TONY Craig is desperate to avoid more play-off heartbreak and has targeted automatic promotion with Brentford.

The no-nonsense centre-back is a veteran of the end-of-season lottery, having lost with Crystal Palace and Millwall before making it third time lucky with the Lions in 2010.

Saturday's dramatic comeback against Portsmouth means the Bees go into tonight's trip to Sheffield United third in the table, two points behind second-placed Bournemouth, with a game in hand on their rivals.

And Craig admits he hopes to avoid the uncertainty of the play-offs again and seal promotion outright by securing a top-two finish.

“I've been involved in the play-offs a good few times now,” the defender told the Chronicle .

“I got one promotion with Millwall, which was obviously a joyous occasion, but losing was heart-wrenching.

“I went out in the semi-finals once with Palace, and also lost in the final with Millwall as well.

“It's a horrible place to be if you lose. We're certainly going for something else this year and hopefully I don't have to go through it again.

“It's in our hands, but we've just have to take it game by game.”

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