KARLEIGH OSBORNE insists he and Darren Powell and best buddies again following their Easter Monday bust-up.

Osborne was booked and Powell sent off after the Brentford team-mates came to blows during the 1-0 win at Bournemouth.

But according to Osborne the incident, which sprung from a row over a defensive mix-up, is behind the pair now.

He said: "That’s football, and it happens sometimes. There was a lack of communication and both players took it the wrong way.

"It was nothing more than that. I got off luckily. It’s all sorted now and we’re best mates again."

The win meant another Brentford victory against Accrington on Saturday, coupled with an Exeter defeat OR Bury not winning, will secure promotion for Brentford.

And Osborne was pleased as punch with the way they battled hard for a point on the south coast after going down to 10 men.

He said: "It was a great win. The boys grafted so hard. They put a lot of pressure on us but we dealt with it.

"This club means a lot to all the boys here. Everyone wants us to go up and improve, and it will be a great achievement for everyone."

For Osborne, the Bournemouth game was a second barnstorming performance in a row at right-back following a man-of-the-match display against Exeter.

And it proved wrong the critics who called for Osborne’s head after he gave a way a needless penalty against Gillingham which cost the Bees two points.

He said: "I just want to keep proving myself. The manager believes in me and I’ve got to make sure I prove him right.

"I can still improve a lot. I work hard on my long passing, heading and everything else.

"I think my best position is centre-back, but obviously I’ll play anywhere for the team and do a job."

Bees boss Andy Scott was over the moon with Osborne’s recent displays.

But he insisted his young defender has had nothing to prove, despite calls for him to be dropped following the Gillingham game.

Scott said: "The fans have their views, and I have mine. None of my players have to justify my faith in them, I have faith in them all.

"Karleigh is good in the air and a superb athlete, and I knew we’d need him against Bournemouth, who have some tricky wingers.

"He lacks concentration on the ball sometimes, but people forget he is a centre-back who has been converted to a right-back."