IVAN SETS TONE FOR PLAY-OFFS

3

Britton 87

BRENTFORD

1

Toney 57, Mbeumo 78, Canos 83

IVAN TONEY reacted to becoming the most prolific striker in a Championship season by saying: “I should have scored even more.”

The Brentford ace made it 31 for the campaign with a poacher’s finish on 57 minutes, knowing he was about to be substituted.

The Bees finished a strong third going into the play-offs, but Toney (above) reflected on chances that had gone begging in earlier matches this season.

“I always think I could do better,” he said. “I look back and think I should have scored that one or another one and might have finished with 33 or 34.

“The manager said he would give me 60 minutes to get the goal for the record and then take me off. When I hadn’t got it by half-time I was saying, ‘Keep me on, keep me on’ – and thankfully scored just in time.”

Toney’s replacement Bryan Mbeumo found the net to double Brentford’s lead, and Sergi Canos fired in to make it 3-0, before 20-year-old City substitute Louis Britton scored a consolation on his debut.

Robins manager Nigel Pearson, without a home win in seven since taking charge in February, said: “There will be changes. The squad must be capable of meeting the challenges that the Championship poses, which is not the case at the moment.”

BRISTOL CITY: Bentley 7, Simpson 6 (Sessegnon 72, 6), Baker 7, Mariappa 6 (Vyner 52, 6), Dasliva 6, Massengo 5, Bakinson 5, Palmer 5 (Janneh 65, 6), Scott 6, Wells 5 (Edwards 65, 6), Conway 5 (Britton 72, 5) BRENTFORD: Raya 7, Norgaard 7, Jansson 7, Pinnock 6 (Sorensen 46, 6), Rasmussen 7, Jensen 7, Janelt 7 (Bidstrup 81), Canos 8, Fosu-Henry 7 (Marcondes 72, 5), Toney 8 (Mbeumo 65, 7), Forss 7 (Ghoddos 65, 6) REFEREE: James Linington

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