Brentford B midfielder Max Wilcox says the side will learn a great deal from Tuesday’s test with AFC Wimbledon at Jersey Road.

It was a game where the young Bees saw a lot of the ball but were unable to break the League Two side down and they were made to pay as Quaine Bartley struck late on to give the Dons a 1-0 win.

Discussing the game and it panned out, Max said: “I thought they were very good in their defensive unit and we had a lot of the ball but it was difficult to break them down because they were well organised and they had some experienced players. They hit us at the end, and it was an individual mistake but it came from three or four errors up the pitch, so it was an unlucky one.”

Having had a lot of the ball, the Bees kept working their opponents from side to side but were unable to make the breakthrough. Chances did come across the 90, tough, with the likes of Yehor Yarmoliuk, Alex Gilbert and Kyreece Lisbie all going close. Max says the side will continue to work and they enjoyed the test that Wimbledon brought.

“Quite a lot of teams will do a low block against us. It’s something we’re working on in training all the time, we’re a team that want to keep the ball a lot of the game so it’s something that we’re going to come up against a lot this season.

“They (Wimbledon) were all very physical, strong players who could get around the pitch so it was a good test. We dominated the ball and did well moving it quickly, but I think we could just improve in the final third and keeping them out at the other end. They had one chance and put it in the back of the net and if you don’t take chances at the other end then that’s what happens when you get to higher levels of football.”

Discussing how he’s settled into the group since signing earlier in the summer, Max says that the competition within the group is helping him to rase his game.

He continued: “I’m really enjoying it and I’m finding it a good challenge. There is some real quality in the group. It makes you raise your levels when other players are putting it in around you for your spot.”