Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler said he had never been involved in a match like his side’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.
The Bees came from behind to take a point at Bramall Lane thanks to a late Bradley Wright-Phillips goal but that tells a fraction of the story.
Brentford went ahead when Clayton Donaldson was brought down by Sheffield United goalkeeper George Long and Marcello Trotta converted the penalty.
They had the lead and control in to the second half but, on the advice of his assistant, referee Keith Stroud sent Tony Craig off for violent conduct and awarded the hosts a penalty.
Tony McMahon smashed the spot kick against the crossbar but United were awarded another for handball that Barry Robson converted and Dave Kitson, who involved in the first penalty incident, headed them in front.
Brentford were awarded a second penalty and United had Harry Maguire sent off for a second yellow card after he was penalised for a challenge on Clayton Donaldson but Sam Saunders saw the spot kick saved.
Clayton Donaldson was then sent off – he had been booked in the first half for simulation when he appeared to have been fouled and was then dismissed for a second cautionable offence.
Somehow, with nine men, Brentford found a way to equalise and take a point.
Uwe said he would appeal the red card issued to Tony Craig and thought Clayton Donaldson was unlucky.
He said the home side tried to involve his team in a battle and they reacted a little but Mr Stroud was influenced by a raucous home crowd and that ultimately made a difference.
Uwe said the performance showed how far his side had come since they were beaten 2-0 at Bramall Lane in August 2011.
The Bees are third in npower League One and Uwe said if Tony Craig was available for the last two games, his team would be promoted.
“I have never been involved in a football match like this,” he said.
“Sheffield United had all sorts of problems with us.
“Towards the middle and end of the first half they started to get us in to a battle and make us try to lose our heads.
“That was the only way for them to get something out of the game.
“We started to react; we picked some easy yellow cards in the first half.
“Having said that, Clayton Donaldson’s first yellow card is a penalty, not a yellow card for diving, there was contact.
“The second one he slipped, everyone could see that.
“At half time we warned the players.
“We told them to play football, they couldn’t cope with us.
“In the game I didn’t see the Tony Craig incident.
“I have seen the DVD, Tony was fouled.
“Kitson wrestled him down.
“Tony had his arm up but there was no movement.
“The linesman told me he saw Tony Craig punch the player in the face.
“We will definitely appeal and I think we have a good chance, after seeing the footage, that justice will be done.
“If justice is done, we will win promotion.
“We should still have a bit more composure.
“We should still know the referee was being influenced by the crowd.
“All credit to the nine guys, how they fought and how we came back.
“It’s another testament to how far we have come.
“We came here 18 months ago and I learned my lesson and we all learned.
“I wanted to show how far we have come, that game today shows it.”
Uwe hailed the quality and fitness of his team and said they would always come back in games.
He added they had to learn to keep their composure in difficult circumstances but deserved to get something from the game.
He hailed the performance of Jake Reeves and said Simon Moore had proved himself a match-winner for an unbelievable stoppage time save that denied the hosts a win.
“There is belief and there is quality and there is fitness.
“You can see how we were in the second half with one man less.
“We didn’t just have one chance; Jake Reeves had a double chance.
“The players know how good they are.
“They know how fit they are.
“We can trust our fitness and know we can always come back in games if we keep our composure.
“That we have to learn, especially at places like this.
“We have to play our game and not get affected by the surroundings or decisions.
“Collectively we were fantastic.
“Everything went to plan from the first minute.
“The red cards made it difficult for us but we got a second wind and we deserved to get something out of the game.
“I can’t praise the players enough.
“The young players stepped up to the plate.
“Jake Reeves, what can I say?
“Simon Moore was a match-winner for us.
“When you have match winners in both boxes, you will come a long way.”
Clayton Donaldson will definitely miss the game at Hartlepool United as red cards for two bookings cannot be appealed.
The Bees should hear if Tony Craig’s appeal has been successful late on Thursday or on Friday morning.
Uwe said his strikers were in form – Marcello Trotta has two goals in three games and Bradley Wright-Phillips four in the same period – and that was very important.
“It is a massive bonus for us that we have strikers in form,” said the Brentford boss.
“Goals get you up.
“Clayton Donaldson is a threat, they couldn’t cope with him.
“They tried to get him off from the first minute.
“Unfortunately he got sent off.
“Both cards were harsh.”
Uwe Rösler’s full post-match press conference can be seen here by Bees Player subscribers.