Blues boss Paul Hurst praised his players for showing a lot of character as they came back to draw 1-1 at home to second-placed Brentford. Kayden Jackson headed a 73rd minute equaliser after the Blues had fallen behind in a first period dominated by the Bees, Neal Maupay netting the goal in the 31st minute.

The match was very much one of two halves, particularly from a Town perspective, with Hurst starting his side in a 3-5-2 system.

“We tried something different, clearly it didn’t work the way that we would have liked but at the same time, while I’m interested in our performance and what we can try and do, I have to say they are an excellent side,” he said.

“Going into the game I’ve watched a lot of them, as you do with every opposition, and it was a daunting challenge.

“I think them and Leeds [are the best teams in the division], and to be honest I’ve seen Brentford play well more often and in every game, they lost at Blackburn, but they shouldn’t have lost that game.

“So we came up against a team which is full of confidence and has got some excellent players playing at the top of their game.

“They’ll probably be disappointed that they didn’t get another goal when they were on top but we obviously changed things at half-time.

“The formation can help, but at the same time the lads had to show a lot of character tonight because there were some murmurings when some bad decisions were made on the ball.

“That’s part and parcel of being a footballer, but you’ve got to be strong enough to get through that.

“Big credit to the lads for staying in the game and then causing Brentford some problems as well.”

Regarding what was put to him as a brave move to switch to a system his team hadn’t lined up in previously against such daunting opposition, he said: “It can be deemed as brave, it can be deemed as stupid, the wrong decision, whatever. But if you don’t try, you never know.

“We wanted to try and have two strikers on the pitch, play a little bit more direct at times. Having watched them a few times we felt that was an area where they commit men forward and it’s on to perhaps break on them because they’re brave in the way they approach it.

“But we never got enough quality into them or looked after the ball. We knew that at times they were going to have the ball and we had to be patient, but when we got it back we didn’t take care of it well enough.

“We got sucked into that, we’d chase them, we’d get it and then we’d give it straight back. And that was something we’d spoken about.

“So it wasn’t working. I think it would have been suicidal not to have had three men in the middle of the pitch, so if we were going to play two up front, the two options were a diamond, which we weren’t convinced about, or the way that we went.

“I think we’ve got the players to do that but we came up against a team who were very good and still managed to cause us too many problems to continue with that.”

Despite still being without a win, Hurst believes the second-half display will provide a lift for his team, which still remains bottom of the table.

“I think it has to and that’s not trying to look for positives that aren’t there,” he added. “To be 1-0 down against that team on the back of what we all agree was our most disappointing performance at Hull, it could have been a really, really difficult night.

“But the message to the players at half-time, apart from obviously changing formation etc, was to show character and to hang on in the game as much as possible because I believed that we’d get a chance.

“We have a chance, we hit the bar, there’s a scramble and we don’t put it away and you think we’re not going to get anything from the game again.

“Then they hit the bar with a freekick and you think maybe we’ve got a chance. And I think in the end we scored a very good goal and after that it was difficult watch all night in some respects because of how well they look after the ball and the threat that they carry.

“But we managed to carry one going the other way as well and we probably had the best chance to win the game with some really good football and a slid pass through to Kayden, who will be disappointed he didn’t at least work the keeper.

“But at the same time he’ll be pleased with getting off the mark in the league and scoring a very good header.”

Hurst, whose side was watched by owner Marcus Evans, praised his players for not going under after such a tough first half.

“Yes, and I’ve seen that happen before, but one thing hopefully I’ve managed to create when I’ve been in jobs is a spirit, a togetherness,” he said. “There have been very few occasions as a team that I’ve managed has gone under, in a lot of games now.

“And that’s the minimum that I ask of them and I want to see that character and we’ll need that character, certainly in the situation that we find ourselves in.

“And arguably there’s no bigger test than tonight, being 1-0 down playing against a team that are on top of their game and doing very well.

“It’s probably the first time some of the lads will have experienced a few murmurs when they’ve made the wrong decisions but overall I thought the crowd were good and they were just frustrated but stayed with it and created a really good atmosphere and you see that at the end when they stayed a clapped the team off.

“Yes, overall everyone wants more than just hard work but I think people are always a little bit more allowing with their feelings when they see a team put the effort in and the commitment.

“We saw some great blocks, some good saves, some really hard running and some better football in the second half.”

