Defender Harlee Dean might have had the captain's armband at Huddersfield Town on Saturday, but head coach Dean Smith has warned he has to perform to keep it.

Brentford lost their opening Championship match of the campaign 2-1 at the weekend, with five players tasting defeat in their first starts for the club.

Goalkeeper Daniel Bentley, defender John Egan, full back Callum Elder, midfielder Romaine Sawyers and Lewis MacLeod were all new to the starting line-up compared to the side that ran out 5-1 winners in Yorkshire at the end of last season.

Dean was handed the task of leading the team following the summer exit of last season's skipper Jake Bidwell and is likely to be given the task at Exeter City in the EFL Cup tonight.

"I said to Harlee Dean you have the captain's armband now and it's yours to keep," said Smith.

"But you've got to perform in the team to keep it because there is a lot of competition.

"There are some good players who will push him all the way."

He added: "I don't think I've got the bodies for wholesale changes at Exeter on Tuesday."

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Opening salvo: Full back Nico Yennaris scored Brentford's first goal of the new Championship season

Nico Yennaris scored Brentford's first goal of the new season in an otherwise disappointing performance from Smith's men.

The young full back's 77th minute equaliser Elias Kachunga second half opener, but the Bees were on level terms for just two minutes as Kasey Palmer fired the winner.

“I thought the first half was disappointing," added Smith.

"They were first to the ball and looked a little brighter than us. But we were organised and restricted them to few chances.

"After they got their first goal we made the changes and I thought we looked a lot better after that. We got more legs in the team, got closer to Scott Hogan and got an equaliser.

"Unfortunately we gave the ball away cheaply, they rode a couple of tackles and got the shot in for the winner.

"It happens. Lots of spirit about the team but we probably lacked quality and a bit of pace, which we're looking to get in."

Brentford: Bentley; Clarke, Dean, Egan, Elder; Sawyers, Woods, Kerschbaumer (sub Saunders 56), McEachran (sub Yennaris 56), MacLeod (sub Hofmann 82); Hogan.

Subs (not used): Bonham, McCormack, Field, Holldack.