Harlee Dean was almost lost for words trying to describe the feeling of a last minute winner as Brentford came from behind to beat Fulham last night, saying it was the best feeling in the world.
The Bees scored twice in the last ten minutes to beat their West London rivals at Griffin Park last night.
Harlee scored the equaliser, having been at fault for Fulham’s goal, before Jota’s deflected strike won it in stoppage time.
“You can’t explain the feeling of a last minute goal,” said Harlee, speaking to Bees Player after the match.
“I imagine if you take drugs you will not get a better feeling than that.
“For the ten to 15 seconds I don’t think there was a better feeling in the world.
“It was unbelievable.
“We knew how big a game it was, even more so that it was on TV and we could go joint second.
“It is all about winning.
“I don’t think we are too far off where we want to be.”
Harlee said his equalising goal meant he had dug himself out of a hole.
He gave the ball to George Williams just before the hour mark and seconds later it went via Ross McCormack and Hugo Rodallega in to the back of Brentford’s net.
Harlee admitted he felt he had let a lot of people down and it affected him but he wanted to respond in the right way.
He scored the equaliser after striding out of defence and spreading the ball to Stuart Dallas on the left before moving in to the box and smashing the return pass in to the top corner.
“I dug myself out of a hole,” said Harlee.
“I shanked the ball inside for their goal.
“I gave it away and I was thinking about how many people I let down and how much of a big game it was for the fans and for us.
“We were on top and I made a mistake.
“I wanted to try and do something.
“I got the ball, drove in, gave it to Stuart and carried on my run.
“On Wednesday I had a similar ball in training, hit it low and David Button made a great save.
“I wanted to connect well.
“I struck it well and it went in to the top corner.
“I was delighted.
“It was lovely to score in such a big game.
“I felt I had to do something, I got the goal and we went on to win.
“I am over the moon.
“I don’t know what I did when I scored, it was euphoria.”
Harlee admitted it was a horrible feeling when Fulham scored.
“In a game like this, a big derby and we know how much it means to the fans and ourselves, a mistake like that can take time to get over,” he said.
“We wanted to keep our momentum going after three wins.
“We were on top of the game and knew where we could end up if we won it.
“To make a mistake, and it was my fault, nobody else’s, is a horrible feeling.
“When the ball goes in all eyes are on you and you have to react.
“I took some time to get back in to the game, played a few simple passes and in the end I got the goal.”
Brentford had dominated the first half but could not get ahead.
Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli made a string of fine saves but he could do nothing about Harlee’s goal or Jota’s winner.
“We were positive at half time,” said Harlee.
“We were playing well, their keeper made a couple of great saves and then they had a chance at the end of the first half.
“We knew they were dangerous and we knew we had to keep on doing what we were doing.
“That is why it was so disappointing to make the mistake; we were dominating the game again.
“It took away the momentum and the wind out of our sails but we have great momentum, we dug deep.
“We did it in the end.”
Harlee said Brentford’s defence dealt with everything Fulham had to offer.
“We gave them a goal from a mistake, they didn’t create one,” he said.
“That is pleasing for the defence.
“We dealt well with them all night.
“They had the long ball on the diagonal and once we adjusted we dealt well with it.
“They are a good team and have Hugo Rodallega and Ross McCormack, they are no mugs.
“You make a mistake and you get punished.
“I won’t do that again.
“It is pleasing to get the win and we are top four.”
A video interview with Harlee Dean is available here for Bees Player subscribers.