Southampton 0 Brentford 2: Bees keep pressure on in race for European spot as Ivan Toney scores to keep Saints dead last
TALK about bitter sweet.
That must be the taste in Brentford fans’ mouths when they watched their star man Ivan Toney hit yet another goal.
The forward was emotionally serenaded to “Ole Ole Ole Ivan Toney” as he poked home his 16th Prem strike of the season before assisting Yoane Wissa’s last-gasp injury time goal.
You cannot blame Bees fans if there was a few trembling bottom lips given they do not know when they wil have to endure the torture of going without Toney, who faces a lengthy ban.
The striker recently admitted a number of the 262 betting charges against him and his case is set to be heard this month.
He has been directly involved in a staggering 19 Prem goals across 24 matches this season – the third-most of any player in the competition behind Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
It leaves not only Bees fans but England fans scratching their heads and thinking what could have been if his season hadn’t been tarnished.
For Brentford supporters they may see their dreams of bringing European football to Kew Bridge scuppered without their pivotal marksman at the helm.
And England fans will no doubt be thinking about Toney when Gareth Southgate‘s England squad is announced tomorrow.
The Three Lions boss will name his first squad since the World Cup and Toney, the most prolific England striker in the top-flight bar Kane, should be in on merit.
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But his claims are tethered by the alleged breaches of betting rules – and you can’t help but feel sorry for any team facing the forward in the wake of the incident.
Saints became his latest victim after he unleashed the fury of his last few weeks of hell on Fulham two weeks ago with an ice-cool penalty.
Now struggling Southampton remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just 22 points.
Meanwhile the high-flying Bees are in eight and just one point behind Liverpool in sixth place.
There were more positives for Thomas Frank’s side yesterday.
Toney is known for his trademark goal celebrations and yesterday’s one hinted at a passing of the torch.
The first thing he did after hitting the winner was embrace the man brought in to replace him if he is banned – Kevin Schade.
The German speedster, 21, was recruited in January after Toney’s betting scandal came to light and made his first start last night.
His electric performance showed that the club’s recruitment policy is possibly their biggest weapon amid a glittering season.
He was a buzzing Bee from the get go, always at the heart of any of Brentford’s blistering attacks in the first-half.
You could tell the fire was in Toney’s belly from the off as he attempted to thump in a well worked short corner by Mathias Jensen and Mbeumo, only to scuff his footing.
Mbeumo then forced Gavin Bazunu into a point blank save before Saints instantly hit back with Kamaldeen Sulemana firing inches away from goal.
On loan SC Freiburg ace Schade then shimmied beyond four Saints shirts to tee up Bryan Mbeumo who forced Bazunu into another cracking save.
But Toney had seen enough and took the reins.
Mbeumo swung in another inch-perfect corner to Christian Norgaard who flicked it across goal and to Toney who slid into volley from close-range on 32 minutes.
Saints returned from the restart with a spring in their step as Kyle Walker-Peters caused havoc down the right with a pull-back that should have led to a goal.
But a jaw-dropping block from the goalline by Aaron Hickey kept out Che Adams’ rasping shot.
Ruben Selles had seen enough and made a triple change with Romeo Lavia, Theo Walcott and James Bree entering the fray for Kyle Walker-Peters, Ibrahima Diallo and Mohamed Elyounoussi.
Saints fans were only treated to a demoralising chant of “you’re going down” by the away end.
They shut up when Mbeumo brought down Adams on the edge of the box and the hosts were awarded a free-kick – cue James Ward-Prowse.
But the midfielder only had his head in his hands when his shot sailed just to the left of Raya and the post.
Tempers flared when 6ft 7in striker Paul Onuachu collided with Raya as he challenged for the ball.
The Spanish shot-stopper was left fuming and it sparked a mele between Ben Mee with Onuachu arguing his case before it all calmed down.
Saints desperately hoofed balls into the penalty area but Brentford’s rock-solid defence easily mopped up any danger.
In the dying seconds Wissa blitzed through on goal after Toney’s flick on with only Bazunu to beat and rifled home outside the penalty area.