Heartbreak for Bees after late drama

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Brentford 0 Doncaster 1

Brentford face the play-offs after missing out on automatic promotion in the cruellest way imaginable.

Uwe Rosler’s side were on the brink of the Championship when they were awarded an injury-time penalty after Toumani Diagouraga was bundled over.

But on-loan Fulham striker Marcello Trotta blasted the spot-kick against the underside of the bar and seconds later James Coppinger tapped into an unguarded net to seal Doncaster’s promotion as champions.

Needing a victory to leapfrog Rovers in the table, Brentford were on top from the start and almost took an early lead when Bradley Wright-Phillips’ close-range effort was tipped onto the post by veteran keeper Neil Sullivan.

But Doncaster succeeded in turning the game into a scrappy affair, with their gruesome tackles and time-wasting tactics frustrating the home fans.

And they were dangerous on the counter attack, with David Cotterill firing wide before Bees keeper Simon Moore saved from Cotterill and Coppinger.

There was more frustration for Brentford early in the second half, as Rovers continued to stand firm and Wright-Phillips was booked for diving after going down under a challenge in the box.

When a ricochet meant a great chance fell to Jonathan Douglas on 67 minutes, the Bees midfielder wasted it, horribly scooping his shot over the bar.

Douglas was taken off when Rosler sent on Trotta and switched to three up front for the final 12 minutes.

And after an apparent dispute over who should take the last-gasp penalty, it was Trotta who had the chance to make himself a hero.

Instead Rovers survived – and then broke down the other end of the pitch and scored.

It was utterly heartbreaking for Brentford, who will play Swindon in the play-off semi-finals.

Brentford:Moore; Logan (Forshaw 63), Dean, O’Connor, Bidwell; Adeyemi, Douglas (Trotta 77), Diagouraga, Forrester (Saunders 69); Donaldson, Wright-Phillips.
Subs not used: Gounet, El Alagui, Hodson, Pierre.

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