Bree believes Luton can build on second half showing at Brentford

Hatters full back James Breen believes his side can take plenty of confidence from their second half performance during Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at Brentford.

Town had begun slowly and fell behind to Saman Ghoddos’s goal on 14 minutes, as it looked like the hosts could potentially run up another handsome victory over their opponents.

However, Luton gradually got back into the contest before half time, going on to dominate proceedings after the break, as they were comfortably the better side for large periods, with Jordan Clark and Harry Cornick both spurning excellent chances, Ryan Tunnicliffe was denied by an agile keeper David Raya.

To produce that kind of 45 minutes against a side tipped yet again for promotion and who had reached the play-off final last term, Bree said: “Right now it doesn't feel that way but when we look back and watch the game there’ll be loads of positives to take from it.

"It still hurts especially when we've done so well, I thought we could have nicked a point or even pushed for three, so when we watch it back we’ll be able to take some stuff from it.

“The first half we were a little bit sloppy and their goal was too easy, we should have done better for that.

"It’s a great ball in and a good header from a midfield runner, but I think me and Locks (Tom Lockyer) could get across and do better to defend it.

"It’s a quality ball in, they’ve got some really good players, we were just a little bit sloppy first half.

"Second half we kept hold of the ball a lot better and that’s when we created the chances, but couldn’t take them.

"If we take one of them, take a couple even, we could nick three points out of the game the way we were on top the second half, but that’s just the way football goes sometimes.

“We’re all gutted that we’ve lost, but there’s something to take away from this.

"We’ve created good chances against a really good team, looking towards promotion, so it's just one of them, if we can keep playing like that we’ll be fine.”

One thing Bree couldn't put his finger was why, as against Bournemouth on Saturday, the Hatters were far better in the second period than the display produced prior to half time.

He continued: “I don’t know why we keep starting slow, it’s something we talk about before the game, start fast, get on top away from home, slow the game down if we have to and I think we’re struggling to do that at the minute for whatever reason.

"Second half we always come out and always play really well and if we can play the full game like we did that second half, we’ll beat a lot of teams in this league.

Although ultimately beaten, the trip was a far better experience for Bree than his last visit to the Bees with the Hatters, part of the side hammered 7-0 at Griffin Park, easily their worst day in the Championship last season.

The full back felt it shows how they are progressing, adding: "Last year that 7-0 was the worst game I’ve ever been involved in.

"In a way it does show us how far we’ve come and done to Brentford what they do to other teams in the second half, but it’s hard to see it now so quickly after the game.”