Swansea had a stoppage-time effort ruled out as Brentford took a share of the points in an intriguing 1-1 Sky Bet Championship draw. Referee Steve Martin took centre stage when the last touch of the game gave the swans the three points, but once again Swansea found themselves on the end of another bizarre away referee decision. Thats four points snatched away from Swansea in the last minutes of an away game in two outings.

In a repeat of last season’s play-off semi-final, the Bees took the lead in style when Bryan Mbeumo’s powerful run found the overlapping Mathias Jensen, who crossed first time for Ivan Toney to slam home his 10th of the season from close range.

However the swans had the main part of the game and really should have been at least two goals up by the time Brentford scored. Once again slick inter passing and clever play memorised a poor Brentford defence who lived on their nerves for the first twenty minutes. Sadly, the finishing touches were not evident. If benched sub Gyorkeres, on loan from Brighton, doesn't supply the ammunition in coming games its clear Cooper will need more firepower come January.

Andre Ayew equalised with 13 minutes to go, bundling home Matt Grimes’ low right-wing cross from close range to set up a nail-biting finale.
The livewire Ghana international thought he had earned the Swans all three points with the last touch of the game but his powerful header from Grimes’ free-kick was ruled out for offside.
It was a cat and mouse start and the first real effort of menace came after 12 minutes when Jamal Lowe burst down the right and fired in a low cross that evaded everyone.

The Bees hit back almost immediately, Mbeumo’s drive from half way ending with Henrik Dalsgaard cutting inside only to fire into the side netting.
City came closest to breaking the deadlock after 18 minutes, only a full length David Raya stop stopping Kyle Naughton’s blistering volley from nestling in the top corner.
The Swans came close again minutes later but Ayew’s angled rising drive out of nothing was again brilliantly tipped over by Raya.

Brentford had a penalty shout waved away midway through the half when Emiliano Marcondes took a tumble in the box as the Bees pressed for the opener.
It was still end-to-end stuff as Ayew fluffed his lines after riding two tackles only to be thwarted by the back of Rico Henry.

Toney then continued his fine form to put Brentford ahead but Swansea were first to show after the break, Lowe’s curling drive from the edge of the area saved at the second attempt by Raya.

The next chance came and went after 67 minutes when Connor Roberts tried to pick his spot from the edge of the box, but his curling effort was deflected wide for a corner.
Brentford had a lucky escape minutes later when Ayew’s looping cross turned shot almost deceived Raya, who managed to get a touch on it to force the corner.

But as the game opened up the unmarked Dalsgaard should have put the result beyond doubt from Mbeumo’s curling free kick, but powered his header well over.
He almost paid dearly for the miss when Roberts’ slide rule pass played in sub Viktor Gyokeres who slid his first-time effort past the far post.

It was only a temporary reprieve though, as seconds later Ayew levelled to set up the grandstand finish, with the visitors always looking the more likely to nick the points.
Gyokeres went close with a glancing header that drifted just past the post as the game grew increasingly niggly before Ayew’s disallowed effort.

Incredibly even the local press in Wales came down on the side of the home side tonight, and that says one thing. This swans side needs to remain solid, tight and sound, because if the swans get what their play deserves this season, they need plenty of blue tac for the dressing room photocopies of the bizarre referee decisions to inspire them. This Swans side is an inspiration, not a problem because their counterparts far east are out of sorts AND rudderless.

PRE MATCH VIEWS

Brentford and Swansea City clash again on Tuesday night at the Bees new home ground, The Community Stadium with memories of some bitter moments from the last two meetings. Brentford Manager Thomas Frank clashed before and after verbally with Swans staff, and during the second leg of the play offs continued with his bizarre attitude towards the game.

So here we go again, Brentford away, again without the presence of 3,000 away supporters and the added spice of the sizzling Danish attitude which spills over every time he gets a bee ... In his bonnet. You can maybe understand his strange behavioural mindset with Brentford failing in their last eight play off campaigns and losing three finals. Its how you deal with it and how you remain professional to those that watch you which seems to be Thomas Frank’s problem. Is it his way of not being able to cope with pressure ? And more significantly has that in turn rubbed off on his players as they once again fell in a play off final ? There has to be some explanation for his bizarre responses in interview, displaying views on the games he watches that will be difficult for the most biased of Brentford supporter to grasp. Everything seems to be against him.

Lets see how he manages his personal behaviour this time around.

The bizarre world of Thomas Frank

Brentford Latest
Brentford have played three of their last four games away from home but will be back in West London for back-to-back games this week. The first of those is coming on Tuesday when Swansea City come to town. The game, which will kick-off at 7pm, is the sixth of seven in an intense 21 day period and The Bees have taken ten points from the first five so far. Brentford come in to the game having taken four points from their last two at home - beating Coventry City and drawing with Norwich City. The Bees also won at Luton Town on Saturday to climb in to the top ten in the Sky Bet Championship after nine games. This will be Brentford's fifth home fixture of the season and they won two and drawn one of their four at their new stadium so far. Preston are the only victors. In what promises to be another close game Brentford seem to have shaken off further raids on their squad during the transfer window and once again are settling in to another fluid and exciting season.

What do Brentford think ?
The next visitors to our new stadium will be the team in second place in the Sky Bet Championship. Swansea have beaten Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers on their own home turf this week and have climbed in to the automatic promotion spaces in the early table with 18 points from their nine games. They are four points behind leaders Reading and are unbeaten away from home so far this term with two wins and two draws.

