Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said he knew his team’s Sky Bet League One match against Crawley Town would be a tough one and his side had to fight for the win.
The Bees picked up a 1-0 victory with the only goal coming just before the hour mark.
Stuart Dallas released Alan Judge on the left and his cross was met by Jonathan Douglas, the header squirmed out of the grasp of Crawley goalkeeper Paul Jones and rolled in.
Mark said he knew it would be a scrappy game and praised his side for not getting frustrated.
“These are the hard games, we knew before they came here it would be,” said Mark.
“They have had five defeats in a row and they would be a tough opponent.
“They proved it.
“They slowed the game down; they were desperate to affect our tempo.
“We had to respond to it, not get frustrated and be patient.
“In the second half we got the goal we were seeking.
“There was good fortune about the goal but it was one of those games.
“Some games everything goes well and you win by four or five.
“Some are scrappy and you have to fight, we had to fight tonight, we knew we would.
“The message at half time was not to get frustrated or impatient, do what we do best and the rewards would come.
“Thankfully they did.”
Mark said Crawley dropped deep to negate the pace of Clayton Donaldson but wide attackers Stuart Dallas and Alan Judge stretched them.
He praised his defence for staying alert when most of the action was at the other end and Jonathan Douglas who kept the team in shape.
“They dropped deep early,” said Mark.
“The threat was in behind and they were wary of Clayton’s pace.
“Stuart and Alan Judge stretched them.
“We had to be patient.
“The defence had to stay alert.
“Jonathan Douglas keeps the team shape, he is the pivot.
“The full backs bomb on but they regain shape if it breaks down.”
The win took Brentford to 87 points, more than they have ever achieved in a Football League season.
They are nine clear of Rotherham United, who are third, with five games left to play.
The first of the last five is away to Swindon Town on Saturday.
“I said before we’d need 95,” said Mark.
“Now, Rotherham can only get to 93 so we need 94.
“We are just focussed on one game at a time and the next is Swindon.
“I believe 87 is a new record for the Club.
“That is great for the players, another milestone for them.
“Our long term target is to fill the new stadium; we have to set new records to do that.
“We want a good performance at Swindon and we will be one step closer to our goal.”
Mark praised his squad for their involvement in recent weeks.
He brought George Saville back in to the team after two games as a substitute and the bench included Toumani Diagouraga, Jake Reeves, Harlee Dean, Marcello Trotta and Will Grigg – who have played a role in the past few games.
“You can only pick 11, that’s the hardest part as a manager,” said Mark.
“More players deserve a shirt.
“In the last few weeks, Nico Yennaris, Stuart, Jake Reeves, Toumani, Will have all started games.
“It is a squad game.
“We have a defender of the quality of Harlee Dean on the bench.
“The squad will get us over the line.
“You have to put out your best team every team, the best for a specific game.
“We could have reverted back to the front-line that had served us well – Donaldson, Trotta, Judge – but Stuart Dallas did well and deserved his place.
“Toumani has put in two great performances but was on the bench; Jake Reeves came on and was bright.
“It’s the best team for the right night.”
Mark also praised the back room staff.
“The players buy in to what we do,” he said.
“The guys behind the scenes know what they are talking about.
“We have high quality staff, the players are well looked after.
“It’s a team effort on and off the pitch.”
Full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton is available here for Bees Player subscribers.