Bees boss Andy Scott admitted his side was handed a footballing lesson after watching Brentford crash out of the Carling Cup at Championship side Swansea City on Tuesday night.

Swans midfielder Shaun MacDonald bagged a brace as Roberto Martinez’s side ran out comfortable 2-0 winners in torrential conditions at the Liberty Stadium.

The Bees were forced to name youth team players Fraser Franks and Lewis Ochoa on the bench as Scott faced up to the reality of having seven first-team players sidelined with injury.

The crisis worsened when Marcus Bean saw red for a second bookable offence late on, which will see him suspended for the Saturday’s clash with Grimsby Town.

But Scott, who could also be without dead-leg victim Nathan Elder at the weekend, insisted his players can only learn from the experience.

“We could have been a bit more direct and more enthusiastic going forward, but they gave everything they got and we looked strong at the end,” he said.

“Four of those players have played for the Barcelona first-team. Owain Tudur Jones is a Welsh international and Dennis Lawrence has played in the World Cup.

“They are a decent side and it was a good lesson for our boys.

“We’ll show them the video, because that is how they have got into the Championship, how they’ll do well in the Championship and that is what we have got to aspire.”

City dominated for long periods and Brentford were never really in the game once MacDonald had given his side a 31st minute lead.

The impressive Jordi Gomez, Tudur Jones, Andrea Orlandi and Febian Brandy pulled the strings throughout and it was credit to the Bees defence MacDonald didn’t extend the lead sooner than the 70th minute.

Moses Ademola came closest to netting a consolation when he struck a post with ten minutes to go and Glenn Poole saw his follow-up well saved.

But Bean's dismissal compounded Scott’s misery as he attempts to patch things up ahead of Saturday’s opening home encounter of the campaign.

“It looks like we’ve got eight injured and one suspended out of a squad of 21, so it is not looking great. We’ve got to regroup,” he said.

“We have to look at who we have got and how we can play on Saturday over the next couple of days, but the priority is making sure we are raring to go.”