Sam Saunders praised his young team mates after Brentford booked a place in the npower League One Play-Off Final by beating Swindon Town on penalties on Monday.
The Bees won a rollercoaster of a match 5-4 on spot kicks after a 3-3 draw at Griffin Park.
The first game had been drawn 1-1 and Brentford took a 2-0 lead in the Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg and then went 3-1 up in the second half.
But Swindon hit back, levelling in the 95th minute and taking the tie to spot kicks.
Sam converted the first of Brentford’s five and with The Bees netting their full set, Simon Moore’s save from Miles Storey was enough to put them through.
Sam is one of the older members of the squad and hailed the way a young side fought their way through
“We have to enjoy the moment,” said Sam, speaking to The Bees Player Show after the match.
“They don’t come around often.
“To concede in the 90th minute and go and win a penalty shoot-out is brilliant.
“I am so proud of the way the boys picked themselves up and went again.
“There were tired bodies but these young boys keep surprising me.
“They are growing in to men and putting in some unbelievable performances.
“I am so pleased, as for many of them it will be the first chance to play at Wembley.
“Hopefully we can go and do ourselves proud.”
Sam said Manager Uwe Rösler had to pick the players up after Swindon’s late leveller and praised the way the team responded.
It was the latest in a line of memorable matches involving Brentford this season.
In recent weeks they have scored two late goals to beat Portsmouth, come from behind to draw against Sheffield United with nine men, missed a stoppage time penalty on the final day of the season against Doncaster Rovers when a goal would have seen them automatically promoted and scored a stoppage time penalty in the first match of this tie.
That added to more than a dozen late goals throughout the season that has showed, according to Sam, a “never-say-die attitude”.
“This season has aged me,” said the midfield man.
“I look 21 now.
“It’s a credit to the character of the boys.
“They have a never-say-die attitude.
“Anyone with a Brentford Season Ticket has had their money’s worth this season.
“The Manager had to pick the boys up at full time.
“We had to dust ourselves down and start again.
“We couldn’t just wait for something to happen.
“We kept going and creating chances, we nearly nicked it.”
Sam took Brentford’s first penalty in the shoot-out and said he was happy to do so when asked by Manager Uwe Rösler.
“Everyone kept their heads,” he said.
“I just wanted to get a good start for the boys.
“I scored a couple of penalties before but missed at Sheffield United.
“He told me when I came on today I would take one in normal time if we got it so I knew I’d be either first, third or fourth.
“The gaffer told me to go first.
“I love that feeling, I was really buzzing.
“I was pleased it went in.”
Paul Hayes, Harlee Dean and Tony Craig scored while Simon Moore saved Swindon’s fourth to give Adam Forshaw the chance to win the match.
Sam said he believed Brentford could go again against Yeovil Town in the Play-Off Final on May 19 and win promotion.
“Adam ran his socks off in both games,” he said.
“He was down to his last legs.
“I tried to give a bit of advice.
“I told him to commit.
“He told me he was going to smash it.
“It went in and the rest is history.
“We can enjoy tonight but we haven’t achieved anything if we don’t win at Wembley.
“I have 100 per cent trust in these boys, I feel there is another push here.
“I can’t wait for it.”
The best of the coverage from the Swindon clash will be on Bees Player later this week.