Southampton 0-2 Brentford: Saints stay rock bottom after goals from Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa
Southampton 0-2 Brentford: Saints stay rock bottom as goals from Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa see the Bees take all three points at St Mary’s… with fans starting to dream of European football
- On the eve of Southgate’s next squad announcement Ivan Toney struck again
- He then set up Wissa to give the England manager a little more food for thought
- Toney has made his case with 17 goals including six in ten since post-Qatar
Just in case a final nudge was needed, Ivan Toney provided one for Gareth Southgate at Southampton.
On the eve of Southgate’s squad announcement for England’s first two Euro 2024 qualifiers, Toney struck again and added a late assist to give the England manager a little more food for thought.
His form since the World Cup had already done that but his contribution would not have done his chances of a recall any harm with Southgate prepared to look beyond the FA betting case that is hanging over the Brentford striker and consider his merits, as reported by MailOnline on Wednesday.
Toney has emphatically made his case with 17 goals this season including six in 10 games since the season’s post-Qatar resumption.
Of Southgate’s striking options only Three Lions captain and Tottenham’s Harry Kane has more in the Premier League than Toney’s 15. On form, there is no reason not to include Toney.
Ivan Toney sent a message to Gareth Southgate ahead of the England manager naming his squad
Toney has emphatically made his case with 17 goals this season for high-flying Brentford
Thanks to their talisman’s goal, injury-time assist and how his teammates defiantly defended in between – Ben Mee and Ethan Pinnock in particular – Brentford’s response to the defeat at Everton which ended their 12-game unbeaten run was instant, victory getting their bid for European football quickly back on track.
Or perhaps even bigger targets.
‘It’s a tough league but hopefully we can catch [leaders] Arsenal!’ Toney joked.
For Southampton, a chance to climb off the foot of the table and out of the bottom three was missed on what proved to be a dispiriting evening which ended with boos ringing out around St Mary’s.
Brentford had the better of the first half by far and when Toney opened the scoring with a tap-in it was deserved.
Bryan Mbeumo had seen two attempts blocked before the breakthrough just after the half hour.
The finish looked simple, Toney poking Christian Norgaard’s flick-on into an empty net from a yard out.
On the eve of Southgate’s next squad announcement Toney struck again and set up Brentford’s second Yoane Wissa to give the England manager a little more food for thought
But his anticipation to read the ball’s flight better than anybody else and dart into space while holding off the challenge of Kyle Walker-Peter made the goal.
Aside from a Carlos Alcaraz shot that flew over Southampton were surprisingly flat in the first half but addressed that with a fast start after the break.
Mohamed Elyounoussi and Kamaldeen Sulemana went close before James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick had David Raya scrambling.
But an equaliser never came and, having failed to take their chances to level, Southampton were punished when Toney’s flick on sent Wissa through to score with the final meaningful kick of the game.