Brentford Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza said missed chances were to blame as The Bees were held to a 1-1 draw by Ipswich Town.
The Bees looked on course to start their 2014 Under-21 Professional Development League Two South campaign with a win in Suffolk as they were ahead inside the final five minutes.
Brentford had dominated the match and taken the lead through a Charlie Adams goal.
But they failed to add to it and Jonny Leddy headed home an equaliser late on.
Jon, speaking to Bees Player after the match, said Brentford should have scored more than one and then didn’t defend well enough at the end of the match.
He said the failure to convert chances put pressure on the defence.
“We definitely should have won the game and ultimately we should have won the game quite comfortably,” he said.
“But we didn’t.
“We didn’t defend well enough at the end and ultimately I am disappointed.
“We didn’t take our chances.
“We had six or seven clear cut chances, where we were clean through, and another ten or 15 we could have done better with.
“If you don’t take chances you put pressure on defensively.
“At the end we didn’t deal with a couple of longer balls and crosses and a set piece, it wasn’t good enough.
“I said that if we don’t take chances we have to defend properly.
“If you take your chances and are two or three up, there is a lot less pressure.
“While it is 1-0 the other team have a chance.
“You have to defend well if it is 1-0.
“We didn’t do that.”
Brentford included First Team squad members Richard Lee, Raphaël Calvet, Scott Barron and Martin Fillo as well as Alfie Mawson, Aaron Pierre and Luke Norris who have played for the First Team this season.
The Bees started in the 4-3-3 system favoured by new Brentford Manager Mark Warburton, who replaced Uwe Rösler last month, with Luke Norris as the main striker.
With the personnel available, Aaron Pierre had to play on the left of a front three and Youth Team defender Richard Bryan then had to play on the right of the forward line when Martin Fillo went off injured.
Jon said Brentford were comfortable and deserved to win the game but he thought they could have played better.
“We were OK overall,” he said.
“We were a bit more experienced than the Ipswich side.
“We were comfortable for the majority of the game and had three or four shots on target at most.
“We deserved to win.
“We want to get used to the way the new manager plays, although it is not too different from the way Uwe played.
“There were a couple of players out of positions but I think it is important for the players to know what is expected of them.
“Aaron Pierre played top left and we lacked a bit going forwards, he is a defence minded player.
“At times in the first half we didn’t get enough numbers forward to play with and off Luke.
“We ended up with six defenders on the pitch.
“They had a go and we created lots of chances.”
The game was Brentford’s eighth of the season and first since late November, although a lot of the players – Luke Norris, Aaron Pierre, Alfie Mawson and Joe Maloney – have been out on loan.
After a week off they then play ten games between January 27 and April 8, a run that Jon said would help them build momentum
“We have a week off next week and then we play every week until April,” said Jon.
“That is what we want.
“We can build momentum and see how we do.
“A lot of the players have been out on loan and playing anyway so there is no issue with fitness.
“But today was the first time this group have played together for a while.”
Jon said the majority of loan moves for his players went well.
“Going out on loan is always a good experience,” he said.
“Even when a player goes and doesn’t play they learn, they see a First Team environment.
“We are pleased with the majority of loans.
“One or two players didn’t do well enough to play; others got injured and then weren’t selected.
“It served its purpose; players got experience of First Team football on and off the pitch.”
Jon said he had a good relationship with Mark Warburton and wanted to help him by producing players.
“I had a very good relationship with Uwe Rösler,” said Jon.
“Mark had come in and it has been just as good, if not better.
“I am here to serve the First Team, as are the players.
“We want to produce players for the First Team.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Jon De Souza here.