Ryan Woods has warned Jack O'Connell that he needs to help Brentford tighten up in defence – but has backed the young defender to take his opportunity.
O'Connell is likely to fill the hole at centre back created by Yoann Barbet's one-match suspension when the Bees host Derby County on Saturday.
The former Blackburn defender was initially first in line to replace James Tarkowski, but was dropped after the 3-1 defeat to Burnley, since when Barbet has made the spot his own.
Barbet's red card against Sheffield Wednesday has opened the door once more for O'Connell, but after seven goals conceded in the last two games, he will need to hit the ground running.
Woods said: “We're conceding too many goals at the minute for everyone's liking, and that needs to change. We're got to put this behind us and just focus on the Derby game. It's a big opportunity for Jack to stake his place in the team, and I'm sure he will take it.
“We actually started brightly (at Sheffield Wednesday) then unfortunately we had Yoann sent off, and we were on a downward spiral from there. The linesman didn't give it, and he had a better view than the referee, but the ref made his decision and it's one that's cost us really.”
Brentford, with no goals scored in the last two games either, also have work to do at the other end of the pitch.
Philipp Hofmann was played as the lone striker at Hillsborough, with the fresher legs of Nico Yennaris, Konstantin Kerschbaumer and Sergi Canos brought in to get up and support him, but the red card scuppered any such plans.
Woods said: “It was a tough one, we had two good chances before we had the man sent off. We were always on the back foot from then, so I don't think we were going to have many chances to score a goal. But that needs to change too, and we'll see if we can put that right against Derby.
“It was a good chance for other people to show the gaffer what they could do today but we've had the man sent off and it kicked us in the teeth.
“You've got to feel sorry for Kersch (who was subbed when Barbet was sent off), but the gaffer has to make that change to bring on Jack and get a back four out there again, and unfortunately he was the player to come off.”
As for the midfield, Bees fans were left questioning whether a trio of Woods, Yennaris and Kerschbaumer would just get bullied off the ball, and while Woods disagrees, he admits Alan McCormack's imminent return will bring more bite to the middle of the park.
He added: “We played Nico there to give a bit more energy, but when you're down to 10 men it's really tough.
"They had a lot of the ball which you would expect, but the majority of the time it was going over the top of us or down the side, so I don't think we could have done a fat lot about it.
“Yes sure, when Macca comes back he's got that physicality, and I'm sure that will help the team. The way we look at it is if we've got the ball, we're good enough to play around bigger guys. But I'm sure when we get Macca back it will be a big help.”
