Kevin O’Connor said his team showed great character as they came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 at Tooting and Mitcham FC this afternoon in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South.
Palace looked in control midway through the second-half as they led through goals from Aaron Bissaka and Oliver O’Dwyer but Montell Moore’s strike started The Bees comeback. Sam Saunders completed the turnaround as he scored twice in injury time to clinch a first league win for Kevin as Development Squad Head Coach.
Speaking to Bees Player after the match Kevin said that while The Bees performance over the full 90 minutes may not have merited the three points he was very pleased with the way they finished the game.
“It was a strange match,” said Kevin. “We went through all of the emotions. First-half I thought we were ok even though we conceded a poor goal. In the second-half they had a strong 15 minutes and they went 2-0 ahead but then we came back and showed great character. I complemented Montell Moore after the game because that goal started it off for us. We got a sniff at 2-1 and then we kept going and going and we got there.
“Mentally Montell’s goal changed a lot for us and them,” said Kevin. “After that we were on the front foot and running forward as they were tiring. There were a few of them going down with cramp and we kept on going and got what we deserved for those 15 minutes over the end. Over the course of the whole match a draw was probably a fair result.”
Moore halved the deficit with 20 minutes to play as he controlled a headed clearance with his first touch and rifled the ball into the top corner with his second touch before a sublime Saunders’ free-kick levelled things in injury time. Saunders then completed the turnaround as he kept his composure and then curled into the bottom corner from 15 yards.
Kevin was delighted with the quality of the three goals The Bees scored and has challenged his side to play like they did in the last 15 minutes from the start of their next match.
“Our challenge to the boys is to play like we did in the last 15 minutes from the start,” said Kevin. “We need to get into them that we can’t start slow and react to something. We need to start quickly and go for goal straight away. Today was a good one for us but there is still plenty to work on. I was happy with the last 15 or 20 minutes and the character that the boys showed me.
“At half-time I asked them to keep going and have a bit more quality in the final third,” said Kevin. “I thought that we were getting into some good positions but the final pass or decision wasn’t there. The message was to keep going but they didn’t really listen because we went 2-0 down. Montell’s goal was superb: we know that he can do that. I fancied Sam to score that because he has done it so many times for Brentford. Sam was calm on the ball for the third goal. The fellow fell over in front of him and he has bided his time and taken it well. Sam and Lewis Macleod have been great today just being around for the young lads to watch how they prepare and how they play.”
Brentford have been drawn against Category One side Reading in the First Round of the Under 21 Premier League Cup after beating Queens Park Rangers in the Second Qualifying Round.
The Royals have won the Premier League Cup and finished Runners-Up in the last two seasons and Kevin is excited to test his side against one of the strongest Under-21 sides around.
“It is a great tie,” said Kevin. “Hopefully we can play the game at the Madjeski Stadium and it will be another good occasion like the one against Queens Park Rangers. It will be a really big test because they are a really good team but we will go there with no fear and try and enjoy ourselves. It will be a brilliant test and hopefully one we can enjoy.”
Bees Player subscribers can watch the full interview below