TONEY AWARD Bees sharp-shooter has an eye on big prize

BRILLIANT Brentford fought back from a nightmare start to stretch their unbeaten league run to 20 games and reclaim second spot.

Middlesbrough’s first goal in five hours and 13 minutes came courtesy of Bees keeper David Raya after only three minutes.

But striker Ivan Toney took his season’s goal tally to 22 with a brace and midfielders Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen also struck.

Boss Thomas Frank said:

“Our keeper is one of the best in the division – maybe the best.

“I thought it could be a long afternoon. Yes, David needed to be better on the first goal, but look at his mentality after that.”

Boro were celebrating when left-back Marc Bola whipped a ball in and Raya missed his punch, the ball deflecting home off visiting defender Ethan Pinnock and his goalie.

But Brentford equalised seven minutes from the break after Toney chested down a long ball and took a squared return from Tariqe Fosu to finish calmly.

Boro almost restored their lead when Sam Morsy saw his shot touched onto a post by Raya before fellow midfielder George Saville and striker Britt Assombalonga failed to capitalise in a goalmouth scramble.

The second half began with more drama as Raya pulled off two stunning saves in quick succession.

First, he made an astonishing point-blank block to deny Assombalonga and then, when Saville knocked the ball back into the middle, Raya reacted smartly again after a ricochet off Janelt.

But it was Janelt who stroked home on 58 minutes for 2-1 before Paddy McNair’s slip on halfway six minutes later left Jensen clear to round Marcus Bettinelli and slot home.

Raya came up with another stupendous stop to foil Saville, who followed up by heading wide, but Toney nodded in 10 minutes from time after Rico Henry’s effort had been diverted onto the woodwork.

It was a fourth straight Riverside defeat for Boro, who had Neeskens Kebano making his debut after his loan arrival from Fulham and fellow winger Yannick Bolasie making his home bow on loan from Everton.

Boss Neil Warnock said: “I don’t think I’ve ever been as satisfied with a 4-1 defeat.

“With what we’ve got now, I’m quite excited. It’s the season starting now with 18 cup finals.

“But Bolasie was fouled in front of the dugout before they equalised – we need officials who know what they’re doing.”