Brentford Manager Mark Warburton hailed his “fantastic” players after they came from behind with ten men to draw with Birmingham City.
The Bees were a man down 15 minutes in when Tony Craig was adjudged to have denied Clayton Donaldson a goal scoring opportunity.
The resulting penalty was scored by Paul Caddis to give Birmingham the lead.
The Bees were on the ropes at times in the first half but came back and got a point thanks to a Moses Odubajo goal.
Mark, speaking after the match, praised his players for their character and energy.
He said The Bees dominated the second half and produced a tremendous performance.
“The players showed tremendous character, I am full of praise for them,” said Mark.
“They are shattered, they worked their socks off, all the old sayings are true.
“We dominated the second half.
“We had energy all over the park, the defenders stood up and did their job, in midfield we had some tremendous performances.
“We were threatening and dangerous.
“Credit to the players, they were fantastic.”
Brentford started with Jota and Tommy Smith as wide attackers in a 4-1-4-1 system and Mark said he wanted his team to impose their game on Birmingham.
Mark said his players were “dragged in to the emotion” of the match just before half time – being a man down, a goal down and not getting much from referee Robert Madley – but regrouped at the break.
“We think Birmingham are a strong direct team with pace up front and players sitting in midfield,” explained Mark.
“They also had a threat wide.
“The idea was to impose our game on them today.
“Tommy Smith has done really well, he deserved a start.
“We tried to get the selection right in terms of the game away at Blackpool on Tuesday and looking ahead.
“Jota started brightly, we looked good on the ball and moved it.
“I haven’t seen the sending off again yet.
“After the sending off for ten minutes we looked good and threatening but lapsed a little.
“We got dragged in to the emotion of the situation.
“We weren’t getting too many decisions and for ten to 15 minutes we felt sorry four ourselves.
“We nearly paid the price.
“But we got in to half time 1-0, regrouped and were magnificent in the second half.”
Mark said Brentford’s problems in the first half were of their own making.
He introduced Stuart Dallas at half time for Smith – having already brought on Harlee Dean, for Jota, to play in defence after Craig was sent off – and told his players to go for it.
“The message at half time was that when we were under the cosh before the break we weren’t taking care of the ball,” said Mark.
“We were giving the ball away cheaply, panicking in dangerous areas and it wasn’t Brentford.
“The problems we faced were of our own making.
“When we took care of the ball, went with Alex Pritchard and Jonathan Douglas in midfield, went with three up front, we were tremendous.
“I told them to have a go.
“We have some technical players that dominate the ball; we don’t need to force the pass.
“We are at our best with the ball at our feet.
“To go long today played in to Birmingham’s hands.”
Mark praised the way Dean came off the bench to step in to the defensive line after Craig was sent off.
“Tony is devastated, but delighted with what the boys have done,” he said.
“He has been magnificent for us, our captain on the pitch.
“Harlee has been waiting for his chance, he will admit to being frustrated.
“He has knocked on my door and I don't mind that.
“He has been patient, trained hard and stepped in to deliver a performance today.”
Mark said the strength in the squad meant he could name Odubajo as a substitute as well as Dallas.
He praised the way they impacted the game and said others would also get a chance to show what they could do.
“Moses is a tremendous player,” said Moses.
“He was one of the first names on the team sheet at Leyton Orient and played a lot of football over two years.
“He got an injury, a knock to the lower back, and I don’t think he was used to being injured.
“It impacted him.
“Moses moves well and he had to shake off an injury.
“We won’t rush players back, we have great options.
“We have a very strong squad.
“I wanted to use Jon Toral and look at him.
“I can look at the bench and I have fantastic options.
“We have some very good players, some good options.”
Mark added: “The fans were magnificent; I always try to say it.
“The players respond and I hope the fans see the effort.
“We went for the victory.
“The players were magnificent today."
Full post-match reaction from Mark Warburton is available here for Bees Player subscribers.