Wednesday 8 April 2015 12:00, UK
Brentford manager Mark Warburton believes his side will thrive under the growing pressure of the Sky Bet Championship promotion race.
Warburton watched his side fight back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest and is confident his squad are mentally strong enough to cope with the demands of the last five games.
Andre Gray struck with 10 minutes remaining and Spanish midfielder Jota headed the equaliser deep into injury time after Tyler Walker and Todd Kane had given the visitors a two goal buffer.
Forest boss Dougie Freedman put his side's failure to hang on to their advantage down to "sheer naivety", but paid tribute to Brentford's never-say-die attitude.
And Warburton agreed, saying: "I was disappointed with the two goals we conceded but pleased with the character we showed to dig ourselves out of a hole.
"We lacked a little finesse and quality with the final ball but the fact that we never give up is testament to our attitude and fitness.
"With that kind of character, and when we do what we do well, we are a match for anyone. The players know the best people in all walks of life are the ones that thrive under pressure and today we showed that's what we do."
Warburton also hailed Jota as a "sublime" talent who has come on in leaps and bounds, adding: "He will play at the top level."
But it took a moment of experience from Bees substitute Tommy Smith to carve open a resilient Forest defence happy to sit back and soak up wave after wave of Brentford attacks.
The former Watford man chipped the perfect cross to the far post where Jota nodded home to clinch the point that keeps the pressure on his side's play-off rivals.
Forest boss Freedman was left with mixed emotions after watching his side rock the Londoners back on their heels with two quick-fire counter-attacks.
"It's a strange feeling really because I thought we were the better side and created the better chances against a very good side," he said.
"So overall I am happy because we looked very comfortable. But we knew they score a lot of late goals so I was disappointed at how naive we were at the end.
"We should have been more professional in seeing the game out but our mentality wasn't right and that is something at the club which I will be changing in the summer."
Walker, son of Forest legend Des, struck first on the hour mark as he capitalised on a James Tarkowski slip to drill a superb sizzling low drive past David Button at the near post.
Kane then stretched the lead with just a quarter of an hour remaining with a quick counter-attack that left Brentford reeling. Karl Darlow fed Ben Osborn wide on the left and his diagonal ball to the far past was coolly converted at the back post.
But the Londoners hit back with 10 minutes remaining, Andre Gray turning on a sixpence to send a rasping drive past Darlow and into the bottom corner.
And Jota struck late for the second game in a row to clinch a share of the spoils and leave Warburton purring.
"He has grown steadily into the English game, speaks the language and is a sublime talent who will play at the highest level," said the Bees boss.
