Bristol City paid the price for Luke Freeman's first-half red card as Brentford came from behind to beat the Robins 4-2 at Ashton Gate this afternoon.

A first Robins goal from Jonathan Kodjia inside the opening two minutes had given Steve Cotterill's side the dream start.

Brentford hit back almost instantly though through Alan Judge who was on hand to tap home after Andre Gray's effort had been saved by Ben Hamer.

Derrick Williams then desperately cleared Akaki Gogia's effort off the line, before the hosts retook the lead through Aaron Wilbraham who headed home Joe Bryan's cross at the near post

However, the game turned on 35 minutes when Freeman was sent off for a wild tackle on Harlee Dean, and the visitors were level on the stroke of half time when Williams diverted Jake Bidwell's cross into his own net.

With a man advantage, Brentford began to turn the screw in the second half and were ahead when Gray slotted past Hamer from 12 yards on the hour mark.

The Bees increased their lead 10 minutes later when Philipp Hofmann swept home with a left-footed finish on the turn.

Substitute Callum Robinson jinked his way past Toumani Diagouraga late on but could only drag his shot wide, leaving Bristol in search of their first Championship win.