David Button said his penalty save in Brentford’s Sky Bet League One win against Preston North End came at a crucial time.
The Bees won 3-0 at Deepdale on Saturday to move within a point of the top two in the table.
They were 2-0 up at half time as Adam Forshaw scored from the penalty spot and then set up Marcello Trotta to double the lead.
But Preston responded, making a double substitution at half time and pressing forward.
They were awarded a penalty six minutes in to the second half but David turned Joe Garner’s powerful spot kick away.
Brentford weathered the Preston storm and Sam Saunders scored a third late on to seal the win.
“We knew at half time their manager would get in to them and they would give it a good go at the start of the second half,” said David, speaking to Bees Player: Match Day Live after the win.
“But we defended well and the penalty save came at a crucial time.
“If it was 2-1 with 40 minutes to go, it would have been a different game.
“The lads dug in and we dominated the last 15 to 20 minutes.
“I thought their penalty was harsh.
“Joe Garner was going down easily throughout the game, it’s part of his game and he does it well, to be fair to him.
“You do see them given and if you don’t win the ball it can be difficult.
“I had an idea he would go across me.
“He had a strong run-up and I thought he would blast it.
“Luckily I went the right way and it wasn’t too far in the corner.
“The lads did well to tidy it up afterwards.”
The clean sheet was David’s eighth in his last nine games and Brentford have conceded just four goals in a ten game unbeaten League One run, a sequence that has seen nine wins and a draw.
David admitted there have been games where he has had little to do and he was pleased to have had a chance to show what he was capable of.
“It is nice to finally, if you like, show the fans what I can do, certainly more than I have been,” he said.
“The team has been so good that I haven’t had that much to do.
“I knew it would be a difficult game and sooner or later I would be called upon.
“Thankfully, I have had a good day.
“It is nice to get a bit of recognition.
“The fans have been great but I haven’t been overly worked.
“It is a nice feeling to play a bit more of a part.
“But if I can do less again for the next month that will suit me.
“If the team is winning I can’t complain.”
Sam Saunders also spoke to Bees Player: Match Day Live after the match.
He came on to replace Kadeem Harris, who was taken off on a stretcher with a hamstring injury, seven minutes before half time.
“When I came on we wanted to make sure we got in to half time at 2-0 and go again,” said Sam.
“I just wanted to keep the shape before half time.
“I saw Kadeem go down and thought I could come on.
“I am always ready to come on.
“He was doing well, especially defensively.
“That probably affected his hamstring, he did four or five full sprints back within the first half hour.
“We have a very strong squad; players can come in and do a job.”
Sam said the game could have been very different but for David Button’s penalty save.
“They made a double substitution at half time,” he said
“Their crowd helped them but we didn’t help ourselves as we got deeper and deeper.
“We found ourselves in a 4-5-1 rather than 4-3-3.
“It was a dangerous time for us.
“If Butts didn’t make the save it could have been different.
“That is where you need the team to dig you out.
“We scored another and it was quite comfortable at the end.”
Sam got the third goal inside the final 20 minutes.
He took down a George Saville cross, after Adam Forshaw had won the ball in midfield, turned and volleyed it powerfully in.
“George has crossed it in, I chested it down and I expected someone to be behind me,” said Sam.
“As I have turned I am one-on-one.
“I didn’t know whether to lob it or put my foot through it.
“I decided to put my foot through it and I was delighted to see it go in.
“With the 3-0 cushion the game was over.
“I thought about the overhead kick but as I turned I felt the guy wasn’t there.
“I am delighted with the result.
“The attitude and determination was fantastic.”
Brentford are third in League One going in to Christmas.
They are a point behind leaders Leyton Orient and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are second.
David Button said Brentford Manager Mark Warburton had told the players they were the best squad in the league and the goalkeeper felt The Bees could be champions at the end of the season.
“We have the players to win it,” he said.
“Warbs has always said we have the best squad in the league, that showed again today when Kadeem goers off injured and Sam Saunders comes on and is excellent.
“That shows the strength and we will need that, we can’t get carried away.
“We have a busy period and are looking at the next game and not too far ahead.
“We came in to the game today knowing the next four would be crucial.
“We wanted to stay in touch with the top two going in to the New Year and that would give us a fantastic chance.
“If we can go better and break in to the top two, even better.”
Sam said Brentford had laid a marker down for the rest of the division.
“We have put a statement out to the league today,” he said.
“We have come to Preston and won 3-0.
“Teams already respect us at Griffin Park; they will do even more now.
“I am pleased we are getting the results for the hard work.
“Everyone is buzzing.”
Brentford Assistant Manager David Weir also spoke to Bees Player: Match Day Live after the win.
“Overall the performance was very good,” he said.
“We were on the front foot from the first minute.
“They had to change their formation after we got the goals and in the second half they put us under pressure.
“We weathered the storm and got back on the front foot.
“We then did what Brentford do best.
“Mark wants us to play attacking football.
“He wants us to be expansive and open and go and score goals.
“We came here and needed to impose what we did.
“I felt we did that.
“Our players on the day performed better.
“The penalty save was a turning point.
“They would have had the momentum if they had scored that.
“That took the wind out of their sails.”
David joined Brentford last week, working with new Manager Mark Warburton.
“I have really enjoyed it so far,” he said.
“I have known Mark for a while and it is great to get a chance to come here and work at a club with some very good people.
“Everyone here is genuinely nice; they couldn’t have been more helpful.
“I just want to do my bit to make the Club more successful.”
The best bits from Saturday’s Bees Player: Match Day Live show will be available soon.