Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said his players showed they belong in the second tier during the Sky Bet Championship game against AFC Bournemouth and were “very unlucky” to lose.
The Bees were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth yesterday.
Junior Stanislas scored the only goal, turning in a low cross inside the final 20 minutes.
Mark said Brentford dominated the last half hour but didn’t get their rewards.
Andre Gray hit the crossbar in the first half for The Bees and Bournemouth’s Lee Camp was the busier goalkeeper.
However, Brentford couldn’t score and Bournemouth took the points.
“We were very unlucky,” said Mark, speaking after the match.
“This was a turning point for us; the players know they more than belong in this division now.
“We absolutely dominated the last half hour but we talk about margins in The Championship, they had one chance in the second half and they scored.
“We created numerous chances and didn’t really get our just rewards.
“No-one ever wants to lose a game of football but I hope the supporters know there was a great effort and good work, as well as good football.
“The players recognised the support, it was fantastic, it was great to see almost 1,500.
“We weathered the storm just after half time, they came out looking for a goal, we absorbed that, kept our shape well, he boys learned from the first half and there were some tremendous performances.”
Mark said he had only seen the goal in real time but believed it came when Brentford gave the ball away.
Ryan Fraser got away on the right band cross for Stanislas to convert at the far post.
“I haven’t seen the goal again,” said Mark.
“Stuart Dallas – who did really well when he came on, he was unlucky not to start – was loose in the pass.
“We gave a ball away and got punished.
“But we threatened in the last half hour and forced them in to errors.
“I thought we were unfortunate.
“Defensively we were good today, solid and tight and now it is about our attacking impetus.”
Dallas replaced Marcos Tébar, who started the game in midfield, on the hour and his introduction coincided with Brentford’s best spell.
“Marcos Tébar is a very talented player but his adaptation to the English game is to deal with the intensity,” said Mark.
“It was a fast game, there were tackles flying in and Marcos has to adjust.
“He can handle the football side and will get better.
“Stuart added pace, energy and quality.”
Mark said he had tough decisions picking his team but the players relished the pressure of fighting for places.
He said new signings Jota and Jon Toral would be in contention to play away to Blackpool on Tuesday and his job would get harder.
“It is a tough squad and I have tough decisions,” said Mark.
“We have strength in depth and more coming in for Tuesday.
“The players want to come out and perform.
“They have pressure for their places but it is not an unwanted pressure.
“Picking a team is tough.
“There is pressure all over the park.”
Brentford went to Bournemouth and attacked to try and win the game.
Mark said that would always be their plan.
“Our way is never to go to a game and try to defend,” he said.
“I can’t understand that mentality.
“Our strengths are to attack and move the ball quickly.
“We had passages in the first half; good counter attacks where we didn’t get the final ball right and then the last half hour we dominated.
“We will learn from it and move forward.”
Mark also updated on Adam Forshaw, who has not played this season.
He said Forshaw had recovered from an ankle operation and could have played against Charlton Athletic last week but for interest in signing him that had unsettled the midfield player.
Mark explained Forshaw would play for Brentford’s Development Squad against Crewe Alexandra on Wednesday.
The Brentford boss will then sit down and talk to the midfield player about his future.
“Adam has trained this week and will play for the Development Squad on Wednesday,” said Mark.
“We will chat on Thursday and see where we are.
“Adam had ankle surgery in the summer but would have been fit for Charlton.
“We had a bid and his head was turned, that is not a criticism, any individual would be the same.
“Adam had a slight hamstring, he is back training now and if all goes well we will chat to him Thursday and we would welcome him back.
“Adam is a very talented player but we only want players who will live and die for Brentford.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton here.