SWINDON Town claimed a superb victory over 10-man Brentford at the County Ground.

Louis Thompson scored the only goal of the game just before the interval, while Bees had Adam Forshaw dismissed on 65 minutes after two bookings in as many minutes.

Despite starting the stronger, it was promotion chasing Brentford who made all the running at the County Ground.

The Bees were exploiting the space on the right flank with Clayton Donaldson finding himself in acres of room as he hugged the touch-line to fire in cross after cross for Marcello Trotta but he couldn’t find the target.

With 13 minutes on the clock Town won a penalty when pantomime villain Alan McCormack bundled over Alex Pritchard in the Bees area. Michael Smith fired the spot-kick to David Button’s left but the former Tottenham trainee got down well to turn the effort away.

Bees then piled on the pressure as Town’s players and manager Mark Cooper grew increasingly frustrated by referee Brendan Malone’s performance.

But with half-time approaching Jonathan Douglas was caught napping on the ball and Louis Thompson raced in to steal it and power his way into the box and slot the ball beyond the unprotected Button.

Brentford looked a completely different side at the start of the second period. They were miss placing the passes and were being easily dispossessed by a fired up Town.

But it needed Wes Foderingham to be at his best on the hour mark to keep out a stinging left-footed drive from the edge of the box from substitute George Saville.

Malone, while frustrating both sides, had no option but to send Adam Forshaw after he went through Raphael Branco in front of the dug outs just minutes after having already been booked for a similar challenge on Alex Pritchard.

However, it was Brentford were made the most of the extra room on the pitch as they pressed Town hard for an equaliser.

James Tarkowski should have put Bees level on 80 minutes following a corner but he shinned his effort wide.