Jota grabbed a last-gasp equaliser as Brentford came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Nottingham Forest and preserve their promotion hopes.
After a quiet first half, Tyler Walker opened the scoring in fine fashion on the hour mark, before another substitute Todd Kane doubled the lead on 77 minutes.
However, Andre Gray threw the Bees a lifeline by reducing the arrears on 80 minutes, and the little Spaniard rose highest to head a leveller with seconds left to keep them in contention for the playoffs.
Below, relive the drama with Sports Mole's live commentary.
Too much chocolate yesterday, huh? I hear ya, but we'll get through it together because we've got a very decent clash here to take our minds off our bellies as Brentford host Nottingham Forest at Griffin Park.
Unlike us yesterday, the Bees haven't bitten off more than they can chew and Mark Warburton's side are just going about their business very nicely and very steadily. They thumped Fulham 4-1 on Good Friday to move FIFTH with a one-point cushion in the playoff spots. Not bad for a side that only won promotion into the Championship last season, eh?
What about Forest? Hmm. Unfortunately, we can't be as optimistic in regards to Dougie Freedman's side, who lost 2-1 at home to Wolves on Friday to fall 11 points behind the top six. With that deficit in mind, and only six games left, it certainly looks like Forest will have to wait until next season at least before having a crack at promotion.
Anywho, there's a bit of context so let's get knee-deep in some team news, shall we? Why the flip not. Stay tuned buddies.
Brentford XI: Button; Bidwell, Dean, Dallas, Odubajo; Judge, Gray, Diagouraga, Pritchard; Jota, Tarkowski
Forest XI: Darlow, Lichaj, Hobbs, Wilson, Fox, Mancienne , Antonio, Vaughan, Lansbury, Burke, Akpom
Brentford subs: Bonham, Craig, Douglas, McCormack, Toral, Smith, O'Connell
Forest subs: Evtimov, Lascelles, Kane, Paterson, Walker, Osborn, O. Burke
Alright let's start with the hosts and I can tell you that Warburton makes just the one change from that win at Craven Cottage, with Alan Judge, who scored against Fulham, replacing Jonathan Douglas.
On to Forest now and Freedman makes three changes from the defeat to Wolves. First, Jamal Lascelles drops out of defence for Jack Hobbs, while Danny Fox and David Vaughan also come into the fold. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand that's how we line up as far as team news goes, my friends.
Prediction! Only 10 minutes to go so let's whet the appetite with a prediction shall we? Okay, and I'm backing a Brentford win here my friends. I think that losing to Wolves on Friday has given the visitors with little to play for this season because, barring a miracle, they won't clinch a promotion spot. Brentford, on the other hand, have plenty to play for and they'll will win this 2-0. Quote me on that, but don't really because, as Mr Paddy Power will tell you, I'm not good at predicting outcomes.
Did you Know? Forest won the last meeting between these sides at Griffin Park? Yep, a 4-2 victory in a League One encounter way back in April 2007 - eight years! It's their only win in nine attempts on this ground so, you know, the omens favour the Bees this afternoon my friends.
Incidentally, Watford beat Middlesbrough 2-0 earlier in a top-of-the-table clash this afternoon. It doesn't have much bearing on this one, because automatic promotion is surely out of reach for the Bees.
Right, both sets of players are filtering out of a tiny little exit that I suppose we could call a tunnel. It's lucky Andy Reid isn't here because he literally wouldn't fit out of that tunnel. Anyways, kickoff is imminent now! I'm excited over this one.
Kickoff! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off at Griffin Park. Forest, wearing blue, get us underway. Let's go....
Shot! Very fine effort from Henri Lansbury. Chuba Akpom, the Arsenal loanee making his second appearance, wins a free kick at a tight angle, and Lansbury looks to curl it around David Button but it drifts narrowly wide.
It's been a shaky start from Brentford and goalkeeper Button has just passed straight out of play by accident. They look nervous, really nervous, as if defeat could derail their season - and it could! I'd be nervous too.
