Steve Coppell took some positives from the defeat in the Potteries and found some praise for his players.

"The lads always work hard. The higher you go, the more skill level and mistakes become critical factors. We have to acknowledge that and work harder to eliminate that.

"The game was a spectacle, real value for money. There were two proud teams on the pitch they both showed that in the way they performed. It was just a shame that a mistake was the deciding factor in the end.

"But the players are sick as dogs. It would have been wrong for us to come here and shut up shop. We came to take all three points and I think that was evident.

"In the past, Brentford have come here with an inferiority complex there was no evidence of that today.

"Just look at the stadium here. It's what professional football is all about. It doesnt get any better than this. Big crowd, fearlessly partisan.

"They have gone 10 games unbeaten. The area here, they shouldnt be in this division," said Coppell.

Turning to individual performances, he said: "We scored two good goals. Lloyd's one was with his left foot, so that was pleasing. Ben, for a big fellow, has some finesse."

But he criticised Martin Rowlands for his rash sending-off. "Martin has got to learn quickly. He has played very rarely for me, and already he has been sent off and booked."