Youth Team defender Gradi Milenge felt Brentford’s performance on Saturday morning justified the point they picked up thanks to Bradley Clayton’s goal in the seventh minute of injury time.
In a match between two sides chasing a place in the end of season play-offs for the Under-18 Professional Development League Two South it was The Swans who struck just after the hour through Owain Jones.
The visitors should have put the match to bed but passed up a number of guilt-edged chances and were punished deep into injury time as Clayton poked home at the back post.
Speaking to Bees Player after the game Gradi said he and his teammates were delighted to get the point which he felt their performance deserved.
“Everyone is happy with the performance because we worked hard for it,” said Gradi.
“We had a lot of chances and in the last minute we took one.
“It was fantastic to get that late goal because heads were starting to go.
“Everyone had put in so much work but luck wasn’t going our way.
“Herson Rodrigues Alves had a sitter in front of goal but the way that it bobbled made it difficult for him.
“We had a lot of chances but didn’t get a goal so it felt good to get one at the end.
“We couldn’t lose today.
“We set ourselves a target to get 10 points out of 12.
“It is a shame that we couldn’t win but we drew and that keeps us on track for those 10 points.
“We want to stay on top of the league and we don’t want to give anyone a chance to catch up.
“I think we did deserve the point because at times we were fantastic in possession.
“We fell off for a little bit in the game and let Swansea get on top but everyone was working hard and we did well.”
The Swans won the reverse fixture in South Wales 4-1 back in December and Gradi admitted that added a little extra to the match.
On that day Swansea’s front three of Stephen Fallon, Daniel James and Owain Jones proved too much for a youthful Brentford side.
The 18-year-old admitted that the trip were once again a handful this time round but felt he and his defensive colleagues dealt with that threat well apart from in the build up to the opening goal.
Gradi admitted his side could have done more to prevent the opener which he felt came at the end of a really poor spell for The Bees.
“Swansea’s front three are good players but I think myself, Seth Owens, Audrius Laucys and Tom Field dealt with them well,” said Gradi.
“They had a way to press on Adi’s side that meant it was quite difficult for him to press at first but he dealt with it well as the game went on.
“Off the ball we pressed them, got on to their first touch and made it difficult for them to play.
“We have a fast back-line so we trust ourselves with our pace.
“We continued playing our high line trusting that we would get there first.
“The times that they did get their first we always had cover and Nik Tzanev in goal came out to save us.
“We don’t want anyone beating us twice.
“We have only lost one league game at home.
“It was a shame to lose that game but we don’t want to lose any more league games at home.
“We want to go away showing we are a good side.
“Just before the goal heads were down and we lacked confidence for that five or ten minutes.
“We weren’t playing very well and that goal always looked like it was coming.
“We tried everything to prevent it because when you are defending a lot you can tell that something is coming.
“There was just a bit of miscommunication at the back because I was at right-back and Adi was coming out to right-back as well which left a gap in the middle.
“Mistakes like that happen sometimes and it is just about sorting it out for the future and making sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Gradi made his third Under-21 appearance of the season last Monday as Brentford beat Cardiff City 1-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Playing alongside Alan McCormack and under the guidance of Lee Carsley, Gradi said it was a great experience to be involved in South Wales.
The defender said that it is a great learning experience to play with first-team players as they show him the level he needs to get to for his career to advance.
“The Under-21s is brilliant at the moment with Lee Carsley,” said Gradi.
“He is so experienced so training with him is good.
“The tempo is high and players are on it.
“We went to Cardiff and kept a clean sheet and made it two wins on the bounce.
“There is a game for them on Tuesday and hopefully they can go out and do the same.
“Whether or not I am involved is up to Lee but it is fantastic to be involved with them.
“You get a feel of what first-team football is like because you can watch first-team football but not know what it is like to be on there.
“To play with someone like Alan McCormack or Nick Proschwitz you see what they are like on the pitch and how they speak to players.
“The work rate that they put in makes you realise what you are looking for and where you want to be.
“It is a fantastic experience to see their technical sides as well.
“You see how far they can head a ball clear and you know that is the standard that I have to reach.
“Alan McCormack was really professional on Monday, so was Marcos Tebar and so was Nick Proschwitz and they set the standards that you need to reach.”