Keith Andrews would have wished for a better beginning to life as the boss of Brentford. He ordered his men to "get back to basics" and hopes that the end of the clash can set the standard from this point.
‘You have to do the ugly side’
Andrews did not hide his frustration from the media when asked about his thoughts at full time.
“It was always going to be a more difficult team, but we made it even more difficult for ourselves.”
Chris Wood would bookend the half with a brace while debutant **Dan Ndoye**netted a brilliant header as the Tricky Trees took a healthy lead into half time. Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson ran the show in the middle of the park, putting the Bees to shame in an extremely sluggish showing.
"It was a disappointing first half and disappointing result. It got away from us in at stages and they were clinical, which we knew they would be. We were a little nice at times, and I did not like it.”
The manager mentioned what words he emphasised to the team to raise their levels after the restart.
“Get to back to basics. It’s a dirty words but before you play your football, you have to have an edge. You have to do the ugly side of the game, you have to compete and be connected without the ball.”
The players responded to the demands and put a smile on the supporters' faces. They walked away with the sight of a consolation goal from the penalty spot to get Igor Thiago off the mark, and belief from the boss that there are some building blocks to work with despite this disappointing display.
"It's easy to say in the second half to show what you're about and show some personality, but it's not easy to implement it on the pitch. I was happy with what the players showed in the second half."
‘It’s nothing major’
The guests were glad to see **Rico Henry**flying up the left flank after a horror run with knee injuries and fitness issues. Another defensive pillar, Ethan Pinnock, was absent, but it is not a big concern.
"Ethan just picked up a knock in training, it was pretty innocuous really. It's nothing major, I don't think. He's being treated back at the training ground and hopefully will be available pretty soon."
It has not been an easy summer for the Bees. Thomas Frank, who managed over 300 matches for the West London outfit, took the job at Tottenham Hotspur, and club captain Christian Norgaard moved to **Arsenal**months after signing an extension to his deal. On top of that, Bryan Mbeumo, who bagged 20 league goals last campaign as the team’s top scorer, has joined Manchester United.
Former **Liverpool**deputy keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, veteran Jordan Henderson, and record-breaking £42.5 million man Dango Ouattara are three of the men who have come through the door this summer. The Irishman is also reintegrating Yoane Wissa, and he is happy with the newcomers.
“The club are always looking in terms of what we need. Some of our players are getting up to speed and have not had a fluid preseason, playing catchup. I’m really happy with who we signed so far.”