Brentford Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza said he couldn’t be completely happy with his side’s performance in their pre-season friendly draw with Hampton and Richmond Borough because they failed to turn possession in to goals.
The Bees drew 1-1 with the Ryman Premier League side at The Beveree last night.
They dominated the first half but fell behind five minutes before the break.
Trialists Christian Lagos equalised immediately but Brentford couldn’t find a winner in the second half after both teams made countless substitutions.
Jon said his team created chances but did not turn them in to goals.
Hampton goalkeeper Milan Stojsavljevic made a number of fine saves, denying Emmanuel Oyeleke and Montell Moore among others.
When the goalkeeper was beaten, from a Moore chip, and scrambled the ball away seemingly yards behind his line, the goal was not given.
“I was satisfied,” said Jon, speaking to Bees Player after the match.
“I would love to say I was pleased with the first half performance but we didn't get the goals I feel we deserved.
“We missed too many chances.
“We played very well but good teams turn good play in to chances and chances in to goals.
“We created chances in the first half but didn’t turn them in to goals.
“In the second half we had some good play but didn’t create enough chances.
“Disappointed overall, we could have won the game and won it comfortably, but overall I think we performed quite well.”
Brentford made five changes at half time and another late on but couldn’t’ find a winner.
Trialist Tom Owens had the best chance when he dribbled a shot wide after substitute goalkeeper Tyler Tobin had saved from Nial Doran.
Jon said he was not worried about his team’s style of play but wanted to see more quality in posession.
“For the first couple of weeks I am not interested in tactical decisions or patterns, it is about desire to run around and compete and quality in posession,” he said.
“Patterns of play don’t come in to play.
“First half I was really pleased.
“Some of the movement and creativity in the final third was good but we had three or four clear cut chances and a goal that should have been a goal.
“We didn’t make our good play count.”
Jon said Hampton’s goal – scored by Ben Harris – was a lesson for his team.
“We said on the bench that if we didn’t take our chances we could find ourselves 1-0 down on the counter and chasing the game,” he said.
“Credit to the players, they reacted well and got a goal back.
“But, that annoyed us more.
“We scored when we needed to, if we had scored when we should have we’d have been three or four up by the time we went 1-0 down.”
Jon said he always planned to make lots of changes at half time with players including Alfie Mawson and Louis Hutton – both on their way back to full fines after injury – withdrawn.
The team contained numerous trialists and Jon said some would be kept on for further assessment.
“We had a couple coming back from injury – Louis and Alfie – and others on individual plans,” explained Jon.
“One or two got 90 minutes.
“The players knew the team for both halves before the start.
“Overall as a group of trialists they have been a pleasure to work with.
“We have had them in since Thursday and done very well.
“There will be one or two we will look at further.
“We have a few coming in; we will keep hold of the best ones from tonight.
“We are light in the Under-21 group and we are also building our players towards the season.”
Jon said some of his players would be involved in upcoming First Team training and friendlies and they had to take their chance.
He added he was pleased with pre-season so far.
“One or two from this group will be involved this week, and potentially next week, in the First Team,” said Jon.
“When they get their chance we need to make sure they are fit enough.
“Then they can show their quality.
“I am pleased with how it has gone so far.
“Fitness levels are good and we have to try and improve the players.
“We aren’t preparing for the first game of the season, we are preparing players for First Team football.
“We don’t have a fixture list yet but when we do it won’t change anything.”
Two players – Aaron Pierre and Luke Norris – turned down new contracts at Brentford in the summer.
The pair, who have joined Wycombe Wanderers and Gillingham respectively, were offered immediate First Team football at a lower level.
Jon said the players had worked hard to get where they have and if members of his squad couldn’t get in to the Brentford First Team, going off to play league football elsewhere was the next best thing.
“It is always satisfying when players start playing league football,” he said.
“Aaron and Luke worked their socks off to get where they are.
“My job is to produce players for the First Team.
“If they aren’t at our level my second job is to get players ready to play in the Football League that the Club can keep an interest in.
“We have a compensation package for Aaron Pierre, one for Luke Norris looks like it will be decided at tribunal.
“We have two players from the group playing in the Football League and the Club can have a vested interest in their futures.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Jon De Souza here.