Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said his team’s performance in the first half of their Sky Bet League One draw against Oldham Athletic was not at the level required.
The Bees drew 0-0 at Boundary Park yesterday afternoon, picking up another point in their push for promotion.
Mark, speaking after the match, said the first half was not good enough but his team improved after the break and may come away thinking they have dropped two points.
The Brentford boss said Oldham sat back, happy to invite The Bees on to them, and his team had to be more clinical to deal with sides like that.
He said Brentford were a victim of their own success, they sit second in League One with eight games to play, four points ahead of third-placed Leyton Orient, who have played two more games.
Mark said the reward was there for the players and they had to go and take it.
“The first half wasn’t good enough,” he said.
“That was as bad as we have been for a while.
“We reacted in the second half and it was better in the second half.
“If you look at the first half performance, we were lucky to get a point.
“At the end of the second we may think we have dropped two.
“We will learn from that.
“The first half was not at the level required.
“The players know that, we have to improve and we will do.
“The players are a victim of their own success.
“Teams are sitting back and making it very hard to break them down.
“We have to recognise that and be clever with it.
“We need more care in the final third and to be more clinical.
“We need to show the quality we have
“The players’ hard work and efforts have got them to this position.
“They have to maximise it.
“They have earned the opportunity.”
Mark said a bobbly pitch and strong wind may not have helped but his players had to be braver in posession.
“It was a bitty game,” he said.
“The pitch was bobbly, the wind was blowing.
“The players are an honest group, they know their standards.
“They weren’t there in the first half.
“The rewards are there for the players.
“They are eight games away and they can see them.
“They have to go and get them.
“They know they won’t come to them.
“We had more tempo and intensity in the second half.
“We were too safe in the first half, it could be the wind and it could be the surface but we have to be brave.”
Brentford’s best chance came inside the final ten minutes.
Clayton Donaldson got away on the right and crossed, Stuart Dallas met the ball on the volley but Paul Rachubka turned it away.
“From my view it was a great save,” said Mark.
“I haven’t seen it again.
“Clayton did well on the right; it was a good ball over.
“Stuart steadied himself and it was a fantastic save.”
Brentford were without Tony Craig and George Saville for the match but Mark said they would be available for the trip to Sheffield United on Tuesday, April 1.
“George Saville trained this morning,” said Mark.
“He will be involved on Tuesday.
“Tony Craig had a bug.
“He was sent home on Thursday.
“He travelled up separately yesterday.
“If he says he is unwell, you know he is unwell.
“He will be fine for Tuesday.”
Mark added: “The only focus we can have is Tuesday.
“There is no point looking at a game in three weeks and winning it if you lose the next two.
“We want to good performance and result on Tuesday.
“I am sure every team is the same.
“There are no easy three points.
“We have to recognise that and go about it in the right way.”
Mark Warburton’s full post-match reaction is available here for Bees Player subscribers.