Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler hailed his players as heroes and said they “fully deserved” to reach the npower League One Play-Off Final.
The Bees overcame Swindon Town on a memorable afternoon at Griffin Park yesterday in the Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg.
They will now face Yeovil Town at Wembley on Sunday May 19 and the winners will be promoted to the npower Championship.
Brentford booked their place in the Play-Off Final with a penalty shoot-out win.
After the first match had been drawn 1-1 on Saturday, Brentford went 2-0 up just before half time and then 3-1 up just after but Swindon hit back.
The Wiltshire side scored a stoppage time equaliser to send the game to extra time and then survived a sending off to take the game to penalties.
Simon Moore saved from Miles Storey while Brentford converted all five of theirs – Adam Forshaw firing the decisive spot kick home to send The Bees through.
Uwe said he was proud of his players after they won through, particularly following a penalty shoot-out given The Bees have failed with six penalties during the regular season.
“It was fantastic, the way we played, after only 48 hours break,” said Uwe, speaking after the match.
“We dominated nearly all the game.
“We may have run out of steam in the final 15 to 20 minutes.
“Well done to Swindon, they took us to the wire.
“They used their strength, set pieces, and they created set pieces.
“We allowed them too many set pieces at the end.
“Overall, we fully deserved to go further.
“Over 90 minutes or 120 minutes you have ups and downs.
“We had them today, that is life.
“I am so proud of this group of players.
“They are growing from boys to men.
“It is fantastic that this group is learning so quickly but not losing their hunger, their desire, their fearlessness.
“It was especially good to see us win on penalties.
“We have had penalty problems this season and it was great to see.”
Uwe praised his back room team for the way his side were able to play.
“There is a great compliment to my staff that the players could produce the tempo they did today,” he said.
“They were brave under pressure; they showed great skill under pressure.
“They were not afraid to get on the ball.
“We deserved to be in the lead.
“We made errors that gave Swindon a hand to get back in to the game and in the end it was nerve-wracking.”
Uwe said he decided which five players would take the penalties.
Sam Saunders, Paul Hayes, Harlee Dean, Tony Craig and Adam Forshaw all converted while Simon Moore denied Miles Storey with a save low to his left.
The shoot-out win came after Kevin O’Connor had scored a stoppage time penalty in the First Leg to leave the tie all square and just nine days after Marcello Trotta had hit the crossbar with a 94th minute penalty in the final game of the regular season against Doncaster Rovers when a goal would have seen The Bees automatically promoted.
“I decided the penalty takers,” said Uwe.
“I decided today, I decided on Saturday, I decided last Saturday.
“It will always be.
“After a game like that players are very tired, some had cramps, I selected the group, asked if they were confident.
“They said yes and we went ahead.
“They kept their cool under extreme conditions.
“We had 14 heroes out there today.”
Uwe said he has plans in place for the build-up to the Play-Off Final and hoped to approach it with a fully fit squad.
Yeovil have beaten Brentford home and away this season and Uwe said it would be a tough game and one where small margins would decide the result.
“We have a rough schedule drawn up,” he said.
“We will go through things and then set up and keep everybody fit.
“Hopefully the guys with heavy knocks, that they have had for a while, can be in shape for Wembley.
“Yeovil will be a tough game.
“I think it is 50/50.
“There is a massive pitch; I hope it will suit us.
“Yeovil deserve to be there, they have had a great season.
“We also deserve to be there.
“I have always believed we can win every game but we are not sky high favourites.
“This league is about margins, margins will decide the game.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Uwe Rösler here.