Sam Saunders said Brentford’s players were disappointed with their slow start in the Boxing Day match against Ipswich Town which gave the visitors a platform to build on and take the points.
The Bees were beaten 4-2 at Griffin Park yesterday after falling behind 19 seconds in and finding themselves 3-0 down by the half hour mark.
Daryl Murphy scored the first two for Ipswich before Paul Anderson made it three.
Sam, who spoke to Bees Player after the loss, scored two for The Bees in the second half but Tommy Smith scored a fourth for Ipswich in between that sealed the win.
Sam said Ipswich came with a game plan and executed it well but the early goal made a difference.
The loss leaves The Bees fifth in the Sky Bet Championship at the midway point of the season and was came after seven wins in eight, a position Sam said was a reason to be positive.
“We are disappointed,” he said.
“We were playing a good side and going a goal down after a minute gave them belief and a platform to build on.
“They had a good game plan and it worked, particularly in the first half.
“They stopped us playing.
“They are up there for a reason and we gave them a head start after a minute put us on the back foot.
“We didn’t play to the standard we have done, maybe we lost a bit of confidence.
“We haven’t conceded in the first ten minutes all season.
“We were disappointed with the slow start.
“We felt we could get a goal back in the second half and make it a nervy ending.
“The game wasn’t over but we gave the forth away and it was over after that.
“It is frustrating but we would have taken 40 points on Boxing Day at the beginning of the season.
“We you get a lot of results on a run everyone gets excited.
“It has been a fantastic start.
“We have played everyone now and we know what we will face, we are looking forward to the second half of the season.”
Sam said the early goal allowed Ipswich to sit slightly deeper.
They scored their second on the counter when The Bees lost posession in an attacking area.
Sam said that Ipswich scoring within moments of his first goal to make it 4-1 killed the game.
“They had more space to hit on the counter,” he said.
“We have to push for an equaliser so they could sit in and go again.
“That is what happened for the second goal.
“We were attacking, they broke and scored.
“Teams want to stop us from playing here; it allowed them to do it.
“We tried to get back in to the game but it wasn’t to be.
“We felt if we got a goal we could get back in to the game but after we scored they went up the other end, scored and took the wind out of our sails.”
Brentford started the day third and would have gone top of the Championship at the final whistle if they had won.
“The positive from today is where we are in the league,” said Sam.
“We are disappointed to lose at home in a top-of-the-table clash in the Championship.
“Put it in to perspective, that is how far we have come.
“We now have to put it right.”
Sam made only his second appearance of the season.
He missed a large part of 2014 with a knee injury and has not been able to secure a spot in the side after returning due to Brentford’s form.
He opened his Championship account with a deflected shot and poked home the second after a Nick Proschwitz shot was blocked.
Sam admitted the goals meant less in the circumstances but said he hoped they would help him stay in the thoughts of boss Mark Warburton and get more game time.
“They do mean a little less,” he said.
“I have scored but we have no points.
“It is not about me.
“The first goal was a bit lucky but no-one will begrudge me a bit of luck considering the year I have had.
“The second was just poked home.
“It was nice to get some minutes.
“I haven’t played since Millwall.
“I have waited patiently.
“I got caught on the ball a few times but scoring two goals will do me no harm.
“The boys have been playing well; you know you have to take your opportunity.
“The squad is strong; there are players on the bench not getting on and others in the squad not getting on the bench.
“The gaffer has said it is the squad that will get us through to the end of the season.
“Hopefully I will get more minutes in the future.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full interview with Sam Saunders here.