The Bees frustrated the champions for an hour at the Etihad, proving their resilience before late clinical strikes masked a competitive display that provides momentum for the run-in.
Keith Andrews insisted there were positives for Brentford to take despite their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The Bees were beaten by Pep Guardiola’s side after second-half goals turned the game away from them, but the scoreline did not tell the full story of the contest. Brentford held City until the hour mark, reached half-time level and started the second half with purpose before Jeremy Doku opened the scoring.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Andrews said there were elements of Brentford’s performance that he liked, even if the final result was difficult to accept.
“You've always got a plan, but so have they and so have the individuals that they have,” Andrews said. “You've got to be so focused, so concentrated, so organised.
“The desire, the personality has to be there in abundance. And I felt that was.”
Brentford frustrated City for long spells in the first half, limiting clear-cut chances and trying to carry a threat when they could. The visitors then came out strongly after the interval, causing problems at times before City eventually found the breakthrough.
Andrews felt that period showed Brentford had not simply come to defend.
“I thought we actually started the second half really well and caused them some problems,” he said.
The game changed with Doku’s opener, which Andrews described as “an absolute wonder strike”. City’s second goal then left Brentford with a much harder task, before the third came as the Bees pushed forward and left more space behind.
“The reality is that their first goal is an absolute wonder strike,” Andrews said. “Second goal is tad scruffy. And the third goal is we're chasing the game obviously and leaving a little bigger spaces than we ideally would have liked to.”
For Andrews, the frustration was not only the defeat but the way the scoreline eventually moved away from Brentford after they had stayed in the game for so long. Still, he made clear the performance contained enough to build on.
“I liked a lot of what we did today,” he said. “I like the approach ultimately. I don't love the scoreline, but there's a lot to take back with us that we can move forward in the last couple of games.”
Brentford now have two Premier League fixtures remaining, against Crystal Palace and Liverpool. Their European hopes took a hit after defeat at City, particularly with Brighton and Bournemouth both winning elsewhere, but there is still time to finish the season strongly.
The challenge for Andrews will be turning the positives from the Etihad into points. Brentford competed well for an hour, but the final two games will decide whether that performance becomes a platform or another missed opportunity.