Brentford Development Squad Manager Lee Carsley said his players got what they deserved against Bristol City on Monday.
The Bees beat City 5-1 in an Under-21 Professional Development League Two South match at the start of the week.
Brentford fell behind against the run of play but Montell Moore equalised and Daniel O’Shaughnessy put them in front.
Sam Saunders curled in a free kick before half time and Jermaine Udumaga converted a penalty after the break before Moore added a fifth late on.
It was only Brentford’s second win of the league season and the first since Lee arrived as Development Squad boss last month.
Speaking to Bees Player after the match Lee said he had seen his side get better game by game, drawing with Colchester United last week after defeats to Crystal Palace and Swansea City and they believed they would win.
“We have been speaking for the last month about self-belief and pushing yourself,” said Lee.
“We get so much information about the players – how many passes they made, how many times they gave the ball away, how many headers, how many tackles, how far they have run, how many sprints.
“In the last few games the players have run more, sprinted more, made more passes.
“All the stats are going up.
“I had to get across to the players and make them believe that the harder they work the more they chance they have of getting what they deserve.
“They did today.
“It was tested when we went behind.
“Against Crystal Palace when Palace scored I could almost see the group take a step back and you could tell they would lose.
“I didn’t feel that today.
“They had the belief they would win the game.
“They looked strong and passed the ball well.
“We conceded against the run of play and the players deserve credit.”
Lee said he always believed his team would win.
He said Moore was outstanding and paid tribute to First Team players James Tarkowski, Saunders and Nico Yennaris for their performances.
“I never felt we were in trouble,” said Lee.
“Bristol City are a young team and we had some good players, playing to their potential.
“Montell was outstanding; Courtney Senior has a lot of potential.
“We had Tarky, Sam Saunders and Nico as well, the seniors were excellent.
“That helps the younger players, it brings them on.
“They helped the team.”
Lee admitted his team were a little sloppy for short periods but praised the way they played on a difficult pitch.
“We trained yesterday and the Training Ground was underwater,” he said.
“We thought the game would be off.
“The pitch didn’t do us any favours but we passed the ball well.
“The players were outstanding.
“There was a stage in the game when we were 3-1 up and playing with confidence and some of the passing was sloppy.
“We were off it for the first ten minutes of the first half and first ten of the second but got better as it went on.”
Lee said Moore was one of four or five players that reached a very high level.
“I am really happy with Montell today,” he said.
“I have been here four weeks, I heard a lot about him before I came and today he showed what a prospect he is.
“His work rate was outstanding and there is no doubt about his quality.
“He was one of four or five that were outstanding.”
Lee said he felt his players were becoming a team and could see them getting better.
The Bees will play Ashford Town (Middlesex) in a friendly on Friday before then facing Queens Park Rangers in the league next Tuesday.
“I am starting to see what the players are about,” Lee said.
“They are getting some of my ideas and are improving.
“I am trying to give them responsibility, it is their careers.
“I feel like they are more of a team, they demand more from each other, they don’t accept not running around or cheaply giving the ball away.
“We have a friendly on Friday then a game Tuesday and another friendly the following Friday.
“We will use those games to get the lads as many minutes as they can.”
Brentford used two trialists in the match and Lee said he would not just judge them on one game.
He said he was looking to recruit players and help supply the First Team squad.
“I liked the trialists, they came in at late notice and it was the first time I have seen them,” he said.
“I won’t judge them on one performance.
“We have to recruit players and make sure we can supply players in to the First Team.
“The standard is getting better every week at First Team level.
“We have to keep up.”
A full post-match interview with Lee Carsley is available here for Bees Player subscribers.