Glasgow gave themselves a huge confidence boost ahead of next week's European Champions Cup quarterfinal against Saracens by seeing off Connacht at Scotstoun.

Home lock Tim Swinson was shown a red card after 65 minutes for an incident at a ruck, but Glasgow still managed to secure a 35-24 victory in the Guinness PRO12 clash.

It allows the sixth-placed Scots to pull clear of Connacht, the team directly behind them, and lifts their hopes of squeezing into the top four.

And eight days before the clash with Saracens at Allianz Park, the sight of Sean Lamont galloping in from 30 metres to touch down for a bonus-point try late on capped a successful encounter.

For Connacht, the defeat hits their prospects of making a late run to earn a place in next season's Champions Cup.

The visitors had led 15-13 at the break, thanks to tries from Niyi Adeolokun and John Muldoon, plus a conversion and a penalty from Craig Ronaldson.

Glasgow replied with Corey Flynn dotting down and Finn Russell booting eight points.

Russell, Ali Price and Lamont scored tries for Glasgow after the interval, while two penalties from Ronaldson and one from John Cooney were all Connacht mustered in the second half.