Keith Andrews bemoaned a “very, very disappointing” first-half performance as Brentford opened their Premier League campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
On Andrews’ managerial debut, Brentford were torn apart inside 45 minutes as a brace from Chris Wood and a goal from debutant Dan Ndoye saw the hosts go three goals clear before half-time.
The Bees were improved in the second half and got a goal back as Igor Thiago netted from the penalty spot, but Andrews admitted his side’s naivety cost them the game.
“I thought there was a little naivety in our game in the first half, which really cost us from areas where we knew they would be strong, set-pieces, transitions with the (second) Wood goal. So yeah, very, very disappointing in the first half,” Andrews said.
Andrews could only watch on as Forest ripped through Brentford’s midfield, taking the lead inside five minutes as Wood fired home from a corner.
Forest’s early goal demanded a reaction, but Brentford struggled to find one as they routinely turned over possession in the middle of the park.
Without Mikkel Damsgaard, who was absent as his wife had given birth, Brentford lacked inspiration, and they were duly punished with two goals on the cusp of half-time as Ndoye headed home before Wood raced clear to consolidate Forest’s dominance.
Andrews continued: “I said to the players at half-time, and I firmly believe that now, like I did then, that 45 minutes doesn't define us as a group. Didn't we struggle? Yeah, we absolutely did at times.
“And they punished us like they do, and like they've shown they do, consistently if opportunities arise from the opposition not doing things right. We didn't do things right in the first half, but the second half, it showed a lot of what we're about.”