Swansea City Latest
After a very successful two home games at the Liberty Cooper and Marsh take the swans to West London looking to continue their recent success rate in the league. Most admirably it has to be noted the clean sheets over the past seven days are a real bonus. The last time Swansea appeared in Brentford was for the play off second leg which the home side won 3-2 on aggregate. From the swans point of view the selection, in hindsight, of Erwin Mulder in goal was maybe a mistake as the goals he let in would surely have been saved by a more reactive keeper. However, that’s in the past we look forward to the game with Ryan Bennett, Ryan Manning and Matt Grimes all hoping for a return to the starting eleven. Cooper has certainly managed the squad rotation well this week and quickly put behind him the penalty farce at Bristol City ten days ago. Six points is proof of that as Andre Ayew returned to top form and the defensive three dealt with everything that was thrown at them over two games.

Bristol City away, just a very questionable memory

Many see this game as a battle between two sides that will feature throughout the season in or around the top six, and for many once again will be challenging for at least a play off spot. Two away games this week will see the swans pitted against two of the divisions best sides, and if a gauge as to where the side are is to be made, then this week may well tell us the story. However, eighteen points from twenty seven, and it should have been more - is no fluke.

Rob Phillips, BBC Wales reporter, exclusive Interview

Without wishing to curse the trip to Brentford, the Swans have been particularly impressive on the road with two wins and two draws from four away games so far. Defensively they have found a formation which really suits their assets, with Wales international Ben Cabango and Chelsea loanee Marc Guehi particularly impressive in a three-man central defensive line. This has allowed wing-backs Connor Roberts and former Brentford captain Jake Bidwell to push forward and supply the ammunition into the penalty area. Early worries about the home form after a goalless draw with visitors Birmingham and a defeat by Huddersfield, have been eased after Liberty Stadium victories over Stoke City and Blackburn in the last week or so.

Bidwell has made a particularly impressive start to the campaign. As I said earlier, Swansea have gone with three centre-backs and wing-backs. The quality of delivery by Bidwell on the left and Connor Roberts on the right, has been a huge factor in the Swans’ decent start.

Brentford fans will surely be familiar with Bidwell’s bounding runs down the left flank and he has not disappointed this term. He already has a goal to his name, scoring against Millwall, and has been an added aerial threat at set pieces.

It says a lot about Swansea, the majority of their goals have derived from assists by Bidwell and Roberts. They are certainly key elements in Swansea’s success, so far. I would have thought captain Matt Grimes will also return, having been rested (on the bench) for Saturday’s win against visitors Blackburn Rovers, ending a remarkable run of 89 consecutive League games in which he had not missed a minute of action. But, the player I always single out is the man who will be well known to Brentford fans — Andre Ayew. He scored in the play-off semi final first leg last season and netted against the Bees in the Boxing Day defeat at Griffin Park too.

He is a skilful, all-action striker who is a talisman for Swansea City.

Ghana captain Ayew has often been linked with moves away from the Swans and is in the last season of his contract at the Liberty Stadium. But despite frequent speculation over his future, his commitment to the cause has always remained undiminished. He is not the captain of Swansea, but is a real leader in Steve Cooper’s squad and on Saturday scored his fourth Championship goal of the campaign.

Thanks to Beesotted, the top class Brentford website for this interview

Ayew back in the goals this season

Cooper on the Brentford rivalry or not ?

Swansea boss Steve Cooper insists last season's Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Brentford will have no bearing on Tuesday's league match.

Andre Ayew's goal secured Swansea a narrow first leg lead in which Brentford's Rico Henry was sent-off and left manager Thomas Frank fuming.

Brentford overturned the first-leg deficit to win 3-2 on aggregate in an ill-tempered final game at Griffin Park but lost to Fulham in the final.

"We don't look back," Cooper said.

Cooper's side are up to second in the Championship table following Saturday's 2-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers while Brentford are ninth. We're not referencing to last season with the play-offs," Cooper added. We're a different team, they're a different team. It's a new season. It's all about looking forward."

Bees' Danish boss Frank was furious following the straight red card shown to Henry - later rescinded - for a sliding challenge on Connor Roberts and was frustrated VAR was not used in the Championship.

Frank and Swansea's Wales full-back Roberts were involved in an angry confrontation on the touchline during the second leg at Griffin Park.

But Cooper was quick to play down any talk of a rivalry that had developed between the two sides since last season. It's irrelevant to me, we'll just focus on ourselves and we'll always act with class, I hope, even though sometimes that's difficult with the emotions of a game," Cooper added. We're never too disturbed or disrupted by anybody but ourselves, while, at the same time, trying to stick up for ourselves as well. Our only objective on Tuesday is to go and get three points for the Swans, and that's where our focus will be."

Live audio commentary is available on iFollow with Mark Burridge and Marcus Gayle, or on Swans TV with Anthony O'Connell, and there are also match reports and updates on BBC London digital, Talk Sport and Radio Wales.

Referee : STEPHEN MARTIN
Adam Crysell and Carl Fitch-Jackson
Fourth Official : Keith Stroud

Brentford: David Raya, Henrick Dalsgaard, Ethan Pinnock, Charlie Goode, Rico Henry; Mathias Jensen, Josh Dasilva, Emiliano Marcondes; Bryan Mbuemo, Ivan Toney, Sam Ghoddos.
Substitutes: Luke Daniels, Dominic Thompson, Sergi Canos, Vitaly Janelt, Tariqe Fosu, Fin Stevens, Marcus Forss.

Swansea City: Freddie Woodman; Ben Cabango, Ryan Bennett, Marc Guehi; Connor Roberts, Korey Smith, Jay Fulton, Jake Bidwell; Yan Dhanda; Andre Ayew, Jamal Lowe.
Substitutes: Steven Benda, Ryan Manning, Kyle Naughton, Matt Grimes, Wayne Routledge, Kasey Palmer, Viktor Gyokeres.

Referee: Stephen Martin

This is Swansea Independent, as soon as we know it, you know it.
Updated right up until kick off

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