Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Brentford: Ivan Toney double earns Bees win at Hillsborough
- Published
Ivan Toney did not score in his first four games for Brentford, but now has seven goals from a total of eight appearances
Ivan Toney scored twice for the third consecutive game as Brentford secured a stylish victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
The striker, who has now scored seven goals in his past four appearances, slotted home the opening goal on the follow-up when keeper Cameron Dawson could only block Henrik Dalsgaard's strike inside seven minutes.
A beautifully crafted equaliser brought the Owls level, Callum Paterson heading in a right-wing Kadeem Harris cross following some great work by Barry Bannan.
But a Bees performance full of creativity, bright attacking football and a constant goal threat was rewarded when summer signing Toney headed in his second from Vitaly Janelt's corner.
The visitors had numerous opportunities to wrap up victory, with Mathias Jensen and Dalsgaard both going close in the first half and Toney wasting a great chance after the interval.
Wednesday, who remain bottom of the Championship table on minus four points following their points deduction, piled on the pressure in the second half but were unable to create any clear openings.
The Owls are now winless in eight league matches at Hillsborough but were far from poor against a team brimming with confidence.
Adam Reach could have drawn them level before Paterson did cancel out Toney's strike, but a fierce effort was well blocked by keeper David Raya.
Toney then escaped his marker to restore the lead and should have had his hat-trick after the break, but skewed an attempt wide from eight yards from substitute Sergi Canos' pull-back after another slick move.
Brentford, losing finalists in last season's Championship play-offs, have moved up to seventh following victory in boss Thomas Frank's 100th game in charge.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk:
"Overall, especially in the first half, we didn't get the levels of performance that we have been doing. We were just a yard or two off them and when you're playing against a good side like Brentford are, that can prove costly.
"The goals they scored were goals that could have been avoided. In the second half we were much better at getting up to them and that intensity was at the level we wanted.
"We just need that little bit of composure, but we didn't quite get that right. It's always fine margins in this league. You need that bit of composure and we lacked that a little bit.
"We can't dwell on it. We know we've been performing well and we need to bounce back. This is a tough, tough season for us. We'll keep working and get ready for the weekend."
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank:
"I was very pleased with the performance. I liked very much the way we handled the ball. We found some good solutions and had some dangerous counters throughout the game.
"I was very pleased with how we defended, except for that spell for around five to 10 minutes around their equaliser. Apart from that I thought we did very well and gave no chances away.
"We knew that Ivan was a goalscorer and that he'd suit the way we played. To score seven goals in four games speaks for itself. I'm very pleased with that but him and I want even more. We know that there are things we need to work on to make him even better.
"The link-up play and the runs around him were superb and the effort was also up there. I'm very pleased and it is on to the next one."
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