TOWN were beaten 1-0 by Brentford on a disappointing night at The County Ground.
A second half strike from Clayton Donaldson was enough to send the Bees back up the M4 with all three points.
Manager Paolo Di Canio made three changes to the starting line-up. After making their debuts from the bench on Saturday, new loan signings Chris Martin and Danny Hollands were including in the starting XI in place of the injured Andy Williams and John Bostock respectively. Bostock dropped to the bench alongside skipper Alan McCormack who was replaced by Nathan Thompson.
Wes Foderingham was called into action early on deny Clayton Donaldson, who had unleashed a drive from outside the area. Town meanwhile created several half-chances without really threatening the visitors’ goal. Collins couldn’t reel in Roberts’ threaded ball while a defender intervened to deny Collins once again before he could reach Hollands’ delicate lofted ball.
As the half approached its conclusion, Chris Martin swung a right boot at a ball on the edge of the area connecting sweetly. Simon Moore in the Bees goal had to be alert to push the effort behind. From the resultant corner, the visitors somehow managed to keep the scores level.
Swung across to the far post and, after a moment of pinball, the ball eventually dropped into a melee of red and black shirts. Someone connected with the loose ball only to see the effort blocked by a combination of bodies and perhaps, according to the massed calls of those in the Fastplant Town End, an offending arm.
Just before the break, James Collins saw his first-time hooked effort fisted away by Moore.
The second half began just as the first had done: Roberts’ cross carried all the way across goal and wide while Ferry could only help on Jay McEveley’s cross.
Just short of the hour mark, the visitors went 1-0 up. A ball forward was flicked on by a Brentford player, dissecting the Swindon defence. In ghosted Clayton Donaldson who set himself before thundering past Foderingham on the half-volley.
Despite the set-back and a change in personnel, Town still could not break down the Bees defence. With chances coming at a premium for both side in the remaining half hour, Chris Martin spurned Town’s best chance on the stroke of full time. Ritchie’s ball from the right picked out the Norwich loanee but he could only plant his header wide.
