“It was the preverbal game of two halves.

“We were a bit like rabbits caught in the headlights in the first half, we found it difficult against them. To be fair I thought Brentford were excellent and their movement was great, the way they passed the ball was great, granted that we never got our press right and we ended up in between constantly.

“When they got their tails up it was difficult for us.

“I was looking at my watch and was desperate to get to half time and get hold of them as quickly a I could. The game management sometimes has to happen on the pitch as you can’t also get your message on, letting them know exactly how you want it. You hope that someone can take that responsibility, but it is not always easy especially with the way Brentford were playing.

“2-0 was not great but would have been ok at half time considering the way the half had gone but 3-0 is was real blow.

“Second half when we got the press right and we were more patient, and kept bodies in the centre, then it was a different game.

“The biggest thing for me was passing the football.

“When we won it back we gave it away cheaply. We did not show enough to get in possession of the ball I the first half so at half time we asked them to not just be braver with the other side of the game – in terms of the press and getting closer to them – we asked them to be a bit braver in terms of passing the ball and trusting your team mate when we had it. We do possession day in day out and at training they are very good at moving it about.

“In the second half that was the most pleasing aspect for me as they took responsibility and moved the ball about. We were much more of a unit and braver.

“We do not like losing football matches at this football club and the scoreline is a 3-1 defeat but in terms of the learning process, which I also spoke about after the Huddersfield game, there is a real benefit playing these games.

“The difference between the first half and the second half was very pleasing.

“I thought all over Brentford looked really good but we played a big part of that in the first half. Even good players under pressure struggle and once we got that part of it right they were not as effective. Yes they picked us off on the counter a few times but when we were a bit braver you could then start to see the qualities that we have as a team.

“It was a really competitive game and a really enjoyable game to be involved in.

“We need to take a bit of confidence from the way we played in the second half.

“Neil’s side, I loved their work ethic. I loved their movement and their desire to get after their opponents and the desire to win the ball back. That is something we will learn from.

“They were a really good team but in fairness I think we were that team in the second half. We never got the same reward with the goals but I felt we were more of team in the second half and that was pleasing.”

“They were a really good team but in fairness I think we were that team in the second half. We never got the same reward with the goals but I felt we were more of team in the second half and that was pleasing.”