Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza describes Brentford’s 2-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South as a “good result”.
The Bees took a 2-0 lead against their Championship opponents, who included experienced trio Marcos Painter, Will Hoskins and Romain Vincelot, thanks to goals from Leon Redwood and Charlie Adams.
The hosts came back in to the game after the break and pulled a goal back but Brentford took the win.
Jon said there was plenty to work on, particularly Brentford’s ball retention after half time but he was pleased overall.
“It was a good result,” said Jon, speaking to Bees Player after the match.
“We had Jake [Reeves] and Antoine [Gounet] as two First Team players, the rest were Development Squad players.
“They had three good over-age players – Marcos Painter and Will Hoskins have played Championship and Premier League football.
“To come here and play well against them is pleasing.
“I said to the boys at the start I wanted two things – hard work and organisation and to show we could play in possession.
“In the first half we did both very well.
“In the second half, I think we just showed the organisation, I don’t think we showed enough quality in possession and we need to work on that.
“We pressed high up the pitch but did it in our shape; I don’t think there was a lot of running around.
“Brighton pass it really well.
“When a team has that much of the ball it wears you down physically and in terms of concentration and I think it was more our concentration that slipped.
“You always have to work against a team like that.
“I believe in the philosophy Brighton try to play and we try to play in a similar way.
“We didn’t get hold of the ball second half and keep it as well as I would have liked.
“I said at half time we could have passed it better in the first half, we got worse second half.
“I was disappointed with the second half performance.”
Brentford set up to stop Brighton playing, cutting down the options from the back for the home side.
Jon said that was part of his game plan and praised the way the players did it.
He said he attempted to stop them playing as they had done in a Development Squad friendly at Griffin Park last December when Brighton won 2-0 and Brentford barely got a kick.
“Last year they passed the ball really well against us,” said Jon.
“I was determined to play the game in their half.
“I wanted to make them kick it.
“I think we have players that are comfortable dealing with things in the air.
“I knew if they got in to their rhythm, it would be tough for us.
“I thought the boys did that part really well throughout the game.
“At times they let us have the ball, I said to the players that when we are 2-0 up, we just want to keep it.
“At times we gave it away too easily.
“They showed more intensity in the second half, that affects the game but I think we made wrong decisions at times.”
Jon praised the way his players took the chances that came their way but said they could have managed the game better once going 2-0 up.
Brentford have now won their last four games in the Professional Development League and Jon said it was important his players learned how to win games.
“I felt it was important against a side like Brighton to take the lead,” he said.
“If they take the lead they dominate the game and are happy to keep the ball.
“We did that, scored two and could have had two or three others.
“I don’t think we opened them up too much but did take the chances we got.
“I don’t think we managed the game well enough.
“We ground it out, and it is a really good thing that we could, I don’t think we killed the game.
“It’s four league wins in a row now, we want a winning mentality.
“I think we are now a point off the top of this league with a game in hand.
“My job is to produce players for the First Team but to do that they have to win.”
A full video interview with Jon De Souza is available here for Bees Player subscribers.