Two-goal Toney sends City crashing to defeat
MANCHESTER CITY 1 Foden (45+1) BRENTFORD 2 Toney (16, 90+7)
Brentford boss Thomas Frank held out hope there could yet be room on the plane to Qatar for Ivan Toney after the striker scored both goals in the stunning win at champions Manchester City.
Toney shrugged off his disappointment at missing out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad on Thursday as he scored the winner in the eighth minute of 10 added on at the Etihad to seal what Frank called “maybe the best single ever result in the club’s history”.
But with the risk of injuries during this final weekend of Premier League action, Frank said Toney – who revealed last week he is assisting the FA with regard to historical betting allegations – should still be on Southgate’s radar.
“What a player,” Frank said. “Honestly. I know it’s a big story about the World Cup squad. I believe Gareth picked the strongest squad because of course as managers that’s what we do.
“But if there is an injury to one of the forward players I hope he will think about Ivan because he definitely proved it.
“This was a game in which we are playing maybe the best team in the world and he is scoring two goals and getting five chances, just getting on the end of things.
“People are defined by how they respond to setbacks. You either feel sorry for yourself or you respond back.”
Frank had promised his side would try to take the game to City and they certainly did that, creating three big chances inside the opening six minutes before Toney headed them in front 16 minutes in.
Although Phil Foden fired City level just before the break, Brentford did an outstanding job of frustrating their hosts who struggled to turn dominant possession into clear chances, with Erling Haaland well marshalled by the Bees defence.
City had 29 shots to Brentford’s 10, but Frank was justified in saying his side looked the more dangerous as they created the clearer openings.
“All the credit needs to go to the players for a strong mentality, strong culture and to all the staff that do a top job here,” he said.
“In a situation where we have been struggling a little bit, we managed to find everyone in sync.
“To come here and, well deserved, beat City is mind-blowing. Probably, maybe, the best single ever result in the club’s history.”
The Bees opened City up twice in the early stages only to be thwarted by home goalkeeper Ederson on both occasions. Frank Onyeka had the first chance when he raced through one-on-one, but Ederson stood up well.
A Rico Henry run then had City backpedalling and Ederson’s failure to claim his cross allowed Bryan Mbuemo to tee up Toney, but the keeper beat away his shot.
Toney did not rue his miss for long as he made amends by giving his side the lead soon after. David Raya launched a long free-kick towards the box and Ben Mee jumped highest to nod on. Toney reacted quickly, beating Aymeric Laporte to flick a looping header over Ederson.
City responded strongly, but were repeatedly frustrated in or around the box by Brentford’s determination to get numbers back or, unusually, their own failure to produce final balls of quality.
City eventually levelled just before the break after De Bruyne had tested Raya. A corner fell to Foden in the box and he lashed a shot into the roof of the net.
There was a lengthy delay early in the second half after Laporte suffered a nasty head wound in an accidental collision with Ethan Pinnock’s elbow. He was deemed fit to continue after being bandaged up.
City battled on with Joao Cancelo having a shot deflected wide and Ilkay Gundogan scooping a good chance over.
Toney was twice denied, first by an Ederson save and then a vital Laporte interception as he stretched to reach a Henry cross.
Raya saved from De Bruyne and Cancelo, who was also booked for diving. Ederson then denied Toney with his feet, but the Bees forward was not finished and turned home a cross from Josh Dasilva to win it.
He might have had a hat-trick, but for a goalline clearance from De Bruyne.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Pep Guardiola, whose side could not summon the sort of energy which saw them beat Fulham.
“The better team won,” Guardiola said. “We had a lot of problems. We couldn’t make the high press because they didn’t allow it.
“When Toney flicked the ball he created problems. We couldn’t regain the ball.
“Their structure, and the striker being deep, they defended really well. We struggled to create chances.”
MAN CITY: Ederson 7; Stones 6, Akanji 6, Laporte 7, Cancelo 6 (Alvarez 87); De Bruyne 7, Rodri 7 Gundogan 5; Silva 7, Haaland 6, Foden 8. Unused subs – Dias, Phillips, Grealish, Ortega, Gomez, Mahrez, Palmer, Lewis. BRENTFORD:
Raya 7; Jorgensen 7, Mee 6, Pinnock 7; Roerslev 7, Onyeka 6 (Dasilva 87), Janelt 6 (Norgaard 62, 6), Jensen 6, Henry 7; Mbeumo 6 (Wissa 74, 7), Toney 9. Unused subs – Canos, Ghoddos, Lewis-Potter, Crama, Cox, Yarmolyuk.