Alex Pritchard will try and treat tonight’s Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg as just another game of football despite all the possible rewards success in the end of season showdown will bring him and his Brentford teammates.
Having finished fifth in their first season back in the second tier since 1993 Alex feels that the season proper begins tonight with the visit of Middlesbrough to Griffin Park.
The Bees are just three games from the promised land of the Premier League and Alex believes people will now have to sit up and take Brentford seriously as promotion contenders.
Speaking to Bees Player ahead of his final game at Griffin Park in a Brentford shirt Alex said: “It is probably the biggest game of my career.
“We have played 46 games now and this feels like just another game to tick off and get to Wembley.
“It is hard to switch to it being just another game because there are big rewards after it but we can’t think about the rewards and Wembley because there are two games to get there first.
“We have to perform well in both games against a good team to get to Wembley and it will be a good show.
“Training has been really good and we just can’t wait for the match now.
“The season starts now really.
“We have gone through our 46 games and now we are in another mini-league.
“The media have written us off all season and you saw before the last game how everything was about Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town.
“There wasn’t anything about Brentford but we don’t think like that and there comes a point where people have to start watching us.
“We have proved a lot of people wrong this year whatever happens.
“Going into this game people would probably say that Middlesbrough have the easiest option but it is a lottery now and whoever plays better wins.
“Wigan could have been my last game at Griffin Park so I wanted to go out on high then.
“There are two ties so you can’t go too much in the first leg but it is going to be massive for me and the boys.
“It is going to be difficult either way but I am looking forward to it and I am ready.”
Aitor Karanka’s side had the upper hand over The Bees in meetings this season after a 4-0 win at The Riverside back in September and then a 1-0 win at Griffin Park in January.
Alex feels that the result in the match at Griffin Park didn’t at all reflect a game that Brentford dominated and expects Boro to have another tough trip down to the capital this evening.
“It is in the back of your head that you have played them twice this year and lost twice, 4-0 away and 1-0 at home,” said Alex.
“All we can do is learn from it and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“We will play much better than we did.
“We played really well in the home game during the season so them coming to us is going to be difficult for them.
“We know that if we can get a good result or it is tight going into the away leg.
“We lost 4-0 at their place so it is not going to be easy going into but it is not going to be easy for them to come to us.”
The 22-year-old joined Brentford on a season-long loan at the start of the season and has enjoyed a wonderful campaign at The Bees.
Alex featured in all but one of Brentford’s 46 games in during the season chipping in with 12 goals and numerous assists.
That form was recognised as Alex picked up a number of supporters’ awards at the Player of the Year Awards dinner as well as being named Players’ Player of the Year.
The midfielder said it was great to pick up the Players’ Player award but felt it could have gone to any one of the team.
“It has been amazing at Brentford,” said Alex.
“Everyone has been incredible and it is going to be tough leaving but that is the way football is.
“I came into the building and got on well with the lads.
“I felt like part of the team from the early stages so it will be difficult.
“Hopefully there are three games left but I will enjoy them.
“It has been a massive boost for me on for next year.
“To get Players’ Player of the Year and having the players vote for you is great but anyone could have won that.
“The performances from some of the players this year have been incredible.
“The way that I have been playing I thought I might have picked up an award but to pick up as many as I have has been great.
“Hopefully that can stand me in good stead for next year.
“I feel that the defensive side of my game has become much more mature this season.
“Hopefully I can kick on next season and hopefully play Premier League football.”