Brentford 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion: Ivan Toney underlines England credentials with two goals
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Ivan Toney scored his 50th and 51st league goals for Brentford against Brighton
Ivan Toney underlined his England credentials with two goals as Brentford returned to winning ways against Brighton in the Premier League.
While Brighton have enjoyed several excellent results on their travels this season, they struggled for fluidity and incisiveness against high-energy opponents led superbly by Toney on his 100th appearance for the Bees.
The hosts had already seen Bryan Mbeumo's improvised volley cannon off the visitors' crossbar by the time Toney opened the scoring with a wonderful backheeled flick from Frank Onyeka's pass from the right.
With Brighton searching for an equaliser after the break, Toney then doubled their advantage, going down under Joel Veltman's crude challenge from behind and getting up to convert his eighth successive top-flight penalty.
The result sees Thomas Frank's side move up to eighth in the table, a place and a point behind the Seagulls, who are yet to win under new manager Roberto de Zerbi.
Toney was called into the England squad for September's Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany but was not used by Gareth Southgate.
However, on current form he is making a compelling case for a place on the plane to Qatar for the upcoming World Cup with only Manchester City's Erling Haaland (15) having now scored more Premier League goals than the Bees centre-forward, who has eight.
Brentford bounce back
Brentford 2-0 Brighton: Thomas Frank says Ivan Toney has earned England World Cup spot
With heavy defeats against Arsenal and Newcastle either side of a scoreless draw at Bournemouth, Brentford served up the perfect response in front of their passionate home support.
Both De Zerbi and Frank were booked for an altercation in the technical area and on the pitch Brentford mirrored their manager's aggression.
Toney, Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa set the tone early on, pressuring the Brighton defence and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez into several mistakes when attempting to play out from the back.
At that stage the opening was also notable for the constant and warm vocal tribute paid by Brighton's travelling fans to midfielder Enock Mwepu, who was forced to retire aged 24 this week because of a hereditary heart condition.
Brentford 2-0 Brighton: Albion 'wanted to win for Mwepu' - Roberto de Zerbi
While Brighton had chances to go in front from a tame Danny Welbeck header and most notably Veltman's close-range shot from a corner, there was also an absence of the spark that saw them score three at Anfield earlier this month.
To underline the point, the Seagulls had more than 70% possession and had registered 21 shots by the full-time whistle, but aside from Adam Lallana's late header, rarely looked like making the breakthrough.
"To win a game you have to score," said De Zerbi. "We don't find the goals. We lose too many second balls, too many duels. We made mistakes about shooting, about the last pass, about crosses. But this is the right way for us.
"We have to do more. We have to improve, to learn, to understand."
Brentford and Toney made the most of their opportunities, scoring twice from just three efforts on target. Mads Roerslev could have added further gloss to a fine victory but he saw his effort cleared off the line after Sanchez had been unable to claim a cross.
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