Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said his team deserved their Sky Bet Championship win away to Blackburn Rovers because of the character they showed in a second half fightback.
The Bees trailed 2-1 at half time but came back to win 3-2 at Ewood Park last night with Andre Gray coming off the substitutes’ bench to score the winner inside the last ten minutes.
Mark said Brentford’s first half performance was below their standards.
They fell behind inside five minutes and then conceded in first half stoppage time after Chris Long had levelled.
But Jota equalised early in the second half and Gray won it late on, bundling home from close range after good work by fellow substitutes Toumani Diagouraga and Jon Toral.
Mark said Brentford were architects of their own downfall in the first half but responded well after the break and did enough to win the game.
“The first half was littered with our individual errors,” said the Brentford boss.
“We gifted them a goal very early in the game.
“We knew the threat, gave the ball away four or five times and created our own problems.
“When we played well, moved the ball and got high up the field, we looked very good.
“We got the equaliser but then gave another goal away before half time.
“It wasn’t a good first half for us, by the standards the guys have set.
“But full credit to them for the character they showed in the second half.
“We looked dangerous, strong, moved the ball and thoroughly deserved the win.
“The subs did well, the team did well, they recognised what we needed to improve after the first half.”
Mark said the Ewood Park pitch did not help his side but no player would make excuses for the mistakes they made in the first half.
He said there was a conversation at half time and the players responded to take the win and maintain their position in the top six of the Championship with eight games to play.
“We wanted to play and the pitch was difficult but that is no excuse, the players made individual errors,” said Mark.
“There were poor passes and sloppy clearances.
“We gave the ball away in key areas, below the standards they set.
“But they’re human, we learn by mistakes.
“We had words at half time as a group and the character they showed was outstanding.
“The players responded well, we stood up in the second goal.
“We were angry at half time.
“The players have set consistently high standards and they know that is not the standard.
“They responded fantastically well.
“They are eight games from achieving something special.”
Mark brought Alan Judge in to the stating XI, replacing Diagouraga.
The Irishman is on his way back from a knee problem and Mark said he was desperate to play.
“Alan Judge has been outstanding for us all season,” said the Brentford boss.
“He has produced a fantastic level of consistency.
“He was out for eight weeks with a knee problem and is so desperate to come back and be part of this.
“We have eight games to go and are counting down.
“Alan has to recognise what a good player he is and what an impact he can make for the remaining eight games.
“Tonight we had a choice to give him an hour and bring him off or let him impact the game in the final half hour.
“Thankfully it worked out well.”
Long was selected to start the match and had a hand in the first two goals.
He lashed in from 20 yards, with the aid of a deflection, for the first and made a great run to draw defenders away to create space for Jota to score the second.
Gray then came off the bench for the last 20 minutes and was in the right place to convert after a Jota shot had been saved.
Mark said Long was not used in the defeat to Cardiff City on Saturday, March 14, as the Welsh side were playing a very compact system holding on to their 2-1 lead and width was needed to break them down.
“Andre Gray shoulders so much responsibility, leading the line for us,” said Mark.
“He does so much work.
“We though Chris could do 65 to 70 minutes and allow Andre to come on against a tired defence.
“Andre got the goal late on.
“On Saturday Cardiff were deep, central and solid.
“Putting on someone extra down the middle wouldn’t have helped, we wanted the cleverness.”
There are just eight Championship games to play.
Brentford are sixth, seven points behind joint-leaders Watford and Middlesbrough and a point ahead of Ipswich Town, who are seventh.
Mark said Brentford were only concerned with themselves and were now preparing for their next match, against Millwall at Griffin Park on Saturday.
“We are right in there,” he said.
“We speak in the dressing room and all we worry about is ourselves.
“We forget everyone else.
“We look at one game at a time.
“Right now our only focus is Millwall and everything we do is to get right for that.
“Everyone else is not our interest but it is tight.
“It is a tremendous night for us.
“But every second will be preparation for Saturday.”
A full post-match interview with Mark Warburton is available here for Bees Player subscribers.