Frank hails post-Toney era win
BRENTFORD SOUTHAMPTON 3 1
Brentford boss Thomas Frank admitted he was left “a bit emotional” after Ivan Toney’s farewell address to his former teammates.
The England forward’s move to Saudi side Al-Ahli was confirmed in the early hours of yesterday morning but he was in the stands at GTech stadium to watch the Bees secure victory over Southampton later in the afternoon.
Frank did not recall Toney shedding any tears but revealed the same was not true for himself.
“Even I was a little bit emotional,” said Frank. “I said a few things and then he said something to the players. “He has been a great player for Brentford — a Brentford legend, and I mean that. When you are in a club like ours and you score 72 goals in 141 games, that’s incredible, incredible numbers.
“He’s been on a fantastic journey with us over the last four years. I enjoyed working together with him on and off the pitch. I think it says a lot about Ivan that he wanted to come here and say goodbye to his friends and team-mates. Ivan has been a key player for us.”
Bryan Mbeumo netted his second and third of Brentford’s league campaign, breaking the deadlock two minutes before the interval.
Southampton debutant Aaron Ramsdale, immediately slotted into Russell Martin’s line-up the day after his deadline-day transfer, conceded another to the Cameroon international in the 65th minute.
Four minutes later, Yoane Wissa bundled home from a throw-in to add to his opening-day strike against Crystal Palace. Saints nevertheless managed to avoid slumping to three successive losses without scoring when Yukinari Sugawara clawed back a consolation deep in second-half stoppage time. Mathias Jensen and substitute Adam Lallana both added assists, while Frank singled out Mikkel Damsgaard for what he felt was a best-ever effort in a Brentford shirt from his fellow Dane. Frank felt the team effort was perhaps a hallmark of Brentford’s post-Toney era. Responding to the suggestion that his team may have even performed better, he added: “I think it is credit to the players that they are stepping up. “What I would say is that when a player goes that is so dominant in many aspects, others will grow. “No one is the same (as Toney). It’s a little bit of a different dynamic and constellations and relationships, and that will create something for the team.”