Chance! We've seen our first real chance of the game as Michail Antonio beats his marker to control Lansbury's searching free kick, but his first touch takes him away from goal and James Tarkowski gets back around to block his eventual shot. Good defending.
Save! Very comfortable save by Karl Darlow to keep out Tarkowski's header, but it's Brentford's first attempt at goal and that might settle them down in what has been a nervy start by the hosts.
Oh lord this is about as disjointed as a leper colony, from both sides it has to be said. Attacks are breaking down every few minutes because, well, neither side are offering much in the final third.
Chances! Two good chances in quick succession for Brentford, as Andre Gray receives Judge's lofted ball before seeing his initial header blocked by Kelvin Wilson, before swinging a leg at the rebound and that deflects into poor David Vaughan's stomach. Better the stomach than the, well, you know.
Good defending by Moses Odubajo, who gets a crucial toe on the ball to take it away from Akpom, whose eyes must've lit up there.
Oh god. David Button, who is prone to a few goalkeeping errors, makes an absolute hash of saving Jack Hobbs's routine header from a free kick, but Brentford get away with it. It doesn't inspire confidence when your goalkeeper is dodgy, does it?
Ouch!!! Tarkowski is down getting treatment after blocking Chuba Akpom's shot with the back of his head! On the plus side, it gives the players a chance to replenish with a drinks break because it is quite warm.
Tarkowski is back on his feet and we're back underway. Thankfully.
Save! It's taken about half-an-hour but we've seen the first big save of the game as Forest keeper Karl Darlow beats away Pritchard's near-post effort.
Brentford are slowly but surely growing into this game. It's been all the Bees over the last five or 10 minutes, but we've still only seen one clear chance for them. Still, they've got about 12 minutes to change that.
We've seen very, very little of strikers Andre Gray or Chuba Akpom so far. Both hitmen have been isolated for their respective teams thus far. With Akpom, in particular, quite a lot is expected of him considering he's an Arsenal loanee.
Save! Speak of the devil, Andre Gray nearly fires Brentford ahead but, with the angle against him, Darlow makes the save again. They're getting much, much better.
Shot! It's one-way traffic my friends, as Gray shows great strength to hold off a challenge to tee up Judge, who drags a shot horribly wide of Darlow's goal. But will they nick a half-time lead? They've got a little over five minutes.
Sub: Chuba Akpom is down receiving treatment now and looks like his afternoon is finished. He does come from Arsenal so we can expect him to be out injured for about three years. Tyler Walker, son of the legendary Forest defender Des, replaces him.
Would've been a good opening for Brentford there had Odubajo's pass had the pace of a pass rather than a shot. Like in Fifa, when you're accustomed to Pro Evo buttons, and end up crossing instead of shooting.
Chance!!!!!!!!!!! Oh lordy lord. Tyler Walker, who replaced Akpom a few minutes ago, misses a glorious chance to snatch a half-time lead as he misses an open goal after being tee'd up by Antonio. His dad was a centre-back but even he would've scored that one. He'll be dwelling on that throughout the 15-minute break.
Half time: Brentford 0-0 Notts Forest That's all she wrote for the first half, ladies and gents. Brentford have had the better chances, but Forest had the best chance when Tyler Walker, after replacing Chuba Akpom, effectively missed an open goal a few minutes ago. Mental.
Restart! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway at Griffin Park ladies and gentlemen. David Webb signals the start of the second half and Brentford really need these three points to keep pace in the race for the playoffs. Let's see if they can get the win.
Shot! Michail Antonio has the first shot of the second half, but it's shocking and ends up near the corner flag. Maybe he's excited about The Masters this week and got his sports mixed up?
Good start to the half by Antonio and Nottingham Forest overall, as the big winger forces Odubajo into conceding a corner and Chris Burke will deliver it....but he delivers it short to Lansbury and the chance breaks down. Why on earth do people take short corners? It makes no sense to me.
Absolutely brilliant running from Odubajo and he wins a free kick right on the edge of the box off Jack Hobbs. Let's see what happens....
It's Jota who takes it on, as the Spaniard goes for power instead of precision and it just cannons off the wall. Alan Judge, who scored a free kick at Craven Cottage on Friday, probably staked his claim to take it.
