Brentford skipper Harlee Dean read his team the riot act after Tuesday's EFL Cup shock defeat to League Two Exeter City and issued a frank apology to the club's fans.

The Bees crashed 1-0 to the Grecians in extra-time to make it two defeats from the club's first two competitive games of the campaign.

“It wasn’t good enough,” said Dean.

“We didn’t create chances and we didn’t test their goalkeeper.

"I think as a defensive unit we were solid and Jack Bonham only had one save to make.

"It wasn’t good enough against a League Two side to not create chances and not get shots on goal.

"We are a Championship team and they are in League Two and there’s a reason for that. We should have won comfortably and we know that.

"We are sorry to everyone who travelled tonight. It was not good enough and not acceptable.

"We are disappointed and we can tell that they are disappointed too.

"It is a long journey on a Tuesday night and we haven’t given them anything to cheer about.”

Former Middlesbrough forward Emmanuel Ledesma, signed earlier in the day on a non-contract basis, made his Bees debut at Exeter as did B team striker Justin Shaibu.

Head coach Dean Smith expects the likes of Lewis Macleod and Romaine Sawyers to return for the weekend visit of the Tractor Boys.

And Dean says the club cannot afford to begin the season with a third straight defeat.

“We have to get a result on Saturday because you don’t want to start the season with three defeats," he added.

"A result comes from a performance and we know we have to put that in as well.”