Thomas Frank’s managerial debut ended in a 1-0 defeat as Bristol City made his side pay for playing over half an hour with ten men. 

Chris Mepham’s red card in the 56th minute was the talking point of a game that lacked any real quality until the late winner from Niclas Eliasson.

A fiery game that saw eight yellow cards and very few clear-cut chances up until the goal on 88 minutes, questions will be asked over Brentford’s temperament and discipline when away sides get physical at Griffin Park.

The defeat means Brentford drop to 11th in the table with no win in four.

Brentford started the brighter, dominating possession and creating chances at will largely thanks to the interplay of Maupay and Sawyers. The home side should’ve taken the lead after five minutes after Sawyers found Macleod on the right who crossed only for Maupay to miss hit from five yards out.

A long delay for a head injury to Nathan Baker in the 20th minute resulted in Brentford losing their urgency and Bristol became better team. They thought they took the lead twice, only for both Matty Taylors efforts to be ruled out for offside, much to the delight of the home fans.

The second half started much like the first with Brentford on the front foot, but when Mepham got his marching orders on 56 minutes for two bookings, the first for what can go down as ‘handbags’ and the second for bringing down Eliasson on the counter, Brentford had to rely on Maupay on the counter attack.

Despite the numerical advantage Bristol created little until the goal came from a cross from the left and found Eliasson alone at the back post who volleyed expertly home from six yards which sent the away fans delirious.