Clayton Donaldson said his goal in Brentford’s Sky Bet League One win over Coventry City was a “big” one at a “vital” time.

The Bees were 1-0 down to Coventry when Clayton scored.

They had seen an Alan Judge penalty saved and were second best.

But Clayton got on to an Alan Judge pass, raced away in the inside left channel and slotted home his 16th goal of the season and third in his last four games.

“It was a big goal,” he said.

“Considering we went behind and we missed a penalty, our heads could have gone down.

“It was vital to get a response and get a goal as quickly as possible.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time.

“We have broken from the edge of the box and the ball got to Alan Judge, I was running one way and Marcello Trotta the other, he could have played either of us in.

“He put me in, I saw the opportunity.

“I wanted to get a good shooting opportunity.

“I thought the defender would nick it so I took an extra touch and that probably helped me.

“The keeper has come out, I toe-poked it between his legs.

“I wanted to get a good strike so took the extra touch to get in front.

“We needed it, we hadn’t started well, Coventry dictated play early on.

“The equaliser was vital.”

Marcello Trotta put Brentford in front within three minutes of Clayton’s goal and Alan McCormack made it 3-1 just after half time.

The game ended that way to give Brentford a fourth straight win and extend their run of form to one defeat in 25 Sky Bet League One matches.

Clayton, speaking to Bees Player after the match, said Brentford were slack in the first half but scoring so soon after half time damaged Coventry.

He said the result was more important than the performance.

“Considering we fell behind, it was good to be 2-1 up after 20 minutes,” said Clayton.

“We were off the hook a little.

“Anyone can score in this team.

“Marcello Trotta is on fire at the moment and I am scoring goals.

“We just had to stay in the game and step it up a bit.

“We were slack from the start.

“At half time we weren’t happy but were 2-1 up.

“We said at half time we had to step up, to get a goal quickly deflated them.

“They would have been happy with their first half performance and looking to improve.

“The goal kills it for them, it could have been four or five at the end.

“At this stage it is about the win.”

Brentford are second in League One.

They are a point behind leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers with a game in hand and two clear of Leyton Orient, who are third and have played two games more.

The Bees have 79 points, the same number they got last season when they finished third.

Clayton said that showed how good the Brentford squad was.

“The table is opening up a bit,” he said.

“We have games in hand as well.

“We have lost one in 25 so you would expect a bigger gap.

“Teams this year have gone on runs, that is why is it close.

“We will take three points any way at this stage.

“To have reached last season’s tally with ten games left shows how far we have come.

“We felt we deserved to go up last year.

“To equal that total shows how good the squad is.

“We are doing the right things and it is in our hands.”

Clayton said he was not worried about his personal goal tally.

“A goal for me is a bonus,” he said.

“Three points is number one, a goal or contribution is a bonus.

“A striker wants to contribute.

“I feel I am doing that.”

Brentford’s next game is away to Rotherham United on Tuesday.

Rotherham are fourth in the table and are unbeaten in 13 games, last losing on January 1.

They have only lost two of their last 23 games but are ten points behind The Bees having played a game more.

“Rotherham have been on a run as well,” said Clayton.

“They haven't lost many games.

“It will be a tough game but a good one for the neutral.

“We are in form, they are doing well.

“If we play well, we will be fine.

“We have come a long way since the home game.

“We want to show them the true Brentford.

“It won’t be easy, they will want to nick automatic promotion and if they beat us they can do that.

“We have to go there and shut that down.”

A full video interview with Clayton Donaldson is available here for Bees Player subscribers.