Brentford goalkeeper David Button makes Massimo Taibi look like Peter Schmeichel. He's made ANOTHER dodgy call and passed straight to a Forest player, but his defence bails him out again. Has he got money on Forest or something?
Sub: Freedman makes his second change as Ben Osborne replaces the very quiet Chris Burke, who never got going this afternoon sadly.
Sub: Warburton makes his first change now as Arsenal loanee Jon Toral, who scored a hat-trick a few weeks back, replaces Stuart Dallas. Hasn't been his day at all.
GOAL!!!!! Brentford 0-1 Forest (Tyler Walker)
What a goal this is! Walker, who missed a sitter in the first half, atones for that in fine fashion as he latches on to Darlow's kick-out with a superb first touch, before expertly turning James Tarkowski and firing left-footed past Button at his near post. Great finish. His father, legendary Des Walker, would've scored the one he missed, but he wouldn't have scored that. Brilliant.
Close! Forest have their tails up now and they would've had a second if somebody gambled, because David Vaughan has just fizzed a beautiful ball straight across the six-yard box, but everybody was anticipating the cut-back. It's a big 25 minutes in Brentford's season.
Close! Decent response by Brentford since falling behind, and Spurs loanee Alex Pritchard curls narrowly wide of the post from outside the area.
Shot! Forest still attacking, though, as Vaughan drags a pretty poor shot well wide from outside the box. Forest will need a second because I fancy the Bees to score at least once.
Shot! This kinda sums up Brentford's afternoon, as Gray tries his luck from outside the area but it's a very comfortable save for Karl Darlow. They haven't really breached the Forest defence once as of yet.
Save! Warburton's side still very much on top as Jota tries his luck this time but, again, Darlow is equal to it with a comfortable save.
Sub: Freedman battens down the hatches as he replaces goalscorer Walker, who had earlier replaced the injured Akpom, with defender Todd Kane. Looks like Forest are preparing for a siege, though 15 minutes is quite a long time to have the kitchen sink thrown at you.
GOAL!!!!! Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest (Todd Kane)
Amazing scenes, and this goal is all about Michail Antonio, who brilliantly holds the ball up before releasing the overlapping Ben Osborne. He gallops down Brentford's left wing before spotting Chelsea loanee Kane at the near post and the young defender makes no mistake. That should be it. Huge blow to Brentford's playoff bid.
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!! Brentford 1-2 Nottingham Forest (Andre Gray)
What a fine response from the promotion-chasing Bees, as Gray, with his back to goal, picks the ball up on the edge of the box before turning Kelvin Wilson and somehow squirming a shot past Darlow at the near post. Game on then!
We're into the final five minutes and Brentford still going gung-ho in a bid to force an equaliser - and then maybe more! It's football, guys, anything can happen in the next eight or nine minutes.
We've just had four successive Brentford corners but Forest, to their credit, defend them all brilliantly. Two minutes of normal time left.
Four minutes added on:
Forest still defending brilliantly, throwing their bodies on the line to preserve this lead and we'll have another corner...
The corner comes to nothing, however, and that should be that unfortunately for Brentford. One minute left.
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brentford 2-2 Nottingham Forest (Jota)
Absolutely amazing as Brentford salvage a point as Jota, arguably the smallest Brentford player on the field, leaps highest to nod Tommy Smith's cross back Darlow and their promotion bid is back on track! What spirit.
Full time: Brentford 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Aaaaaaaaaand that's all she wrote, folks. What a magnificent finish to that one, as Jota heads home a last-gasp winner to snatch Brentford what could prove to be a vital point in their pursuit of the Premier League. Amazing.
After a quiet first half, Walker opened the scoring in fine fashion on the hour mark, before Kane doubled the lead on 77 minutes. However, Andre Gray threw the Bees a lifeline by reducing the arrears on 80 minutes, and the little Spaniard popped up with a 94th-minute leveller to earn a point.
Well, that's all we've got time for this afternoon, but thanks for joining our text commentary on a hugely entertaining clash at Griffin Park and we'll see you next time!
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
