Uwe Rosler, the Brentford manager, is looking forward to a bumper payday after his side's stunning performance against <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL0VuZ2xpc2ggUHJlbWllciBMZWFndWUgZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvQ2hlbHNlYQ==" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL0VuZ2xpc2ggUHJlbWllciBMZWFndWUgZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvQ2hlbHNlYQ==">Chelsea</a> yesterday which saw them go within seven minutes of one of the great FA Cup shocks. In what has been a season of amazing upsets in cup competitions, Rosler's Bees almost topped them all by pushing the holders to the brink of a humiliating defeat at Griffin Park. The League One high-fliers completely outmuscle the European champions, Marcello Trotta firing them in front moments before half-time and Harry Forrester restoring their lead with a penalty after Oscar had equalised. But were denied by Fernando Torres, who scored late equaliser, setting up a replay at Stamford Bridge next month. The replay will be another big boost for Brentford's finances and Rosler said: "The chairman just came to me and said he was delighted. I said, 'Just make sure that we get something in the playing budget', and he said, 'Yes, don't worry. Don't worry'." Chelsea might have snatched a stoppage-time winner had Harlee Dean been penalised for handling Juan Mata's cross in the area. But Rosler said his side were good value for their 2-2 draw after outworking the visitors for much of the game. "We deserved that luck from what we have put in compared to what Chelsea put in over the 90 minutes," he said. "There is a football god up there and he is on our side." Brentford tore into Chelsea from almost the first whistle, disrupting the possession game their interim manager Rafael Benitez said was their only way of playing and exploiting a tailwind to launch lightning breakaways. A delighted Rosler said his side deserved to be further ahead at the break before it was their turn to play into a headwind. "They had a lot of play but didn't create clear-cut chances," he said. "We defended very well and worked very well against the ball. "And to be five minutes before the end and leading 2-1, I'm slightly disappointed that we didn't win the game. "But, overall, my players did fantastically. They earned the right to play at Stamford Bridge. It will be a great day for our supporters again, for our players and, financially, it will help enormously. "Also, congratulations to my players for what they did today individually and collectively. That was top drawer." He added of the replay: "I think there will be even more running for us and even more difficulties to overcome. "But this young group of players have surprised me so many times since I have been here and I wouldn't be surprised if we give them a game there as well." Benitez yesterday confirmed Chelsea would not accept an extended ban for Eden Hazard after breaking his silence on the Swansea ballboy saga. Two days after refusing to answer questions on Hazard's red card for kicking out at Swansea ball boy Charlie Morgan, Benitez said a three-game suspension was "enough" punishment. Anything over three matches would trigger an automatic appeal by the London club and Benitez said after the draw at Brentford: "At the moment, we will accept that three games is enough. "So we will see what happens." League One contemporaries stunned their Premier League opponents Liverpool at Boundary Park. Two-goal hero Matt Smith said he felt Oldham were good value for their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup after stunning Liverpool 3-2 in an enthralling tie at Boundary Park. Smith chose the ideal occasion to score his first home goals for the League One side, netting either side of Luis Suarez’s 21st goal of the season in the first half. Reece Wabara’s header put the Latics into the last 16 despite Joe Allen adding a second for Liverpool via a big deflection 11 minutes from time. “I’m left speechless to be honest,” Smith told ITV. “We went out there just wanting to battle together.” The 23-year-old Smith, who 18 months ago was playing non-league football with Solihull Moors in the West Midlands, had given up on professional career after being released by Cheltenham aged 18 and went on to gain a 2:1 degree in International Management with American Studies from the University of Manchester. While studying he played for the likes of Redditch United, Droylsden and Solihull Moors –where he was spotted by Oldham. Before this game he had scored only seven times in 60 appearances for the Latics but none will have been as enjoyable as his two against the seven-time FA Cup winners from the top flight. “We did ever so well in the first half and especially in the second half,” Smith said. “We rallied together and defended really well and thoroughly deserved the win.” Oldham will now bid to claim their second Merseyside scalp after being drawn against Everton in the next round – again at Boundary Park. “We’ll take a home tie all day long, and we’re up against another Premier League side but we’ve proved what we can do today and we’ll be looking to do the same,” Smith added. Smith’s teammate Lee Croft was full of praise for the striker’s contribution to the win. “The big man caused them problems up front, and especially in the first half we showed that we can play football and good football at that,” the former Manchester City and Norwich winger said. “The second half was a difficult 45 minutes but we dug deep and got a great result.” Yesterday’s result was the first time Liverpool had been beaten away from home in the FA Cup by a team at least two divisions below them since defeat at non-league Worcester City in 1959. Follow us
