Ivan gives Bees taste of safety

Frank hails Eriksen as ‘best ever’ signing

HE paraded on the pitch as if in party mode and walked into his press conference holding a slice of pizza. Thomas Frank and his players would not publicly admit it but Brentford are all but safe.

Ivan Toney scored two late goals as Brentford earned consecutive wins for the first time since promotion and moved nine points clear of the relegation zone.

And given the calamitous and often hapless nature of the sides below them, Brentford’s Premier League status is almost guaranteed for another year.

Just as he was last week, Christian Eriksen was crucial to getting three points. He dazzled in the win at Norwich and was perhaps man of the match despite Toney’s hat-trick.

This week, he set up the first goal with a beautiful, on-a-plate cross for Toney and then put the striker through on goal to win — and convert — a penalty that also saw Nathan Collins sent off.

At Norwich, Frank said with authority that Toney was the best penalty-taker in the world. That assertion lives on, with the forward now scoring 17 in 17 since signing for the Bees.

And the manager delivered another assertive message after this win.

‘Maybe the best signing ever for Brentford,’ he said, when asked on Eriksen’s performance.

‘Signing him was not a gamble. I was convinced he would help us.’

The Bees are often famed for their data-led scouting network that has led to uncovering many largely unknown talents and selling them on for huge profits.

This was the opposite. We all knew Eriksen’s talents but could he rediscover his Tottenham and Denmark form for Brentford, after the nearly-tragic cardiac arrest in last summer’s European Championship?

Before this pair of results, Brentford were winless in nine matches and their season was threatening to derail with them falling down the table. But two man-of-the-match performances have pulled them clear of danger.

It didn’t look like that would be the case for much of this match. The Clarets were superior and had the best chances of a match lacking in action. Maxwel Cornet missed a chance for Burnley after 70 minutes when he went through on goal but his shot was weak and straight at David Raya.

It was a golden opportunity that spurred Burnley into life. Minutes later, Jay Rodriguez rattled the crossbar from 30 yards.

‘If we had come away with a point, I think we would have taken it but we could have won it,’ said Clarets boss Sean Dyche.

‘If we had come away with a win then you could argue we deserved it.’

Tight matches can be settled on one moment of magic and that came from Eriksen’s left foot, a wonderful cross for Toney to tap home after 85 minutes.

Burnley then pushed forward and were caught on the counterattack, Eriksen threading a pass into Toney who charged through on goal. Collins felled him and was shown a straight red card. And as we know, Toney does not miss from 12 yards.

Party mode, then, with pizza all round. ‘Pepperoni,’ confirmed Frank. ‘To celebrate a win is massive. Every win in the Premier League is such a big thing — it’s so difficult to achieve.

‘Eriksen is nearly at his best. The cross was just top quality. We’ve seen players like Kevin De Bruyne do that to us this season.’

Now the Bees have their very own creative wizard. Best signing ever? Frank makes a very good point — it could define their season.