Dean Smith pinpointed Brentford's defending as the reason for their 3-2 defeat at Blackburn Rovers in horrible conditions.
The Bees, who had led through Scott Hogan's first minute goal, gifted Danny Graham two goals by failing to properly defend a corner with Josh Clarke then bringing down Corry Evans in the penalty area.
Hogan equalised soon after but John Egan gave the ball away as he attempted to pass to Andreas Bjelland. Rovers burst forward and Harlee Dean could only turn the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear.
Smith said: “I think they defended their box better than we did in the first half. We gave them a helping hand with the goals which is unlike us.
“We've gone to ground and given a penalty away after getting done on a one two which is a basic error from us.
“We got done with a second phase corner where they loaded the back post. John Egan went into a blind alley and gave the ball away.
“We don't delay the counter attack from that and Harlee doesn't sort his feet out and they get an own goal.
“To come here, play as well as we did in the second half – it was very disappointing to lose.”
At 3-2 down after half time, the Bees had more of the ball in the second half and Smith was pleased with how they used it.
He added: “I fully expected us to go on and score in the second half. I thought our quality on the ball wasn't good enough.
“I spoke at half time about being more patient on the ball. We were rushed to look for Scotty or Sullay or Clarkey in the first half and in the second we were more patient on the ball.
“We were moving it quickly but got our opposite centre half out by playing triangles around their centre forwards.
“We were allowed to get balls in and around their box. Their defenders put their bodies on the line in the last 15 minutes.”
Despite having the territory, Jason Steele in the Blackburn goal was not tested as the Rovers defence held firm, but Smith didn't feel his side were too patient at times.
He explained: “I don't believe we weren't getting the final ball in. We probably got six or seven shots in in the last 10 minutes.
“They had a lot of numbers in their box and you had to draw people out. We did that. They got some blocks away but we're disappointed we couldn't finish one or two.
“There was a thought to bring Hofmann on when four minutes were added. I felt it'd take a minute off the clock which we didn't need.”
Brentford's day would have been made easier had Chris Kavanagh shown Craig Conway a second yellow card early in the second half for a cynical attempt to stop a Brentford attack.
Smith said: “I think if the referee officiates as he had done for the previous minutes then Conway should have been sent off.
“I try not to get frustrated with officiating because I can't control it. We need to stamp out the basic errors that led to three goals today.”
