‘Heated words’ after Brentford draw

Mark Warburton played down a “heated exchange” in his side’s dressing room after Brentford conceded a late equaliser at Derby.

Warburton spoke of their frustration at failing to extend a one-goal lead, taken through Alex Pritchard on 28 minutes, before allowing Darren Bent to level at the death.

“If you’d have said at the start of the season that after a 1-1 display like that at Derby we’d be exchanging heated words you’d think we’d gone insane,” the Bees boss said.

“It shows how far we’ve come. This is a tough place to come and they’re a top side, with a Premier League set-up. We had chances to kill off the game and we should have been gone.

“The frustration is that they want to win and they want to get in the play-offs or win automatic promotion. It’s a tight squad and they’re hungry and focused.”

A victory could have cemented Brentford a place in the top six with four games left but a point lifted them into the play-off places only on goal difference.

And Warburton said: “The strange one is that the top six or seven keep winning. I’ve said it for weeks; it’s going to come down to the last game.

“A few years ago, 67 points would have been enough for the top six but here we are on 71 points with four games to go and we’re there on goal difference.

“It could take us 79 points to get sixth but we’ve got to recognise that and deal with it.”

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