain and it makes it harder.
“But that is what these games are all about, preparing players to play First Team football.
“We needed to manage the game a bit better towards the end.
“Last week was the worst conditions I have ever seen.
“Today seemed like a nice day compared to that.”
Brentford now sit third in the table after the win.
They are a point behind Charlton and one behind Cardiff City with a game in hand on the Welsh side.
The Bees play Queens Park Rangers, who are fourth in the table, in their next game next Monday and Jon described that as a “massive game”.
He said there would be pressure on the players but that was a good thing.
The top two at the end of the season will go in to the Play-Offs against the teams from the northern league to decide the Under-21 Professional League Two winners.
“We have a massive game next week against QPR, who are two points behind us,” said Jon.
“If we win next week we can put them out of sight.
“We have a real chance of finishing in the top two.
“We have four games left; we want to win all four.
“It’s a pressure on the players but it is a pressure the First Team has.
“These are the games you want.
“It’s important to get to the top of the league so you can play in these pressure games.
“That is what professional football is all about.”
A full post-match video interview with Jon De Souza is available here for Bees Player subscribers.