Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said his team should have got something out of their Sky Bet Championship match against Norwich City and a 3-0 defeat was not a fair reflection of events.
The Bees conceded three goals in 15 second half minutes to lose at Griffin Park last night.
Brentford had the better of the first half – with Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy making a number of good saves – but fell behind midway through the second half.
A loose James Tarkowski pass gave Norwich the chance to score the first and the second came after Brentford had been denied what Mark described as a “nailed on” penalty.
Cameron Jerome, who scored the second, then smashed in a third.
“The biggest disappointment is that it will look like they came here and turned us over,” said Mark.
“That was not the case.
“We were a lot better than that.
“We really troubled them.
“Our players have to take the positives from that.
“We are disappointed because we should have got something out of it.
“Norwich go to the top of the league.
“They will recognise it was a real test.
“We will recover and then show up on Saturday.”
Mark spoke about Norwich’s second goal which came after The Bees had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Tim Robinson.
The Brentford Manager was particularly upset with a number of similar decisions going against his side in recent weeks.
Tony Craig was sent off against Birmingham City while Brighton and Hove Albion defender Lewis Dunk escaped with a yellow card for a very similar incident.
Mark was certain Alex Pritchard had been fouled before Norwich broke to score again within seconds.
“It was a nailed on penalty,” he said.
“It is not our way to make excuses or harp on about decisions.
“We have been too polite and respectful this season, and last season.
“We are commended on our behaviour but we don’t get anything.
“We lost Tony Craig to a straight red and a penalty against Birmingham, we had the incident against Brighton and then tonight we were told he didn't think it was a penalty.
“We were one down and gave a goal away but we came back well.
“Apparently Alex had ‘run in to a defender’, it’s mystifying.
“We are polite and maybe you don’t get anything for that.
“We preach about being professional but that was shocking.”
Mark said Brentford had to learn from the first goal they conceded.
James Tarkowski played a loose pass in to midfield and within seconds Norwich had scored.
“The first goal came from a loose pass,” said Mark.
“They stepped in and got the goal.
“We will learn from that.
“The margins are tight.
“We were slow in the first 15 minutes but we went toe-to-toe with them.
“We found our feet and were excellent.
“We posed them lots of problems and their goalkeeper was undoubtedly the busier.
“We didn’t get our rewards but the boys were up and ready and half time.
“We got to 70 minutes and were in the game.”
Brentford had numerous chances in the first period.
Ruddy made superb saves from Alan McCormack and Pritchard and denied Alan Judge after the break.
Andre Gray also went close.
“In the league below you can maybe get five chances and miss four, you can’t do that here,” said Mark.
“We created lots of chances.
“We should have been one or two up in the first half.
“We were excellent from 15 to 45 minutes, we had chances and it was a positive performance.
“The players were up for the second half and I am disappointed for them – and the fans, who were magnificent – that they had to suffer that.”
The defeat was only the second of Brentford’s Championship season, after a loss away to AFC Bournemouth.
“I have referred to the Bournemouth game in the past,” said Mark.
“Against a team that I think will be top six; we created chance after chance in the last half hour.
“We got self-belief from that.
“We were worthy winners against Brighton.
“Norwich are an outstanding team but we are not ‘little Brentford’, we are better than that and we showed it tonight.”
Brentford started the game with McCormack in midfield and Moses Odubajo at right back.
“We thought they would go with a diamond midfield with Jerome and [Lewis] Grabban up front.
“[Wes] Hoolahan and [Nathan] Redmond are the big dangers so we went with Alan McCormack in midfield, he and Jonathan Douglas, Harlee Dean and James Tarkowski did really well.
“Their diamond exposes the flanks.
“Moses is rapid and I thought he and Stuart Dallas caused problems.
“They moved Redmond and that gave Alex Pritchard space.
“It was a good tactical game and we are pleased with how it went.
“We went two up at the end to try and nick something.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton here.