BRENTFORD V TOWN: A potted history (From Swindon Advertiser)

BRENTFORD V TOWN: A potted history

6:00am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Sport

AFTER the best part of 100 years of matches between Brentford and Swindon Town in west London, it’s fair to say this fixture really is a tale of two half-centuries.

In all, Swindon have won 12 of their 39 trips to Griffin Park, yet nine of those victories have come in their past 18 visits.

After beating the Bees 1-0 in the first clash between the sides down the M4 (in the years before the M4, of course), Town then tasted success just once in 13 attempts leading up to a 2-1 victory in March 1956.

However, having lost 13 of their first 21 games at Brentford, Swindon turned it all around from the mid-1960s onwards.

A Roger Smart goal helped the Robins to a 1-0 win in March 1966, while Alan Mayes scored in both victories at Griffin Park in 1979.

A rare recent defeat for Town in August 2002 featured Jimmy Davis’ first goal for Town. The dynamic and fleet-footed winger became a fans’ favourite during his three-month loan spell from Manchester United but tragically died the following year in a road traffic accident on the M40.

Swindon are unbeaten in three trips to Griffin Park, winning the last two, including a 1-0 victory in April 2011 courtesy of Calvin Andrew’s only goal for the club.