MICKY Barron's first game in charge of Hartlepool United ended in defeat.

Pools went down at Brentford, falling to a loss from a controversial penalty awarded in a frantic second-half spell.

The home side had the better of the first-half chances, Scott Flinders saving well from a close-range Gary Alexander header.

But Pools could have took the lead on 70 minutes. Gary Liddle's break down the right saw his low cross aimed towards Andy Monkhouse for a simple tap-in.

He was denied by a last-ditch tackle by defender Shalum Logan.

Ten minutes later, The Bees took the lead. Gary Alexander got in behind the defence and his lob over Scott Flinders should have been stopped - but the keeper allowed the ball to slip through his grasp and bounce over the line.

It didn't take long to level, as skipper Sam Collins scored a fine goal. A clearance fell into his path 25 yards out and he picked his spot to curl a low shot into the net from distance.

However, within a minute, Pools conceded a penalty. Tony Sweeney was, much to Pools' anger, ruled to have fouled Toumani Dougaraga. Alexander's shot was saved, but the striker followed up to tap in the rebound.

BRENTFORD: Lee; Logan, Dean, Legge, Bidwell; Saunders (Bean 87), Diagouraga, Douglas, McGinn; Alexander, Donaldson.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood; Monkhouse, Murray (Solano 81), Liddle (Luscombe 87), Sweeney; Poole, Brown (Boyd 61). Subs: Rafferty (gk), Haslam.