Jon De Souza hailed Brentford’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace as their best performance of the season as The Bees remained eight points clear at the top of the Under-18 Professional Development League Two South.
A first-half Jeremiah Kamanzi goal was the difference between the two sides in South London but that didn’t do justice to a game that Brentford dominated from start to finish.
Brad Comins made a number of fine saves in the hosts’ goal while Herson Rodrigues Alves hit the bar and Bradley Clayton, James Ferry and Courtney Senior all passed up good chances.
Speaking to Bees Player after the match Jon was delighted with the way his side played in possession.
The Youth Team manager’s only criticism was that his side were left hanging on a touch at the end as Palace launched a late onslaught trailing 1-0.
“I am delighted with the win as I thought we dominated the game from start to finish even though they had a real go in the last ten minutes,” said Jon.
“My only criticism would be that we should have taken more of our chances.
“They had a couple of chances and Nik Tzanev made some good saves.
“In the first-half we had two or three good chances and in the second-half we had some real chances to kill the game and go 2-0, 3-0 ahead.
“For all our possession and good play we only had one goal to show for it which was frustrating but, as I said to the boys during the week, I would rather be talking about the boys creating chances and missing them than not creating them at all.
“They had a little bit of the ball in the first five minutes but after that we dominated and there was some good football in there as well.
“Crystal Palace dropped off us and allowed us to have the ball and move it around the pitch.
“Our tempo and our movement was very good at times.
“There was another clean sheet which we are always happy with.
“The only disappointment was that we were in a position in the last 10 minutes where we were hanging on for the clean sheet.
“If you are two or three nil up then they don’t throw the kitchen sink at you.
“We need to learn from that but we are pleased to have the clean sheet.
“They have won six in a row at home and to come here, on what was quite a tight pitch which made the game quite difficult, I was really happy with how we played.”
From the off Brentford attacked with purpose and intent hemming Crystal Palace back into their defensive shape.
With Courtney Senior on one side and Jeremiah Kamanzi on the other side of a diamond in midfield The Bees had plenty of options and movement.
It was from that movement that the only goal of the game came about as Kamanzi latched onto a flighted Gradi Milenge ball forward and lifted it over the home goalkeeper.
Jon said that it is very difficult to play the style of football that The Bees want to play but that when it comes off it is incredibly hard to play against.
“We have done a lot of work on movement and making runs in behind,” said Jon.
“We wanted to be a lot more fluid than we had been in previous weeks and I thought we were today.
“It is extremely hard to play against us when we dominate possession and have good movement.
“It is a difficult style of play to deliver but when it is delivered properly it becomes hard for the opposition to play.
“They don’t know who to mark and where to mark and when to press and when to drop off.
“For the first goal I felt we posed so many questions with our movement that they ended up holding too high a line and that allowed Jeremiah to get in behind.”
The win means that Brentford have hit their points target for the last four matches after wins over Palace, Colchester United and Charlton Athletic and a draw against Swansea City.
It also means that no side will do the double over The Bees this season in the league.
Jon said that while he is pleased with the achievements of the team this season it is the progression and performances of individual players that are pleasing him the most.
“It is great for the boys to hit their target,” said Jon.
“We wanted to make it like the first team and the boys have done that so we go again.
“It is very pleasing that no team will do the double over us.
“It is always nice if you don’t lose half your games and that gives you a real chance.
“We go to Millwall next week which will be another competitive game and a London derby and we will go from there.
“I thought we had some good individuals today.
“Some of our individuals performances from both attacking players and defenders were very good.
“Not only am I happy about the teams but the individuals within the team are the most important thing.
“I thought we had some very good individual performances today.
“The boys need to continue this and then when they get their opportunity with the Under-21s they need to take it.”