Sam Saunders said a meeting with Brentford Football Club owner Matthew Benham encouraged the players to gamble on promotion.
Sam scored a last-gasp penalty for The Bees against Preston North End on Saturday.
He was brought down in the 93rd minute and stepped up to smash home the penalty and give Brentford a 1-0 win and the points which took them up to second in npower League One.
Speaking to The Bees Player Show after the match, Sam said his legs were gone but he was pleased Manager Uwe Rösler did not take him off.
He said there was a team meeting during the winter training camp in Dubai last month with Club owner Matthew Benham – who also owns Smartodds, a company which provides statistical research for professional sports gamblers – and he encouraged them to go for wins at the end of the season
“I was looking at the bench after about 65 minutes, my legs had gone, it was my first 90 minutes for months,” said Sam.
“It was a heavy pitch and I was exhausted.
“The gaffer left me on and I’m grateful.
“I’m delighted with a 90th minute winner.
“Sometimes you have to gamble if you want automatic promotion.
“We had a meeting with Matthew Benham in Dubai and he talked about going for the three points rather than one.
“It worked today.
“At home we have to go for it.
“We did and we got the points.
“You don’t get to where Matthew is by taking reckless punts.
“There is a method to gambling.
“We said we had to go for it, three points are vital.”
Simon Moore also spoke to The Bees Player Show after the match and explained his emotions.
Brentford dominated most of the match against Preston but could not find a way past a well-organised defence and goalkeeper Declan Rudd until the last minute.
“I was relieved, happy, I was ecstatic to be honest,” he said.
“What a perfect way to end the game.
“We dominated the game; we were all over them from start to finish.
“They came here for a point, sat back and defended.
“I didn’t think the goal was going to come but credit to Sam Saunders, he has been fantastic since he came back in to the team, there was a lot of pressure on him but he stuck away a brilliant penalty and it puts us in a superb position with eight games left.
“You saw the emotion on the pitch, it was a special moment.
“When the final whistle went everyone went crazy.”
Brentford played in a more direct style against Preston and Simon said Manager Uwe Rösler has designed a specific plan.
“We tried to attack the left side, we believed we would get joy there,” he said.
“The gaffer told me to get the ball to the left as quickly as possible.
“It wasn’t as pretty as some of the football we have played but it was effective.
“We got a lot of crosses in and the goal came from that side.”
The Bees started with Sam Saunders behind two strikers at the head of a diamond midfield.
It was a role he performed towards the end of last season to great effect.
The winning goal was his third in his last four games and second in four days.
“I loved the position,” said Sam.
“I got on the ball, found holes and picked up the second balls.
“I have been injured and in and out of the team this season but you have to have a good attitude and bide your time.
“I have had opportunities in the last few weeks and I like to think I have shown what I can do.
“I have been here long enough to know a week is a long time.
“What a week I have had.”
Simon said Brentford scoring a last minute goal showed the strength of character in the squad.
It was their second late win in a week after The Bees came from behind and scored twice against Swindon Town on Tuesday.
“It’s testament to the squad we have got,” said Simon.
“We have done it a lot this season.
“Last season, if we went a goal behind we didn’t really come back; we have done it a few times this season, like on Tuesday.
“If you keep believing you never know what will happen.
“That’s what the boys did today, they fought to the final whistle and we got just rewards.”
Brentford’s next game is away to Sheffield United on Saturday.
The Bees climbed to second in npower League One after the win over Preston, one place ahead of their next opponents.
“If we go up there, keep the crowd quiet, start how we did today and nick an early goal, the crowd may turn on them,” said Sam.
“We are confident.
“We have put the defeats against Stevenage and Carlisle United behind us and bounced back.
“We will go there for the points.”
Simon said Brentford believed they could achieve their aim of promotion this season.
“The belief has always been there,” he said.
“So far, 2013 had not gone as well as we would have liked but we have a very young squad, it is a long season and it takes its toll.
“I think we are starting to come back to our best now.
“We were fantastic in the second half against Swindon and excellent today.
“Every game is like a cup final.
“They are all massively important.
“It’s lovely to have something to play for.
“Confidence is sky high and we believe something good will happen.
“We have to believe we can win the league, we shouldn’t settle for anything less.
“If we treat every game like a cup final we can be in the top two.”
Highlights of The Bees Player Show will be available later this week.