Emmanuel Oyeleke said he was disappointed with the manner of The Bees defeat away to Crewe Alexandra in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South on Wednesday.
The Bees were totally out-played in the opening 45 minutes but went in level as Josh Clarke cancelled out Brad Inman’s early goal right on the stroke of half-time.
It got even better for Brentford midway through the half as Jermaine Udumaga raced cleared and finished neatly to put Jon De Souza’s side in front.
However Inman levelled things with 13 minutes to go before two bits of poor defending allowed George Cooper and then Callum Saunders to secure the points for The Railwaymen.
Speaking to Bees Player after the game Emmanuel said it was disappointing to lose the game especially after working hard to turnaround the early deficit.
“It was a disappointing result,” said Emmanuel.
“Second-half we pretty much dominated the game especially for the first 10-15 minutes after we came out.
“We were rewarded with the goal.
“I think the last three goals, especially the last two, were really sloppy.
“There were glaring individual errors and we are disappointed overall.
“The higher up you go the more it resembles First-Team football.
“Sometimes in First-Team football you will have four or five chances and only score one and then, like we did, the opposition will have one chance and score it.
“That gave us momentum and it deflated them a bit and when we came out in the second-half the momentum was in our favour.
“Jon spurred us on at half-time and gave us a bit of tactical advice which helped us out.
“He told us that we were drawing undeservedly, even though the goal was well deserved for the work in the move.
“We knew we were fortunate to be drawing 1-1 and he just told us to seize the opportunity.
“It is a learning curve for the youngsters who are here.
“The older players who have been in the First-Team know how important it is to retain a lead with 10 minutes to go.
“It was the manner which we conceded the goals that let us down a bit.”
Emmanuel was deployed in an unfamiliar striking role during the first-half playing ahead of an attacking midfield trio of Charlie Adams, Josh Clarke and Montell Moore.
Even though he spent much of his early footballing career playing as a striker Emmanuel said it was difficult to revert back to the role having spent most of his recent time playing in the centre of midfield.
The 21-year-old said it was helpful to be playing in a team surrounded by first-team players and other players who could switch in and out of his position.
“I used to play in the centre-forward position when I was younger,” said Emmanuel.
“It is a lot different when you are used to playing in midfield because everything is in front of you.
“When your back is to goal it is a lot harder to adjust.
“The players that I had around me were all rotating and they knew that I wasn’t an out and out striker so that helped me out as well.
“Charlie Adams ended up front for a bit and Jermaine Udumaga went up front when he came on and none of them are out and out strikers.
“That just shows that we have a lot of intelligent footballers and tactially minded players who can adjust to not having an out-and-out striker.
“It is a lot easier playing with the first-team guys as you can trust them with the ball and in the decisions that they make.
“When you have the youngsters in there they can be a bit nervous and they are not as experienced as the Jake Reeves’ and Adam Forshaw’ who you have in there.
“It gives you confidence as well as you know that they have been through this at a higher level.
“If you go a goal down then they know what to do and that lifts us all up.”
Wednesday’s 12 noon kick-off meant an overnight stay for Emmanuel and his teammates.
This season Brentford’s games home and away against their fellow South division sides have been supplemented by nine fixtures against sides from the North division.
Further trips to Sheffield United and Leeds United may mean other overnight stays for the Development Squad.
For Emmanuel this is nothing new following his loan spell in the Football Conference last season with Aldershot but for some of the younger members of the squad it is a novel experience for them.
Emmanuel knows that overnight stays can be difficult to begin with and said he is always open to help other players if they need it.
“I am used to the travelling from my loan spell at Aldershot last year where pretty much every game was an overnight stay unless we were playing in London,” said Emmanuel.
“I am used to it but it will be good for the lads who are new to the Development Squad.
“The experience of leaving home the night before, the preparation for the game and just gearing up to it will all be good for them.
“It is good that the Development Squad are emulating more of a First-Team environment the day before a game.
“The younger boys were relishing it because it was something new to them.
“It was probably the first time that any of us have played Crewe and everyone got on well with it.
“If there is anything I can do, whether it’s advising them to eat or drink more to stay hydrated, then I will do it but I think everybody coped well with the trip.”