Brentford's promotion charge stalled as they lost 1-0 to Swindon Town at the County Ground on Saturday.

It proved a frustrating afternoon for the near 2,000 travelling fans as the Bees fell a goal behind just before half time and lost Adam Forshaw to two yellow cards in quick succession early in the second half.

In the opening minute Swindon won a free kick 25 yards out and a well worked free kick saw Jay McEverley curl a dangerous free kick into the six yard box and just wide of everyone.

The Bees looked lively in the opening stages, winning two corners on the left, before a Clayton Donaldson shot from the right was deflected over for another corner.

Swindon won a penalty when Alex Pritchard was tripped by former Robin Alan McCormack inside the box, but Michael Smith's penalty was well saved by David Button, who dived to his right to push the ball away for a corner.

From the resulting corner Tony Craig did well to block Smith's shot from the corner of the six yard box.

When Brentford won a free kick on the left Jake Bidwell's effort found Jonathan Douglas at the back post and his header hit the bar.

The Bees came close again when Toumani Diagouraga set up Marcello Trotta and his shot at the near post was deflected for a corner via the post.

Five minutes before the break Swindon broke and eventually the ball fell to McEverley, whose low shot from 20 yards was comfortably taken by Button.

Swindon took the lead in the final minute of the half when Douglas lost possession in midfield and Louis Thompson burst through the heart of the Bees defence to fire a low shot past Button into the bottom right hand corner.

Former Bee Nathan Byrne nearly doubled the home side's lead when he broke down the right and as a hesitant Button came off his line, Byrne's chip sailed inches wide of the right hand post.

When Brentford won a free kick on the left the ball was cleared to substitute George Saville on the edge of the box and his rocket of a shot was superbly saved by Wes Foderingham.

The Bees challenge became tougher when they were reduced to ten men after Adam Forshaw was dismissed after picking up two yellow cards in less than two minutes.

A good ball from Craig released Donaldson, whose cut back found Bidwell but from eight yards out the full back slide his shot just wide of the right hand post.

James Tarkowski missed an excellent chance to equalise when a corner deflected to him and from seven yards out he sliced his shot wide.

Brentford: Button, McCormack, Tarkowski, Craig, Bidwell (sub Grigg 87); Douglas, Judge, Diagouraga (sub Saville 57), Forshaw; Donaldson, Trotta (sub Dallas 65).

Subs (not used): Lee, Dean, Reeves, Yennaris