Toney double gives Southgate a nudge as Bees overcome goal-shy Brighton
Brentford (1) 2 Toney 27, 64pen
Brighton (0) 0
Ivan Toney’s clever backheel flick and second half penalty guided the Bees to a comfortable Friday night win.
Victory was just the response Thomas Frank was looking for after the 5-1 hammering at Newcastle last weekend. It was the first win for more than a month too – since the defeat of Leeds in early September.
The Bees striker, captain in the absence of Pontus Jansson, missed out on a first cap for England in the recent Nations League fixtures, despite being in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
But it was another reminder of what he can bring should he make the World Cup squad for Qatar.
Toney even won the penalty that he put away just past the hour after a tangle on the turn with Joel Veltman. A master at winning as well as converting spot-kicks.
His tally for the season now at eight.
Brentford exerted early pressure but Albion, winners on their visit here last season, and with a win at Man United and draw at Liverpool under their belts this season, served warning of their capabilities.
They outflanked the Bees on the right and Danny Welbeck got on the end of a cross, for a chance he might have done much better with.
They came closer when Moises Caceido’s blast from outside the box needed to be helped over the bar by David Raya, who was next having to get down quickly to smother another good chance in the box for Veltman.
Later in the half, Solly March had a shot blocked by Ben Mee.
Thomas Frank’s men were the ones to go in ahead at the break, however.
Bryan Mbeumo came close to getting the Bees up and running when he smacked a fierce volley onto the top of the crossbar from just outside the penalty area – the product of Vitaly Janelt’s cross from the left flicking into his path at the back post off a defender.
But soon after, the Bees were ahead. Mbeumo ushered the industrious Frank Onyeka to the byline and his pull-back was put away so smartly at the near-post with a backheel flick which the covering Adam Webster could do nothing about.
Both managers got themselves booked just before the break after a touchline spat when Veltman tried to retrieve the ball quickly for a throw-in and was impeded by Frank. Roberto De Zerbi was soon offering a conciliatory handshake to his opposite number.
Any hopes the Seagulls had of getting back into the game were dashed by Toney’s second goal of the evening and two fine saves from David Raya - to deny Solly March’s six-yard header, a firm nod from Lewis Dunk.
It’s Chelsea at home next for the Bees, on Wednesday.
Bees: (4-3-3) Raya – Ajer, Mee, Pinnock, Henry (Ghoddos 89) – Onyeka (Baptiste 71), Janelt, Jensen (Dasilva 80) – Mbeumo (Canos 80), Toney, Wissa (Roerslev 71). Subs not used: Cox, Zanka, Ghoddos, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard
Seagulls: (4-4-2) Sanchez – Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan (Mitoma h/t) – March, MacAllister, Caicedo, Trossard (Undav 69)– Gross (Lallana 70), Welbeck. Subs not used: Steele, Lamptey, Sarmiento, Enciso, Gilmour, Turns
