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Mark Warburton still hopeful of Brentford achieving top-six finish

Image: Mark Warburton: Bemoaned second-half sloppiness

Brentford boss Mark Warburton insisted there would be "more twists and turns" in the Championship play-off race after seeing his side slip up at home.

The Bees' play-off dreams were dented in a 2-2 home draw with Bolton, the fourth game in a row they have dropped points.

Alex Pritchard gave the home side the lead on the half hour but the visitors levelled minutes later when Adam Le Fondre equalised with an angled finish after a neat Emile Heskey through ball.

Brentford took the lead again just before the break when Jonathan Douglas powered a header back across goal from a pinpoint Alan Judge cross.

But the hosts pressed the self-destruct button when James Tarkowski's under-hit back-pass left goalkeeper David Button in a one-on-one with striker Mark Davies, which the forward won to roll the ball into an empty net.

Bees boss Warburton said: "We looked good going in at half-time and we'd worked hard to force the game on the front foot.

"After the break the loose ball has cost us and we were a little bit sloppy in the final pass, perhaps because the players wanted to force the game a little too much."

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Brentford's Championship play-off hopes were dealt a major blow in a no-holds-barred 2-2 draw with Bolton

But he refused to rule his side out of the play off shake-up, insisting: "There will be a lot more twists and turns this season. We are far from disappointed because we can still get 78 points this season and if we do, then who knows what might happen."

Bolton boss Neil Lennon was delighted with the point in difficult circumstances after two of his players were sent home the night before the game after a disturbance at the club hotel.

Neil Danns and Barry Bannan have both been suspended indefinitely after an alleged bust-up, but the altercation could not dampen Lennon's delight at the remaining players.

"It was a good game and I was pleased with the point but felt we could have won it. We had the better chances in the first half and looked a threat all day," he said.

"I have to commend Mark Warburton for the way his side plays the game but we knew we could have a big say on the promotion play-offs contenders."

Lennon admitted he was unhappy with the match officials, adding: "The linesman kept putting his flag up when we were clearly onside and I was sick of it."

But the Scot insists his side will be a different proposition next season when he can bring in a blend of youth to add to the experience of Emile Heskey and Eidur Gudjohnson.

He said: "Bolton is a massive club, we have huge potential in the squad but we will add youth and some experience because it's a monster of a league and we want to be excited about next season."

Of the Bannan and Danns incident, he refused to go into details, but added: "I am not a massive disciplinarian but we set standards at the club and discourage players from going out and socialising.

"I am disappointed with their behaviour - they fell short of what is required of them and have been suspended, but I'm in a good mood today so we'll see how long it's for."

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