Daniel Farke felt Norwich City showed Brentford too much respect in Tuesday night’s 1-1 Championship draw.

Kenny McLean’s deflected 87th minute strike salvaged a point after Ivan Toney had cashed in on sloppy play from Todd Cantwell prior to the interval for last season’s beaten play-off finalists.

Farke had tipped the Bees to be a serious promotion rival prior to the contest, and the City head coach hailed his side’s character after being forced into a late change when Xavi Quintilla felt a hip problem in the warm up.

“Without a doubt a good point on the road. To score a late equaliser we have to be happy,” he said. “I am not 100pc happy because I felt we could have gone for it a bit more in the first half.

“We showed too much respect. Our pressing could have been a bit more intense, our possession was too respectful. We were not brave enough to find that key pass. We also conceded out of our throw in situation.

“We had the best chances in the first half but we didn’t do enough. We tried to play two touches from our throw in and they counter and in the end we fall behind. Then I felt for 10 or 15 minutes after the goal we were a bit shocked.

“Tim Krul made a good save and we managed to gain control in the second half.

“They have so much quality up front, so much pace and they know what is required at this level. But we found a way to get a point.”

Central midfielder Jacob Sorensen was thrust into emergency action at left back for his Norwich debut.

“It was a fantastic debut given the circumstances,” said Farke. “He is a smart guy. An intelligent guy. He has high football intelligence. Good players can play in many positions.

“He had a difficult start with some injury problems after a promising pre-season, then he was injured for his national team.

“Then he is in our match squad for the first time and five minutes before the start he is in the team in a position he has never played before. We didn’t have a natural full back on the bench.

“We could have played Lukas Rupp at right back and switched Max Aarons to the left but I didn’t want to make too many changes.

“I think my coaching staff was ready to kill me but it worked out. Xavi just felt some muscle problems in the build up.

“Xavi felt some problems with his hip and couldn’t really sprint in the warm up. Maybe coming over from Spain and playing three games in a week is a factor. He has been in a good rhythm.

“But he felt this strain in the warm up and thankfully the decision worked out well with Jacob. Many compliments to him.”