FRANK’S MUST GO TO IVAN
But Bees boss boobed over Baptiste
THOMAS FRANK hailed Brentford hero Ivan Toney and apologised to red-card sinner Shandon Baptiste.
After the west Londoners grabbed a first top-tier away win in 74 years, the Bees boss was in jubilant mood.
So much so that, having praised hitman Toney for his penalty and setting up Frenchman Bryan Mbeumo for the clinching second, Frank refused to even criticise Baptiste for his stupid secondhalf dismissal.
Frank, with eight points from a possible 15, said: “Ivan was superb. What a player, what mentality, what passion. He was everywhere.
“I was about to replace Shandon just before the red card. So I said sorry to him. I felt he was unlucky with the first yellow.
“But even with 10 we defended with heart and soul.
These players are so impressive.”
Opposite number
Bruno Lage was less gracious after this fourth
Wolves defeat of the campaign, blasting the Bees’ time-wasting.
He said: “I saw too many players on the floor. I saw the keeper change gloves!
“There’s a different way of managing a game instead of spending time like that. It was too much.”
Frank, though, hit back: “I could ask him back what he’d have done.
“We are a bus stop in Hounslow against a Wolves side with 10 times the budget. Did we deserve to win? Yes.”
There has been a distinct change in Wolves’ approach under Lage.
Before yesterday, only Manchester City and Liverpool had produced more shots this term.
Of course, creating opportunities is one thing, taking them quite another – and Adama Traore was guilty of Wolves’ biggest miss before the break as he blazed over in the 17th minute. The Spanish speedster was also seriously unlucky after 34 minutes when his edge-of-thearea thunderbolt struck the bar. Either side of that effort, the Bees, led by Toney and Mbeumo, ran riot – with both getting on the scoresheet.
Toney had already had a fine
I was about to replace Shandon just before the red card so I said sorry to him. He’s unlucky with the first booking ninth-minute finish ruled out for offside against his attacking partner but made no mistake from the penalty spot 19 minutes later.
Referee Darren England awarded it after defender Marcel grabbed and grappled Mbeumo to the floor. Up stepped Toney to send Jose Sa the wrong way.
The Bees ace was then denied for a second time when a clever back-heel flick was disallowed for handball by VAR.
If that was a fortunate reprieve for Conor Coady and his fellow Wolves defenders, it did not last long as they soon buckled again under relentless waves of pressure.
This time Toney provided the assist, crossing for Mbeumo to fire in a first Premier League goal.
He should have been celebrating his second straight after the break but somehow he curled wide.
Brentford midfielder Baptiste did his best to make an interesting finale when, having been booked, he hauled back Francisco Trincao.
Wolves striker Raul Jimenez came nearest, heading Traore’s cross inches wide in addedtime.