Report from The Richmond & Twickenham Times

Brentford overcame the first-half sending off of veteran striker Lee Thorpe to record their first win of the season yesterday.

Debutant Thorpe, making his Brentford debut after serving a four-match ban for a red card at the end of last season, launched his Griffin Park career in disgraceful style by getting himself sent off with the score goalless.

He can have few complaints at being dismissed by referee Paul Melin after a two-footed lunge into the chest of Barnet's Ian Hendon.

But Brentford made light of being a man short when, five minutes after half-time, Charlie Ide was felled by Max Porter in the box and Kevin O'Connor scored from the spot.

Ide had to be stretchered off and Barnet equalised after an hour when Jason Puncheon cut in from the right and fired home a fine equaliser.

With 20 minutes left, last man Stevland Angus pulled down Ryan Peters in the box to earn a red card and hand Brentford a second penalty.

This time, O'Connor's penalty was saved by Lee Harrison, but John Mousinho was quickest to the rebound to restore Brentford's lead.

Harrison made a superb save to deny John Mackie, as the Bees recorded their first win under Terry Butcher.

Brentford: Hamer, Starosta, Mackie, Osborne, Basey, Pettigrew, Ide (Peters 58), O'Connor (Poole 85), Moore, Mousinho, Thorpe.

Attendance: 4,744.