Derby's poor season took a turn for the worse when they were knocked out of the FA Cup in a third-round upset at Griffin Park thanks to a 36th-minute goal from Brentford's Steve Hunt.

It was no more than the Second Division side deserved after a rousing battle in which they had to hang on for the last 19 minutes with 10 men after Steve Evans was sent off.

Hunt struck the winner when his curling free-kick from just outside the penalty area on the right evaded everyone, including goalkeeper Lee Grant, to creep in at the far post.

The free-kick had been conceded by Lee Morris just minutes after he went desperately close to giving Derby the lead, firing in a shot from close in on the left that rebounded from the junction of post and crossbar.

The First Division side sorely missed the experience of Rob Lee, Danny Higginbotham, Craig Burley and Chris Riggott and gave a first start up front to 19-year-old Marcus Tudgay in the absence of the suspended Izale McLeod.

They started brightly enough, and Malcolm Christie just failed to connect with a corner from Adam Bolder - but tough-tackling Brentford soon shook them out of their stride and began to threaten.

Rams midfielder Paul Boertien struck a 30-yarder over the bar, and Christie knocked the ball over the top. But Brentford looked more dangerous and might have been two up just before the break when Grant saved well from Hunt.

Brentford came out for the second half determined to extend their lead, and within minutes Martin Rowlands got on the end of Rowan Vine's cross to fire a shot over the bar.

Then Hunt had a great chance to bag his second goal when he beat Derby's offside trap to race on to a Rowlands lob, but his effort was well saved by Grant.

Rams boss John Gregory sent on Georgi Kinkladze with an hour gone in attempt to spice up his side's attacks - and as the tackles flew in four players were booked in a four-minute spell, Derby's Warren Barton and Tudgay joining the Bees' Evans and Andrew Frampton in the referee's notebook.

Hunt then tried an overhead kick which flew wide. But within minutes Brentford were down to 10 men when Evans saw red for a second bookable offence after a scything tackle on Tudgay.

Derby surged forward, and Morris fired in a shot which brought a terrific save from Paul Smith - while at the other end Mark McCammon was booked for diving as Brentford's penalty appeals were turned down.

A 20-yard volley from Steve Elliott which flew wide was the last throw of the dice as Derby bowed out.

Teams:

Brentford: Paul Smith, Dobson, Sonko, Marshall, Frampton, Rowlands, O'Connor, Evans, Hunt, McCammon (Hughes 90), Vine.

Subs Not Used: Julian, Jay Smith, Williams, Tabb.

Sent Off: Evans (72).

Booked: Dobson, Evans, Frampton, McCammon.

Goals: Hunt 36.

Derby: Grant, Mills (Zavagno 70), Elliott, Evatt, Barton, Murray (Holmes 79), Bolder (Kinkladze 61), Boertien, Morris, Christie, Tudgay.

Subs Not Used: Jackson, Oakes.

Booked: Mills, Barton, Tudgay.

Att: 8,709

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).