Brentford Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza said the performance of his team in the 2-1 defeat to Colchester United yesterday “wasn’t good enough”.
The Bees ended their Under-21 Professional Development League Two South season with a defeat in Essex.
Brentford – who included four players from the Under-18 squad in the starting XI and three more on the substitute’s bench as well as Makhosini Ryan Khayne, who is in the Under-16 squad – fell behind midway through the first half but Antonio German levelled it up.
Colchester scored the winner in the second half and Jon said they were well worth the points.
“I am never disappointed with defeats if we do things properly,” said Jon.
“Today wasn’t good enough on and off the ball.
“They deserved the win and could have beaten us by more goals.
“I don’t think some of the younger lads stepped up to the plate and I don’t think some of the Development Squad players performed to the level they usually play at.
“That’s the bottom line.
“I wouldn’t say they didn’t work hard enough, they put a shift in.
“They didn’t show enough quality on the ball and didn’t show enough knowledge off the ball.
“The players are disappointed.
“You can hear that in the dressing room.
“It was a lack of quality rather than application or attitude.”
Colchester took the lead when Connor Hubble scored from 12 yards but Antonio German smashed in an equaliser when a Charlie Adams shot fell to him.
The Bees had plenty of chances, Charlie Adams was denied by goalkeeper Shaun Phillips on two occasions and hit the crossbar with a free kick while Antonio German headed wide when well-placed and Luke Norris came close.
But Colchester scored the winner when they capitalised on a poor George Pilbeam back pass.
Jon said he was impressed by the Essex side but Brentford never reached the level required.
“I wouldn’t say we were in the game when they scored,” said Jon.
“We created chances but our overall play wasn’t at the level required.
“We got ourselves back in to the game with a goal and ended the first half strongly.
“There wasn’t much of an improvement in the second half.
“We did create chances, the players did well enough there, but they didn’t do enough in possession.
“We want to deal with the ball under pressure, dominate game with possession.
“Today, we didn’t do that.
“We never reached a good level and didn’t improve after half time.
“Colchester were very good, I was very impressed.
“They caused us a lot of problems.”
The Bees finished fourth in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South standings.
Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City, who made the top two and will compete in the end-of-season Play-Offs against teams from the northern section for the overall title, finished four points ahead of Brentford while Brighton and Hove Albion were two better off.
Brentford beat every team in their league at least once and completed doubles over Swansea City and Barnet, finishing ahead of teams including Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers in the standings.
Jon said his team showed enough at the start of the season to suggest they could have finished higher but fourth was about right overall.
“I think fourth is about right for us,” he said.
“Up until Christmas we probably deserved top two.
“Results have been good since Christmas but I haven’t been particularly impressed with performances.
“We beat Swansea and Barnet in our last two games but weren’t good enough.
“Since Christmas I haven’t been pleased with our performances, I am searching for results and performances.”
Jon said the competition, where his side played 20 competitive games against other clubs with academies on a similar level had been enjoyable.
“It has been very good for us,” he said.
“I have really enjoyed it.
“It has been competitive and the fact we were in with a chance up until last week was always good.
“I am looking forward to competing in it next year.
“We always want to compete.
“In this group it is about development but we want to win as well as we need to produce First Team players.”
Brentford’s Development Squad are entered in the Middlesex County Senior Charity Cup, which supports the charity Help for Heroes, and play against Hanworth Villa tomorrow night.
If they win that they will play in the final of the competition next week.
“The good thing for us is that we have games coming up to put it right,” said Jon.
“If we ended the season on this I would be really disappointed.
“We can get in to training and be ready for the game on Thursday night.
“It is a chance to put it right.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Jon De Souza here.