BRENTFORD need to work on breaking down teams like Carlisle if they are serious about challenging for promotion, according to Farid El Alagui.
The Bees were held to a frustrating goalless draw at Griffin Park on Saturday by a United side who clearly set out for a point and showed little ambition otherwise.
But striker El Alagui insists it's all part of the deal for title chasers, and next time they must be better prepared to break down stubborn sides.
He said: “It was frustrating that we didn't play as well as we expected. Against teams who come and play like that we need to raise the tempo and make them tired as quickly as possible
“We knew it would be that type of game, where they put 10 men behind the ball and make it difficult to play, but that's not an excuse – there will be a lot of games like that this season.
“That's what happens when you want to be up there at the top, you have to deal with that type of game, and we need to learn quickly what we have to do to make a difference in the next one.
“We didn't lose, that's the main thing, but we need to do more next week.”
Meanwhile, El Alagui believes team-mate Tony Craig's red card, which means the Bees defender will miss tomorrow night's JPT game against AFC Wimbledon, was harsh.
El Alagui reckons a yellow card would have been sufficient as David Amoo, who Craig brought down, was heading away from goal, and other defenders were back covering.
He said: “The striker was going down the wing and it wasn't a bad tackle – and if Tony didn't make it there were others back.
“It was like a half red card, not a straight red – it should really have been a booking, and I feel sad for Tony. But we have to deal with it, and we have enough players in the squad do that.”
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