Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler said he was delighted with the way his team responded to a poor first half performance to pick up their third straight win.
The Bees went in at the break level with Carlisle United but Uwe, speaking after the match, said his team were on the back foot.
But he said he changed his team around at half time and told his players to “have a go” at The Cumbrians after the break.
He praised the way they went and won the game.
Paul Hayes scored the winner in a 2-1 win, after Jonathan Douglas had scored the first, which came after The Bees had beaten Portsmouth on Tuesday night at Boreham Wood in the FA Cup with Budweiser last Saturday.
“I was very pleased with the reaction of the players in the second half,” said Uwe.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, they played so poorly in the first half.
“They responded very well.
“They totally changed the character of the game.
“We were on the back foot in the first half; we scored the first goal against the run of play.
“We gave them an equaliser with an individual mistake.
“I said at half time we had to have a go.
“They did exactly what I asked.
“I changed the formation a little bit so we matched them up in midfield.
“We had a much higher tempo, a willingness to attack.
“Our quality shone through.
“We looked like we normally look.
“We managed the game very professionally at the end.
“I’m delighted.
“I’m probably more happy about a result like this than one where we play champagne football.
“We have the quality to win games like that but have not shown in the past what we have shown today.”
Uwe explained he changed Brentford’s system from 4-4-2 to one with more men in midfield to deal with Carlisle’s 4-1-4-1 shape.
He said the way they played meant they deserved to win.
“We weren’t coping with them having one more man in midfield,” explained the Brentford boss.
“We didn’t get the ball down.
“Every time we wanted to play they had another man to close us down.
“That was not the way we want to play, it was scrappy.
“We had to adjust, we went to a 4-2-3-1, matched them up in midfield.
“That meant we could show our quality.
“We played at a higher tempo and were on the front foot.
“We deservedly got the winning goal.”
Carlisle had a golden chance to take a point when referee Andy Davies awarded them a penalty for an aerial challenge by Tony Craig.
It was one of numerous decisions that went the way of the visitors.
Joe Garner, who capitalised when Harlee Dean gave the ball away to score The Cumbrians’ goal, saw his spot kick saved by Simon Moore.
“In the first half the game was scrappy,” said Uwe.
“My players showed frustration at their performance and also the decisions of the referee.
“We handled that disappointment better in the second half.
“We got on with our jobs.
“Overall there was a lot of frustration in our camp about the decisions.”
The winner came when Clayton Donaldson nodded down a Harry Forrester corner and Paul Hayes spun in the six –yard box to convert.
Uwe said they were the sort of goals he needed someone in his team to score.
“Paul Hayes is scoring goals we have not really scored since Gary Alexander left in March,” said the Brentford Manager.
“The ones from three, four, five yards.
“I tell him to be in those positions and he is following my advice.
“Everyone can see why we have him, he is getting fitter, he has worked really hard to get as fit as we need.
“He has the ultimate respect from me, the coaching staff and the squad.
“I’m delighted he gets his goals.
“It’s fantastic to have two strikers scoring regularly.”
Brentford’s first was from a planned corner routine.
Harry Forrester lifted a deep flag kick in and Jonathan Douglas volleyed it in.
“We worked on the goal in training,” said Uwe.
“It was all about execution, timing, technical qualities of the players.
“I’m delighted.
“Jonathan is getting on the score sheet more regularly.
“We have started talking to tie him up long term.”
Carlisle’s equaliser came six minutes after Brentford went ahead – a Harlee Dean ball forward was intercepted and it was worked to Joe Garner to score.
Uwe praised the way the defender reacted to a difficult first half.
“Harlee is just 21, he is a very young player,” said the Brentford boss.
“I won’t apologise for saying it.
“At times he had problems in the first half, as did the whole team.
“In the second half he was back to his best.
“He was great at Portsmouth too.
“He is very important for us; he is a part of our future.”
Brentford have been hit by injuries recently with Farid El Alagui suffering a serious knee injury in early October and Kevin O’Connor facing surgery on Tuesday, as confirmed by Head of Medical Neil Greig last night.
Uwe said Tom Adeyemi and Leon Legge would be out for “a while” and Jimmy Spencer was recovering from a niggle.
The Bees had four teenagers on the substitute’s bench against Carlisle, three of whom – Antonio German, Emmanuel Oyeleke and Aaron Pierre – are part of the Development Squad.
“That is Brentford,” said Uwe.
“That is the way we want to go and the way we have to go.
“We have a small squad so the door is open for a young player to come in.
“We have Development Squad players on our bench and, God willing, they will get chances.
“Maybe, new stars will be born.
“Nobody expects it but they have a great chance.
“We have to bring in one, maybe two players.
“We are short at centre back and with cover at right back.”
Uwe Rösler’s full post-match reaction is available here for Bees Player subscribers.