Simon Moore described Brentford’s late comeback to secure an npower League One win over Portsmouth as “unbelievable”.
The Bees had taken the lead early on but fell behind in the second half as Portsmouth responded strongly.
The game entered the final five minutes with Brentford 2-1 down but Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his second of the afternoon to level it up and less than 90 seconds later set up the winner for Clayton Donaldson.
Simon, speaking to Bees Player after the match, hailed Brentford’s character to turn the match around.
“There was a mixture of emotions today,” he said.
“I thought we started well but then let them in it.
“Even after they scored I thought there was one team in it in the first half.
“But we started the second half slowly and they got the goal.
“It shows the team spirit and character we have got, to turn it round was fantastic.
“If you are going to be at the top of the table these are the sorts of results you need to get.
“To come from behind was unbelievable.”
Simon said Brentford had to try and put the score out of their minds in the later stages.
He said they tried to remember that anything can happen in football.
Simon said Brentford deserved the win and have automatic promotion in their own hands.
The Bees are third in npower League One, two points behind AFC Bournemouth and four behind Doncaster Rovers.
They have three games left, one more than the two teams above them, and will be crowned League One Champions if they win them.
The first of those games is against Sheffield United, who are also in the automatic promotion hunt, on Tuesday.
“We had to try and forget the score line and keep going,” said Simon.
“Anything can happen in football, that is why it’s so fantastic.
“That is why there is such a mixture of emotions.
“I can’t give the boys enough credit for coming back, winning the game and giving us a chance of automatic promotion.
“It’s in our hands now.
“We have three games left and if we win them we will be in The Championship.
“We believe we can do it.
“I think we deserved it.
“We had a lot of chances and the second half was quite quiet for me.
“I’m still buzzing but we will now have to get our heads right for Tuesday.”
Portsmouth’s two goals but came from distance.
The first was curled in by David Connolly after a Patrick Agyemang flick on hit Harlee Dean.
The second was smashed in from 25 yards by Shaun Cooper.
“The first one was a long ball and was unlucky,” said Simon.
“It’s deflected off one of the boys and was a fantastic finish from Connolly.
“He’s bent it outside the post and it’s come back in.
“I didn’t have a chance.
“The lad has had too much time for the second.
“It’s whipped off the turf and in to the bottom corner.
“It was disappointing but full credit to the boys for coming back.”
Brentford’s winner came when Clayton Donaldson raced in behind the Portsmouth defence.
He waited for the goalkeeper to commit himself before lifting it over him and in to the net.
“I had every confidence in Clayton,” said Simon.
“It was a difficult chance but he’s a superb striker.
“He’s scored a lot of goals this season.
“It was a great finish and a fantastic feeling.
“We are all buzzing and we will take that in to Tuesday.”
A crowd of more than 9,000 watched the match at Griffin Park, the highest for an npower League One match in TW8 this season.
Simon praised the Brentford fans for their support.
“It was a great atmosphere today,” he said.
“Portsmouth are going down to League Two but still sang for 90 minutes
“Our fans were great as well.
“It’s nice to play in front of 9,000-10,000 rather than 4,000-5,000.
“They cheered us to the final whistle.
“When we scored the third the place erupted and it was crazy at the final whistle.”
Simon said a large away crowd following Brentford to Sheffield United would help The Bees.
The goalkeeper said it was a big game but they have all been recently and Brentford’s player thrived on it.
The Bees will look to build on their last away game, a 2-0 win at Crewe Alexandra last Wednesday.
“A large away crowd on Tuesday would be brilliant,” said Simon.
“We took 500 to Crewe on Wednesday, that is unbelievable.
“That really does help us.
“We really feel it when they support us.
“It’s a big game but every game has been a cup final for two months.
“I think we thrive on that.
“It’s nice the excitement is there.
“We really believe we can do it.”
A full video interview with Simon Moore is available here for Bees Player subscribers.