Can it be true?
 

The League One season has not even started yet, but the Bees are already out of one cup competition?
 

OK, so it was only the Capital One Cup, something the Bees rarely have any interest in – come on, they’ve crashed out at the first hurdle in four of the past five seasons – but still, it’s not the most glorious of campaign beginnings.
 

Worse still was Jake Reeves’ performance on Tuesday night, lasting only 25 minutes before being shown a straight red card for an over the top lunge.
 

Call it opening day enthusiasm if you will, but I prefer sending professionalism over the top, not a lunging boot.
 

Uwe Rosler reckoned there could even have been one or two more for his men such was their industrial approach to tackling.
 

The midfielder will now miss the opening three games of the season - meaning Uwe Rosler will have to revert to plan B. Let’s just hope he isn't on plan C by 5pm on Saturday night.
 

Maybe it was a bad dream and we’ll wake up thinking: “The League Cup before the league? That’s just crazy talk. It must have been another of those never-ending friendly games.
 

“Capital One Cup? I don't even have one their credit cards. What a fool I have been.”
 

But whether you agree with the Capital One Cup starting before the league or not, it is the first game of the season and needs everyone’s full attention - conceding an early goal, losing a man and then floundering to defeat is not the base on which glorious success can be built.
 

Victory breeds confidence, confidence breeds results, results breed silverware, and silverware means we can afford an account with American Express.
 

But still, it was only the Capital One Cup and now we can start concentrating on the league – when it starts.
 

Here we go!