OXFORD United showed their capabilities – despite seeing their losing run extended to four games, according to boss Karl Robinson.
Brentford were favourites to progress from the Emirates FA Cup third round tie and duly did so.
But it was not straightforward for the Sky Bet Championship side, who had to bring top-scorer Neal Maupay off the bench.
The Frenchman won and converted a penalty for the only goal of the game ten minutes from time at Griffin Park.
United, who had been unable to make the most of their sporadic forays forward when the game was goalless, did put pressure on in the latter stages.
Robinson thought they had a good case for a penalty in stoppage-time when Marcus Browne appeared to be held.
But considering United had limply lost their previous three games in League One, this display at least restored some battered pride.
The head coach said: “This was about being a stepping stone to perform better.
“We’ve performed really poorly over the last three games and we got what we deserved.
“But I thought this looked a little bit more like ourselves in how we moved the ball. I’m really pleased with the players.”
He added: “I don’t think they caused us any problems whatsoever.
“I don’t think we feel we’ve been outplayed by a very good Championship team.
“If anything I think we looked a lot more organised in and out of possession.
“They were going to have moments of magic because they’ve got top players, but if you take that out I thought tactically and technically we coped with the demands of the game very well.”
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