After an encouraging opening day draw with promotion rivals Ipswich Town on Saturday, it did not take long for the wheels on Brentford’s season to loosen a little.

A 4-0 defeat to League Two Oxford United highlighted one thing.

Not that the Bees’ hopes of securing Premier League football will be tested this season.

And not that the Griffin Park pitch was no longer fit for purpose after 180 minutes of competitive football this season – that came later.

What it informed the Ealing Road faithful is the club’s much-vaunted youngsters – who are hoping to provide head coach Marinus Dijkhuizen with some manpower when injuries and suspensions kick in – may not be up to scratch, yet.

Dijkhuizen named Josh Clarke, Josh Laurent, Jermaine Udumaga, Courtney Senior and Jack Bonham in the team and the move took just 12 minutes to backfire.

It is unrealistic to expect the gaps in the first team squad left by the exits of Jonathan Douglas, Stuart Dallas and Moses Odubajo, to be filled in-house.

Which means the need to find the £100,000 plus it may cost to relay the ‘awful’ Griffin Park pitch – a move confirmed on Wednesday – could not have come at a more awkward moment.

It all stacks up to make the multi-million pound offer from Hull City for striker Andre Gray – turned down for a third time this week – a little more tempting than prior to the weekend.

Gray’s future is still to be settled with Burnley appearing to join the race for his signature after the 24-year-old climbed off the bench in the right frame of mind to inspire Brentford’s late comeback against the Tractor Boys.

A trip to Bristol City should put a smile back on everyone’s face after the Championship new boys lost at League Two Luton Town after opening their campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

Then again....