Head coach Lee Carsley believes a crisis in confidence is behind Brentford's slow start to the Championship campaign.

The Bees' woes continue after they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Derby County at the iPro Stadium on Saturday.

The Rams established their two goal lead before half time and could well have added to their tally, as Carsley's men looked lost and off the pace.

Having replaced the departed Marinus Dijkhuizen at the start of the week, ex-Everton midfielder Carsley has his work cut out to transform his stuttering side.

But the coach believes a confidence boost will do the team a world of good.

"We looked nervous, edgy, we were making simple mistakes, which is apparent when you are lacking confidence," he said.

"We tried to change the team around a bit, the formation. I'm not sure if that worked, especially in the first half.

"I thought there was a good reaction in the second half. We made some tactical changes which helped the players, but ultimately it's down to confidence.

"We've signed quite a few players and are trying to integrate them into the team.

"With the foreign players, they are moving to a new country, new house, new language and a new style of football. We need to make sure we protect them."

Derby enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure during the opening stages, with David Button doing well under pressure to punch clear a Tom Ince free kick.

Brentford came back into the game with Akaki Gogia cut inside his man on the right and saw his cross cleared for a throw in.

The Bees also threatened down the opposite flank, with Jake Bidwell and Lasse Vibe combining well.

Vibe had a half chance after good work by Nico Yennaris on the right, but his tame shot was wide of the post.

Derby took the lead when Cyrus Christie crossed from the right and Chris Martin steered it in from close range at the back post.

Ince missed a good chance for the home side when he fired over from close to the penalty spot.

Just before the break the Rams doubled their lead. A lightning break from their own box down the right saw the ball switched to the left and ended with Jeff Hendrick squaring it to Ince, who fired past Button.

Early in the second half a terrific run out of defence by Ryan Woods saw him try to release substitute Sergi Canos, but he was just beaten to the ball inside Derby's box.

After a Derby corner on the right, Button produced an excellent one handed save to deny Bradley Johnson.

In the closing stages Brentford finally had a sight of goal when Marco Djuricin found some space on the right and picked out substitute Phillipp Hofmann, but the German's goal bound shot was cleared off the line.

Brentford: Button; Yennaris, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell; Gogia (sub Canos h/t), Judge, Diagouraga (sub Swift 70), Woods, Vibe (sub Hofmann 63); Djuricin.

Subs (not used): Bonham, Barbet, O'Connell, Kerschbaumer.