Jon De Souza was disappointed to see his Youth Team exit the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday especially as they let a 2-0 lead slip in the dying stages of the second-half.
The Bees were excellent in the first-half and should have led by more than the one goal given to them by James Ferry’s penalty late on in the half.
The second-half was a more even affair but Brentford looked to have secured passage to the Fourth Round when Courtney Senior rifled home with 17 minutes to play.
However Will Annan had other ideas as he halved the arrears with a back post header and then sent the tie into extra-time beating Nik Tzanev from the edge of the box.
It was Annan who decided the tie in the first period of extra time as he curled home a wonderful free-kick from 25 yards.
Speaking to Bees Player after the game Jon admitted he was very disappointed to go out but said that he couldn’t be too critical of his team as he felt their performance had been more than enough to progress.
“The boys are obviously very disappointed to lose in the way we did,” said Jon.
“Ultimately I thought we played quite well.
“We were 2-0 up and to lose a game of football like that is always tough to take.
“The players need to realise this is another stepping stone and another building block in their career.
“Bearing in mind it was their first game in the Youth Cup this year I thought first-half they were terrific.
“Some of our bravery to get on the ball, to link play and to play through the thirds was very good.
“I was really pleased at half-time and my only big criticism was that they should have been two or three nil up.
“To then kick on and go 2-0 up was pleasing but I don’t think we quite dominated the second-half as we did the first-half.
“I thought we showed good quality in the second-half.
“I didn’t think the players felt it was job done.
“There might have been a little bit of complacency and poor decision making because we were 2-0 up.
“I can’t really criticise the players because I felt they gave everything and deserved to win the game of football but because of decision making and mistakes we haven’t.
“Their second-goal came from us playing out from the back and that is how we look to play.
“Hopefully our players will learn from it and learn from the mistakes they make.”
Even after seeing a two-goal lead slip in the dying minutes of the game Jon’s side created a number of chances in extra-time to win it or take the match to penalties.
Despite the blow of seeing their lead slip and then falling behind Jon was pleased with the character his side showed to keep battling deep into extra time.
“Hull City scored two to go from 2-0 to 2-2 so Hull had the momentum going into extra time,” said Jon.
“We told the players that the goals we conceded were done.
“We felt we had the better players and they needed to show that.
“I thought the whole of extra time was up and down and it was just one bit of quality that won it.
“We definitely had a go and that was a pleasing thing.
“Ultimately we came a little bit short but we had two great chances with Jeremiah Kamanzi and one with Reece Cole.”
Despite the defeat Jon was still keen to emphasise the lessons his side could take from the game to help them achieve their long-term aim of being a first-team footballer.
While there was obvious disappointment at the manner of the defeat Jon said the only real disappointment should come if the players don’t learn the lessons of Tuesday night and that hinders their attempts at securing a first-team contract.
“I said to the players yesterday that reason why I wanted to progress, and it is great to progress, is because of their development,” said Jon.
“That is the real reason.
“It would be great to get three or four rounds in but because it develops them as players.
“We were 2-0 up but the other team didn’t lay down and accept it, they had a real go and that is credit to Hull they go back into the game and ended up winning it with a bit of real quality.
“I said to the players that we are trying to provide them with as many different challenges as possible.
“We have the challenge of playing in the league every Saturday, we have the challenge of some of our players playing up in the Under-21s.
“We have Florida coming up as a trip and we try to provide them with as many challenges as possible.
“The FA Youth cup was a challenge and they have to try and learn from it.
“The message from us is to not be too disappointed.
“The ultimate aim is to get a professional contract and to get in our first-team.
“That is where they should be disappointed when they fail at that.
“Up until that point they have got to keep going and keep working.”
Bees Player subscribers can listen to the full interview here