Regarding Teddy Bishop, who limped off with a hamstring injury in the U23s’ win at Watford yesterday, he said: “I don’t think it’s anything too bad but he has got a hamstring injury.

“We think it’s only what they describe as a grade one, which is as minor as it can be so I wouldn’t envisage him being out too long.”

Brentford manager Dean Smith felt his team should have won: “It’s a feeling of disappointment, I feel like we’ve lost two points today. I thought in the first half we were outstanding and as good as we’ve played for a while.

“I think to go to any club in this league away from home and dominate the game as we did in the first half [is impressive] but the important thing is taking those chances and we didn’t take them today.

“If we’d have got the second goal it would have been game over but unfortunately we expended a lot of energy in that first half.

“In the second half they’ve changed shape, got a bit more direct, put the ball down the side of us, put balls into the box and were quite effective at it and they ended up getting the goal from the cross.”

Photo: TWTD

BobbyBell added 11:26 - Sep 19 It's still early. We may be bottom but we're 9 points off the play off places. I'm not saying we can get there but just making the point that a couple of wins will make all the difference and, deserved or not, we could have won it last night. I for one was very impressed with Hurst in that he was prepared to accept that he'd got the team and formation wrong and made the changes at half time. He is a young manager learning about this league but at least he's not stubborn and will change things when it's not working. We never sat back and settled for a draw and we tried to win.

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runningout added 11:34 - Sep 19 almost getting to the stage when a win might surprise the living daylights out of squad. A ruthless winning mentality is something I haven't seen at our club for too long.
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SohoBlue added 11:44 - Sep 19 I looked at the line-up first half and felt concerned that inexperience again seemed to run throughout. But results like this, getting something out of a game against top opposition (in the league), learning and advancing our knowledge of how the team plays in different circumstances and formations is fundamental to progress. It's the cruel run of very poor refereeing decisions that haven't helped our consistency early on, too. Plus, as with previous seasons, we desperately need a RELIABLE, INJURY FREE midfielder or creative and calming influence a la Magilton or Wark quality. Hurry back Emyr and then stay fit...are you good enough to be that man? Otherwise we must go back into the market in Jan for a proven, quality midfielder and Striker, and it'll cost millions, but will have to be paid to stay up, I fear.

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TimmyH added 11:56 - Sep 19 Nice to see we have a clairvoyant on here in the shape of have_a_word_with_him, have much do you annually earn? you sound pretty convinced we'll be alright this season and push on the next. This weekends lottery numbers please...
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bobble added 12:27 - Sep 19 if we cannot win in the first 10 games, then the new manager was a giant mistake.............i see lampard has derby in the top bit,...are we risking several years in a lower division to allow a young manager some learning time or will he come good ? we always seem to pick the wrong card when given the choice of 2, but the wallabies are just as broken at the moment, but they were 2nd in the world last world cup and it would be a brave person to gamble against them making the semis or higher next world cup...wish town played in the rugby world cup cycles..

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MickMillsTash added 12:31 - Sep 19 Everyone looked at that line up last night and thought it will not work We have to build on the better performances this season Norwich, Derby which were 4-5-1 Hurst choosing to play Janio at Left back is worrying - what does that say to Kenlock ? surely Knudsen on the left Spence centre back and Janio on the right would have been more balanced Thanks to Scuse and Chambers for having the experience to keep us in the game Second half was better but you feel we are not going to score many - based on the first half there are not 3 teams worse us- based on the second there should be. We need 3 points from the next 2 games and a settled line up minimum.

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TimmyH added 12:58 - Sep 19 In a back 4 I'd have Kenlock LB and Donacien on the right, forget about Knudsen whose started the season off fairly poorly.
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ronnyblue added 13:20 - Sep 19 In answer to your blatant bigotry regarding my post . I have supported Town for more years than many of you have been alive so feel entitled to have opinions and to express them when I am in fear of our very existence . The opinions I put forward are my conclusions drawn upon many years of being involved at a professional level in football . The majority of the critics of my post are probably in the early stages of football blindness ( thinking they hold the only valid opinions ) and assuming because the owner bowed to the pressure from a certain section of the so-called supporters to employ a manager who is a without experience of the requirements in the championship ( the league is different in lots of ways to both the premier and the lower leagues ) primarily the relentless pressure to obtain results ! There is also the managers in the championship are in the main more tactically aware and experienced at a lot higher level being able to vary systems more readily . I am still of the opinion Hurst is out of his depth but will gladly eat humble pie if he proves me wrong . My only concern is that he does not take us beyond repair !!!

