Shaleum Logan said Brentford’s players showed their fighting spirit as they came from behind to take a “massive” three points against Swindon Town.
The Bees were a goal down with 20 minutes to go but Sam Saunders fired home a penalty and Clayton Donaldson, who won the spot kick, smashed in the winner.
Swindon started the day in third place in npower League One but Brentford climbed above them and in to the top three with the win.
The victory came after away defeats to Stevenage and Carlisle United and Shaleum said to come back to win said a lot about the squad.
“It was a massive win,” said the defender, speaking to Bees Player after the match.
“When you play teams around you it is a six-pointer.
“After losing two games we maybe should have won, we knew this was massive.
“I don’t think we deserved to go one down but we did and that shows the fight this team has this season.
“Last season we wouldn’t have come back.
“The team that gets the first goal normally wins.
“I didn’t think we played badly in the first half but we knew we had more to give.
“We came out in the second half and knew the next goal was massive.
“If they get it they probably win, if we get it, we would have a good chance.
“When we did score the momentum was with us.
“I felt we would win the game.”
Shaleum paid tribute to Clayton Donaldson, who won the game with his 21st goal of the season.
He said the striker doesn’t let missing chances affect him and was the team’s “big player”.
He added the squad had shown they could recover from making mistakes.
Harlee Dean dithered on the ball and was robbed by Gary Roberts who set up Simon Ferry for Swindon’s goal but the defender was outstanding after half time.
“Clayton Donaldson does miss a few chances but people sometimes don’t see the work he does off the ball,” said Shaleum.
“He is instrumental for us.
“He is our big player.
“When it came to him in the second half he did what he does best.
“He never lets his head go down, he always puts himself about.
“A big shout to him for what he does for us.
“Mistakes happen and it’s how you react to them.
“Harlee made one today but we were all around him.
“He came out in the second half and said he would head everything, win everything and put himself about.
“That’s what he did.
“Harlee reacted very well to what happened.”
Shaleum said Brentford’s players knew they had a great chance to win promotion this season.
The Bees are just a point behind Sheffield United, who are currently second, with nine games remaining.
He said teams would lose games that they were not expected to lose between now and April 27 but Brentford’s players were only focussed on winning their matches.
“We feel we may not have this position again,” said Shaleum.
“We feel we have a really good chance of going up this season.
“We have done so much hard work; we are now in the business end.
“We want to progress, we want to play in The Championship.
“Everybody is putting in 110 per cent to make sure it happens.
“Coming back from a goal down shows that.
“Teams are losing games that you don’t expect.
“That’s the nature of the league.
“We don’t care who other teams are playing, we just try and win our games and if we see other teams have dropped points, great.
“This is the business end now.
“Every game will be harder than the first ten games.
“We know we have a really good chance.”
The first of Brentford’s nine remaining games is against Preston North End at Griffin Park on Saturday.
“There won’t be many teams that come here that are better than Swindon,” said Shaleum.
“If we are at it we will beat anyone.
“Away from home it is different, with the other team having more supporters and their own ground.
“Griffin Park feels like home, the pitch suits the players.
“Teams have to worry about coming here.
“We will give it 110 per cent and if we play like we did in the second half, I am sure we will win.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Shaleum Logan here.