Alex Pritchard scores 30 yard goal for Brentford; Bees make the Championship playoffs

Tottenham Hotspur fans have been keeping a close eye on tiny Brentford in the English Championship, and it's all because of an equally diminutive attacking midfielder named Alex Pritchard. The 22-year old Spurs youth academy graduate is on loan with the Bees, and has been their best player this season, putting in a string of excellent performances.

In order to make the Championship playoffs and a chance to promote to the Premier League next season, Brentford needed to beat Wigan at home and hope for a Derby County loss. They got both: they dismantled now-relegated Wigan 3-0, and Steve McClaren's Derby limped to a 3-0 home defeat against Reading. Oh, and Pritchard scored a 30-yard deflected goal, his twelfth of the season. Check out the first highlight in this video.

Pritchard and Brentford now have a chance, though undoubtedly a difficult one, to promote to the Premier League. Brentford will host Middlesbrough in the first leg of the playoffs on May 8.

Even if Brentford gets to the EPL, Pritchard won't be with the Bees next season – he'll undoubtedly get a chance to prove that he belongs with the Tottenham first team, considering his excellent season. Nevertheless, this is an excellent opportunity for Pritchard to help his loan team achieve a major milestone. If Brentford promote, it'll be their first ever appearance in the Premier League. GO PRITCH.