Brentford manager Dean Smith insists his side must maintain belief if they are to secure their first win of the Championship season – and backed fortune to fall the way of misfiring striker Neal Maupay.

The Bees squandered a one-goal lead against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Tuesday night after Nicholas Yennaris’ tame volley from the edge of the box handed the visitors an early lead.

But Gary Hooper equalised against the run of play to poke in a rebound after John Egan's clearance struck the woodwork.

And the momentum stayed with Carlos Carvalhal’s side, who completed the comeback when Ross Wallace stabbed in Jordan Rhodes' pull-back.

Brentford are now without a win in their opening seven Championship matches and with Yennaris’ strike being the Bees’ first away league goal of the season, Smith admits his side are lacking clinical prowess.

And although Maupay struck the woodwork with the last kick of the game, his manager admitted the French striker had suffered an unfortunate run of form which, coupled with the other opportunities his side are spurning in front of goal, has made for a tricky start to the season.

“Neal looked on fire at the start of the season and scored in two games. His build up play is really good. He's been unfortunate. He's not got good connections,” said Smith.

"After the first half, we should have been walking off the pitch three goals up.

“We didn't take our chances, though, and we then had that sucker punch at the end of the first half.

“I think in the second half they started brighter than we did. We conceded on the stroke of half time when we should have been leading by three or four goals.”

It was a frustrating night for Brentford, who suffered a further blow as Henrik Dalsgaard left the pitch on a stretcher after he was knocked unconscious in the closing stages.

And Smith vowed that the result would prove a valuable lesson for his side, who will go in pursuit of their maiden league win when they entertain Reading at Griffin Park, on Saturday 16 September. 

"We have got to learn as a team, and a lack of nous has cost us the equaliser. We should have had the game sewn up,” said Smith.

"They started the second half better than we did and until they scored we huffed and puffed a little bit.

“We were then the better team again after they went in front and deserved to score another goal, but it wasn't to be. We have to keep believing in what we are doing."