‘Doesn’t happen often’ - Nathan Collins on how he felt leaving Anfield last Sunday

Nathan Collins admitted to having mixed emotions in the aftermath of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool. The result was the latest in a series of outstanding performances by Brentford this season and it meant they finished the campaign with four points from six against the Anfield giants.

However, it meant they missed out on European football on just goal-difference to Brighton . And for Collins , who also suffered heartache when Ireland ’s World Cup dream ended in a penalty shootout in Prague, it was a fresh disappointment. Asked for his thoughts on Brentford’s campaign, he replied: “Mixed emotions, I think, especially at the end of the season. “If you offered that (a ninth placed finish) at the start of the season after our first game, I think you'd have snapped your hand off. “But the way we carried on during the season and what we were doing and the momentum we had, I think there was a lot of frustration not qualifying for something. “It doesn't take away from the fact of what we did achieve and I felt how good we were during the season. “Leaving Anfield with a draw and you're frustrated, it doesn't happen often. It's a bit of mixed emotions.” Couple that with the Czechia defeat and Collins could be forgiven for feeling down.

But rather than dwell on those disappointments, the centre-half wants to use them to fuel his drive for glory at club and international level. “I’ve said that I’ve learned a lot about myself this season. I feel that I’ve got hungrier as the season went on,” he said. “There’s a bite in me, wanting to succeed more for Ireland. “After seeing all the fans in Czechia, how much we came together, it gives you extra to want to do more. That’s given me more of a bite. “It’s the same with the club team when you’re that close. I felt we were good enough to get really close and that gives you hunger to go again.” Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond .