Brentford manager Mark Warburton fears League One opponents may have worked out how to frustrate his title-chasers.

Warburton watched as his men - minus injured stars Harlee Dean and Alan McCormack - were held to a 0-0 draw at Carlisle United on Saturday.

The result followed last week's 3-0 home humbling by Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Griffin Park chief insisted the Bees must learn to adapt.

“We are disappointed,” the manager told the club's website.

“We dominated possession, but we lacked a bit of quality.

“Teams will look at Brentford and say ‘two banks of four, break us down, we will hit you on the counter’.

“We have to be aware of that and try to go to the next level.

He added: “We thought they would sit back and allow us to have the ball.

“We played out from the back for fun, but we have to break them down.

“Wolves did a similar thing and teams are looking at doing this to Brentford.

“We have some good footballers and if a team plays football against us we will be in good shape.

“Now we have to be clever."

Dean's absence with persistent groin trouble meant a debut for January transfer window signing James Tarkowski.

And Warburton admitted he was impressed with what he saw.

“James was excellent," he added.

“He is comfortable in possession, has a good range of pass and can run with the ball, very composed.

“That display came as no surprise.  He has been outstanding in training and did very well.

“It is testament to Harlee Dean that someone of James’ quality has been kept on the bench.”