Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said his team deserved all three points against Derby County after an outstanding performance and were only denied by an unjust winner.
The Bees were held to a 1-1 draw against the pre-season promotion favourites at the iPro Stadium yesterday.
They dominated most of the match and took the lead in the first half when Alex Pritchard curled home his tenth goal of the season.
Chances went begging after the break and Derby levelled when a Jeff Hendrick shot fell fortunately to Darren Bent and he slotted home.
Mark said Hendrick should have been sent off moments earlier for a horrible high tackle on Tommy Smith but his team should have been out of sight.
The Brentford boss said there were some words in the dressing room after the match but he was clear that was a positive reaction to a very strong performance.
“We have come here and played a team that everyone had as favourites to go up this year and were outstanding,” said Mark, speaking after the match.
“The tackle in the corner was a red card and the player is then involved in the goal.
“That was unjust, it was a shocking challenge.
“In my opinion, the guy should go.
“It was a very strong performance and I thought we deserved three points.
“We had chance after chance in the second half and should have been out of sight.
“There were some really heated words in the changing room.
“To come here and have heated words because we didn’t beat Derby shows how far we have come.
“We have got where we are by playing our way.
“We should have been two or three clear.
“We dealt with their threat and played good football.
“They changed their formation and it is a real frustration we didn’t get the points.”
Mark said he was pleased with the amount of chances his side created and wasn’t pointing fingers at individuals for failing to take them.
The point leaves The Bees seventh in the table with four games to go and only a point behind Derby, who are fifth.
They face Sheffield Wednesday away from home on Tuesday night and have games against Bolton Wanderers, Reading and Wigan Athletic to come.
Mark said his side fears no team and are a threat to all.
“It is not about a striker or an attacker,” said the Brentford boss.
“We defend as a team and we attack as a team.
“The passion the players show is outstanding.
“They are winners and they know how good they can be.
“We want people to take ownership and they do.
“We have a good squad and they have shown how good they can be today.
“We have four games to go, a tough trip on Tuesday night.
“We have to go about our business and see where we are.
“We don’t fear any team but if we do what we do well we are a threat to anyone.
“We scored a good goal and created so many chances, we have to be pleased with that.”
Mark hailed his team’s overall performance as fantastic.
He praised the Brentford fans for their support, including travelling for a 12.15pm kick-off, and said he hoped the supporters were proud of the players.
“The performance was fantastic,” said Mark.
“The players took responsibility and were brave.
“You can tell players to play out from the back but they have to be brave.
“They did everything right today.
“There were some outstanding performances today and we’re proud of them, I hope the fans are proud of them.
“The support was magnificent and the overriding disappointment is we didn’t get three points.”
Brentford were without Chris Long, who felt some pain above his knee, but Mark said he hoped it would not be a long-term problem for the young striker on loan from Everton.
Jonathan Douglas was restored to the starting XI after being an unused substitute in the Easter Monday draw with Nottingham Forest.
Stuart Dallas was named as a substitute against Derby and Mark said it was a tough choice.
“Chris Long felt some pain above his knee at the end of training yesterday,” Mark explained.
“We hope it’s not serious.
“We have to look after him, he is an Everton player.
“Choosing the team was a tough one.
“Stuart had a whack but has recovered, Alan Judge is back to his best, Jonathan Douglas had a rest last week to enable him to produce the performance he did today.”
Mark’s final words were that his team should not be disappointed with a draw.
“All I have heard since the final whistle is commiserations,” he said.
“At the start of the season we’d have been happy with a point here.
“We should have taken all three and played really well.
“We deserved the points.
“We will watch the game again and realise how good a performance it was.
“We calmed down after the first ten minutes.
“From then we played very well.
“The players shouldn’t be disappointed with that.”
A full post-match interview with Mark Warburton is available here for Bees Player subscribers.