Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said he took a lot of positives from his team’s defeat to Swindon Town.
The Bees lost 1-0 in Wiltshire yesterday afternoon.
They conceded an early penalty, which David Button saved, and then fell behind late in the first half.
Mark said The Bees had the better of most of the match, even after Adam Forshaw was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in the space of 90 seconds.
They could not, however, find an equaliser.
Mark said Brentford were disappointed with the goal they conceded but produced a performance full of desire and intent and he was very pleased with a lot of it.
“I thought we were very good for the last half hour, we bossed it,” said Mark.
“We are disappointed with the goal we gave away; we were in control of the game.
“It was a poor decision and we paid the price for it.
“We bossed it in the second half; we got behind them, got in to good positions.
“We had chances but weren’t clinical enough.
“There are loads of positives.
“Some of our performances were excellent.
“We were strong all over the park and played some good football.
“There was no lack of desire or intent.
“If we had lost and not shown effort or application than I would be concerned, but there are no complaints in that regard.
“There was a lot to be very pleased with.”
The only goal came moments before half time.
David Button played a firm ball in to Jonathan Douglas at throat height when the midfield player was 25 yards from goal and facing his own net.
He controlled it but was swamped by Louis Thompson and robbed, the Swindon man raced clear to score.
“Swindon are fighting for the last Play-Off place,” said Mark.
“Had they lost today it would have ruled that out.
“We knew what sort of challenge they would pose.
“They were feisty, they have good technical players.
“We knew it would be tough.
“We were in control of the game and there was no reason to play that ball.
“David Button had kicked two straight through and I think that was on his mind.
“He gave a difficult ball and we paid the price, but we had enough chances to even it up.”
Referee Brendan Malone issued eight yellow cards, issuing two to Adam Forshaw.
Mark said he had no argument with the red card but questioned whether so many cautions had to be given.
“If you start flourishing yellow cards early in the game, and I said this to the Fourth Official, you will have players sent off,” said the Brentford boss.
“Lo and behold, we did.
“It was a rash tackle for the first yellow card and if you do one straight after you are tempting fate.
“Is there an argument, maybe not.
“He goes for two yellows.
“If so many yellow cards are banded about then that will be the consequence.”
Mark brought Marcello Trotta and Toumani Diagouraga in to the starting XI, naming Stuart Dallas and George Saville as substitute.
“We use players as we think appropriate for each fixture,” he said.
“No-one is being dropped.
“Stuart has played two good games but Marcello was fresh and I was pleased with how that went.
“Toumani did very well in his games.
“We have capable players and I thought it was the appropriate use of the players.”
Brentford remain second in Sky Bet League One.
They are seven points ahead of Leyton Orient, their nearest challengers, and eight clear of Preston North End and Rotherham United.
The Bees need six points from their final four games to guarantee promotion to The Championship.
They face Preston at Griffin Park on Friday, Good Friday, and a win will mean the Lancashire side can no longer overtake them.
Brentford won 3-0 at Preston just before Christmas and have won 16 of their last 17 at Griffin Park.
Preston, however, kept up the chase by beating Carlisle United 6-1 yesterday.
“We have a tough one coming up,” said Mark.
“Preston had a good win today and will be keen to come down.
“But we are at home, where we have been very strong, and we will look to maintain that form.
“There is lots of football left and we want to finish as high as we can.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton here.