Brentford Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza said his players did not produce enough quality in their Under-21 Professional Development League Two South derby loss to Queens Park Rangers.
The Bees were beaten by their West London rivals yesterday afternoon.
They had gone ahead early on through Montell Moore but QPR equalised when Modibo Maïga scored on the half hour.
QPR won it with a far post header from Sam Magri.
Jon, speaking to Bees Player after the match, said he could not fault the effort of his players but they did not impose the Brentford FC philosophy on the match.
“I thought the performance was OK,” he said.
“We didn’t show enough quality throughout the game.
“It was a high-tempo game, they set their stall out to play in a certain way and we didn’t put our philosophy or style on the game enough.
“I can’t fault the effort or application but the quality wasn’t quite good enough.
“QPR try to hit teams on the counter, they try to play forwards and play in the final third.
“They did that.
“They had some good players on the pitch today and at times we dealt with what they had well but we didn’t put our philosophy on the game.”
Brentford started the match with only four professionals with four Youth Team players as well as two trialists and a non-contract goalkeeper, Melvin Minter.
QPR meanwhile included former England international Luke Young and Modibo Maïga, the Mali international on loan from West Ham United.
Maïga scored QPR’s first goal, picking up a poor clearance from Minter and weaving his way through before finishing low.
The second goal came from a deep free kick.
Jon said the attacking performance was “OK” but QPR created more.
“If you consider the team we put out, the performance was reasonable,” he said.
“But if we are going to produce First Team players, the young players have to be good enough to complete in the Under-21s.
“When you the experience and cost of both teams, the result was probably good but we could have done more.
“The first goal we conceded was a poor choice – we want to play football and pass but we passed in to Joe Maloney and then went back, we achieved nothing.
“Melvin then had to hit a bobbling ball.
“The second came from a set piece and it is annoying to concede from set pieces.
“Every time a boxer goes in to the ring they box in a slightly different way, depending who they are up against.
“It should be the same for football.
“You have a philosophy and you have to play to that but it changes depending on who you play against, who is in your team, who is in the opposition.
“I don’t think we recognised that.
“We didn’t have loads of possession but looked OK in the final third.
“We didn’t create enough overall and didn’t do well enough with the chances we had.
“They created more than us.”
Brentford lost defender Alfie Mawson – who is on a Youth Loan at Welling United – late on, leaving the pitch on a stretcher.
Jon said that added to a mounting injury list.
“Alfie was injured on Thursday and Friday so couldn’t play for Welling on Saturday,” he said.
“We tried to get him back in today to see how he went on.
“He doesn’t look good at the moment.
“We also have Louis Hutton, Tyrell Miller-Rodney, Kieran Morris and Jack Uttridge injured, Charlie Adams with the first team, Emmanuel Oyeleke, Luke Norris and Aaron Pierre out on loan.
“We are missing players.
“We are giving our second year scholars the opportunity to play as we are trying to make decisions about their futures.
“We also try to promote working to reach their potential.
“If a player does that they will get a chance to play up and progress.
“That is the target for the Youth Team players.
“They have done OK, they need to show a bit more quality but their work rate and attitude has been good.
“We have decisions to make on the futures of the Under-18 and Under-21 players in the coming weeks.”
Brentford have one Under-21 Professional Development League Two South game to play this season.
They will face Crystal Palace away from home next Tuesday, April 8.
“The players have to learn how to win games,” said Jon.
“Today was good, QPR definitely wanted to win, you could see that in the way they played.
“My job is to teach players to win.
“In the final game next week we want to try and imprint our philosophy on the game.
“I think we do that most weeks.
“I want people to look at us and know how we play.
“Last week we won without playing to our philosophy.
“In other weeks we have played well and lost.
“I want to get hold of the football, pass it round the pitch, be creative and win the game.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full post-match interview with Jon De Souza here.