Lee Carsley felt Brentford could have scored any number as they maintained their unbeaten start to the new Under-21 Professional Development League Two South season following a 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at Harlington.
The Bees took control of the match in the opening ten minute as Jan Holldack and Montell Moore found the back of the net.
It took until late on in the second-half for Brentford to finally get a third as Jermaine Udumaga fired a low shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Speaking to Bees Player after the match Lee said he was very pleased with what he saw, in the first-half particularly, but felt his side should have scored more goals.
“I thought it was really good first-half,” said Lee. “We moved the ball really quickly at the start of the game and we scored two good goals. We perhaps could have got three or four more with better decisions around their box but it was really pleasing. The senior players who have come in today were good: Jack Bonham saved a penalty, Nico Yennaris did very well and Jack O’Connell looks a strong player.
“It was a great start. We broke straight away and tried to score almost the perfect goal. It became frustrating at times because, with the way Queens Park Rangers play by trying to break on you, if we had made a better decision or a better pass we could have scored more goals. Sometimes we became a bit too predictable and slow around their area. It is always a funny position coming in 2-0 ahead at half-time because if they get a goal they can put you back under pressure. I thought they were really professional at times as Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Jack O’Connell and James Ferry made good decisions.”
Lee was particularly pleased with the way that his side looked to play forward at all times saying that it was important to have players capable of passing into dangerous areas within the team.
“We have been doing a lot of work in training about playing forward and breaking a line with a pass,” said Lee. “At times last season I was watching us on the side-line and I was bored stiff because we were going sideways and backwards. We need players who can pass forwards. That doesn’t mean hitting it 80 yards and going route one but we want players who can pass forward, turn out and pass forward to create chances. I thought we did that really well today.”
Jermaine Udumaga and Courtney Senior both started for the Development Squad fresh from travelling with the First-Team for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Burnley.
The former Republic of Ireland international has been pleased with the way that they have returned to the Development Squad set-up but added that they have to keep performing well to stay in Head Coach Marinus Dijkhuizen’s plans.
“The players returning from the first-team have done well,” said Lee. “Jermaine Udumaga making his league debut on Saturday was a big plus for us. The result wasn’t a positive one but it is good that the manager is looking to the Under-21s for players. There is a good chance for some of them to be involved and hopefully they can stay involved.
“The Oxford United result wasn’t a great one but it was a real learning experience for them. When you are trying to make your way in the game you get a lot of set-backs and it is how you react to that. It is important that they react positively to that and they have done. The bread and butter for them is that the Head Coach was here today and so they need to perform in front of him and get in his thoughts.”
Bees Player subscribers can watch the full interview with Lee below