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Len_Brennan added 14:06 - Sep 19 Hi ronnyblue. After all your many years of experience in the professional game and in particular supporting this club, what was it about last night's game (which ultimately ended in a positive fashion) that finally got you exercised enough to post a message on TWTD for the first time? And quite an all-in message at that. How did you manage to contain yourself over the last couple of years under Mick McCarthy or the carnage of the Roy Keane & Paul Jewell eras? Tremendous restraint shown. If you are looking for any advice on posting to messageboards for future contributions, I would suggest you seek out one 'Tractorboytommy', who has proved to be quite the chararcter on here. I think it would be a meeting of minds.

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blueboy1981 added 14:08 - Sep 19 ....... Paul - personal opinions aside, you are several games into your Championship experience now, without a win, therefore you should have a reasonably sound idea as to what it requires to win matches. Learning has to be post haste. Last night you wasted a complete half (45 minutes plus) with a formation, and tactics, that as Mick Mills rightly said was never going to work against Brentford from the start. One can only assume that you took on board how Brentford play their predicted game - or did you ? Thankfully, you changed it - but you only had 45 minutes to claw something back out of the game. I so want you to succeed with our great Club - I genuinely hope you learnt much from last nights game.

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blueboy1981 added 14:17 - Sep 19 How many times have I got to say it ? - as far as Championship formations and tactics are concerned Paul Hurst blatantly needs experienced advice and assistance. My fear is he is similar to McCarthy in his stubbornness trait - otherwise he would have identified, and accepted, this fact by now. Burley required as Director of Football - before we lose too many more points.

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timspencero added 16:48 - Sep 19 It was a very entertaining game really, and that's the chief thing that fans asked for. We all do well to remember that. I am concerned we don' have quality, i made impassioned arguments that we needed to keep hold of the likes of Waghorn. I also made impassioned arguments that we needed a manager that could attract players. Our man Hurst has done neither, and our squad looks average/poor. HOWEVER. I remain upbeat. I am loving the project. I'm loving the potential, and the opportunity given to Hurst. It's what we're all about. What we have in our squad is potential. I want them playing together, fluking some wins if we have to, and building confidence. It's been pretty much a disastrous start to the season. But in this adversity there is still so much opportunity. Keep the faith. Cross your fingers. And be the 12th man. Get to PR and SING! One thing is certain. Quiet, uninspired, disaffected fans would be a nail in the coffin - not for Hurst, for the club - and for some time to come.

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RRanger added 17:54 - Sep 19 The best post on here so far was Surco72's. As he said Brentford started last season as badly as we have this season. We started with 4 (or was it 5) straight wins. Who finished higher. Answers please!! Ronny - with your professional experience, where do you think we'll finish this season? I think we'll probably finish mid - table and probably higher than we did last season.

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midastouch added 18:03 - Sep 19 Still concerned about this season but at least we showed some fight second half against a decent looking team and Kayden Jackson must feel a lot happier for getting on the score sheet. It goes without saying that a win against Bolton really is a must. We really need something to get our season going, I thought a win against Norwich might do it but we couldn't quite manage that. Hopefully a win against Bolton will do instead. Concerned though that we've yet to play many of the big guns in this league and it's always a worry when a team can't get wins at home and at least some draws on the road. But at least we managed to get off the canvas last night suggesting we're not down and out yet and if even we do go down at least it won't be without a fight.

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midastouch added 18:07 - Sep 19 And have to commend Gerks, he's waited very patiently for his opportunity and so far he seems to be seizing it. Not sure how long Bart will be content to sit on the wings and needless to say his market value will be plummeting as a result and ironic just as we give him a big pay rise he ends up losing his place. Football really is a funny ol' game!
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TimmyH added 20:05 - Sep 19 Actually remember the start Brentford made (bookies were making them even then a dark horse for a play-off spot) they were playing well but not finding the net and making defensive mistakes over their opening 8 games, they then were only beaten once in the next 13!...believe me we're not Brentford of last season never mind this so why make comparisons?
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busterjames1 added 20:57 - Sep 19 First half was shocking ,Second half was better ! I wont be happy until Bart is back and Spence is shown the door .
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