Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler said he thought the npower League One Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg draw his side secured against Swindon Town was a fair result.
The Bees earned a 1-1 draw thanks to a last gasp penalty.
The home side had taken the lead through Massimo Luongo but substitute Harry Forrester was fouled in the 93rd minute and Club Captain Kevin O’Connor stepped up to level the tie.
A place in the Play-Off Final will be decided at Griffin Park tomorrow, Monday May 6.
Uwe, speaking after the match, said there was not much between the teams and praised the way his side defended balls in to their penalty area on a windy afternoon in Wiltshire.
He said the introduction of substitutes Harry Forrester, Sam Saunders and Farid El Alagui helped his team turn the game around and they were worth the 1-1 score line.
“It was a difficult game,” said Uwe.
“There was not much between the teams.
“It was a home game for Swindon so they would naturally have more possession and more corners and free kicks.
“It was difficult for us, they pushed us back and we didn’t come up but we had the biggest chance of the first half [when Adam Forshaw shot wide with only Swindon goalkeeper Wes Foderingham to beat].
“Our back four did very well at set pieces.
“The handling of Simon Moore, for such a young keeper under that much pressure, was fantastic.
“That gave us a lot of confidence.
“I felt we should use the advantage of the wind a bit more in the second half and push them back but we dropped too deep.
“The distance between the midfield and the defence was too big.
“The substitutions gave us a bit more quality and we turned the game around.
“Overall, I think a draw was fair.”
Uwe praised the character in his side to come from behind for the umpteenth times this season and said he was confident the penalty would be converted.
Kevin O’Connor’s goal was his first of the season and came in only his third start since returning from a five-month lay-off with an ankle injury.
“We needed more quality on the ball, the substitutions gave us that,” said Uwe.
“This is another example of the character of the players.
“We have shown all season that we can find a way to come back.
“I was very confident Kevin would convert the penalty.
“He has been very solid since he came back in and showed all his experience and skill to score at the end.”
The draw came a week after Brentford had come agonisingly close to automatic promotion.
A win over Doncaster Rovers last week would have given Brentford a top two finish and a place in The Championship but Marcello Trotta missed a stoppage time penalty and the visitors broke away to score and win the game.
Uwe said to come from behind to draw after that disappointment was a good result.
He said he played a 4-4-2 system against Swindon as that had worked for his team this season – as The Bees won both home and away in the regular season – and he had not selected a side with the Second Leg in mind.
He said he was happy with the way the tie stood and would bring in fresh legs for the second match.
“We always go to win the game but sometimes you have to find different ways,” said Uwe.
“In our games against Swindon this season, when we play 4-4-2 against them we play well.
“That was the main reason we started to match them up.
“We have to go with the best starting XI for each game.
“We did not pick this team thinking about Monday.
“We will cross that bridge when it comes.
“I expect Swindon to play differently on Monday.
“Fresh legs will come in, we have the squad, we have showed that.
“The tie is wide open, that is what the players have delivered.
“I am happy, the players are happy.
“To get a draw under the circumstances, given what happened last week, was a good result.”
More than 1,500 Bees fans travelled down the M4 for the match and Uwe praised the travelling support.
He said a full Griffin Park on Monday would help his team.
“I expect our supporters to turn up in good numbers on Monday, like they did today,” he said.
“They were very positive, they supported us.
“They left the ground happy.
“We have it in our own hands and need to produce a good performance to make it happen.
“A full stadium will always help.”
A full post-match video interview with Uwe Rösler is available on Bees Player here.