Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza said he didn’t think Brentford ever reached a good enough level in their Under-21 Professional Development League Two South win over Charlton Athletic.
The Bees beat the South London side 4-2 yesterday afternoon at their Jersey Road Training Ground.
Brentford went in 2-0 up at half time after goals from Jonathan Douglas and Marcello Trotta but Jon, speaking to Bees Player after the match, said he didn’t think the first half performance was good enough.
Charlton pulled one back in the second half but Scott Barron restored the two-goal lead and Marcello Trotta made it 4-1.
The visitors scored a second late on but Brentford took the win.
Jon, however, was not satisfied.
“I didn’t think we were good enough in the first half,” he said.
“I thought they were the better team.
“In the second half we were better but I still don’t think we were at a level that was good.
“In patches we looked good going forwards but out of position our shape was poor.
“We didn’t recover in to shape well enough and in possession we didn’t keep the ball for long enough periods.”
The Brentford team contained a number of First Team players with only Aaron Pierre and Luke Norris of the starting XI on Development Squad contracts.
Jon said he would not make excuses for the lack of cohesion and admitted his side were poor defensively in the later stages.
“I don’t think I have ever used the same team two games in a row,” he said.
“To say the players hadn’t played together much would be an excuse and I don’t like to use excuses.
“We lacked discipline in shape, especially out of possession, and quality in possession.
“I tried to address it at half time and I thought it was better after that.
“It is just a matter of getting players in the right places at the right times.
“Up until we went 4-1 up we did OK but defensively we were poor in the last 20 minutes.
“We didn’t get up the pitch high enough, didn’t keep our shape.
“And at 4-2, especially, we should have killed the game.
“We gave it away too cheaply.
“We will look at why that was.”
First Team Coach Peter Farrell was on the coaching team for the match and Jon said he would take back the message to Manager Uwe Rösler that the performance was “OK”.
Jon said the game was like a First Team fixture with the number of senior players involved and his youngsters had a chance to impress.
He said he would have liked to have seen more from them.
“Overall Peter will let the Manager know it was OK,” he said.
“The work rate of certain players was good but it was tactical understanding that was lacking.
“We took our chances well but it is the bits leading up to the chances that need to improve.
“The Under-21 players did OK; I would have wanted more from them as well.
“They are the kind of games they need to step up.
“I don’t think they did that.
“It was almost a First Team game, a couple of young players had a chance to impress.”
Brentford have now won two of their first three games in the Under-21 league, after beating Bristol City in August, and drew with Brighton and Hove Albion in the other.
Jon said his team had not found a rhythm yet or reached the level of performance as they did last season, when they finished fourth in the table.
The Bees have a consistent run of games coming up and Jon said he hoped that rhythm could be found.
“We have not had a run of games, which has affected us,” said Jon.
“I don’t think we have found our rhythm yet.
“Last year, especially in the first half of the season, we won games and won them comfortably.
“Teams would have looked at us and thought what a good side we were.
“Charlton will be a bit disappointed they didn’t get anything, Brighton will feel they could have won and Bristol City certainly could have got something.
“The standards I set are that I want teams to think, whatever the result, that Brentford are a good side.
“I don’t think we have hit those levels.
“I am hoping we will start to get some good consistent play.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full post-match video interview with Jon De Souza here.