Brentford 2-0 Brighton: Ivan Toney strikes twice to move Bees into top half of Premier League

Brentford put their bad run of recent form behind them as they held firm to grind out a precious 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at the Gtec Stadium. Two goals from Ivan Toney were enough to give the Bees a crucial three points, that sees them leapfrog Liverpool momentarily into the top half of the Premier League table.

Ad Thomas Frank's side weren't always in the ascendancy, but they defended resolutely as Brighton's profligacy played a part in their downfall once more. Premier League‘Some dreams come to an end’ — Brighton’s Mwepu forced to retire due to heart condition10/10/2022 AT 09:59 The hosts took the lead against the run of play, as Toney back-heeled a Frank Onyeka cross past the bewildered Robert Sanchez after great work from the wriggling Bryan Mbuemo.

It's not as if the Seagulls didn't have their chances: Danny Welbeck was denied by a strong Ethan Pinnock block after a beautifully disguised pass from Leandro Trossard, and Moises Caicedo forced David Raya into an acrobatic save on 21 minutes with a fiercely-struck, dipping effort. Solly March had a volley blocked by Ben Mee just before the interval, and Welbeck nodded over from an outswinging Pascal Gross corner as Albion failed to make anything of their goal sightings.

Mbuemo rattled the woodwork with what would have been a goal of the season contender, hitting the crossbar on 24 minutes with a clever strike that nearly caught out Sanchez. Joel Veltman was adjudged to have felled Toney just after the hour, with the Brentford captain dusting himself down to dispatch the spot kick, doubling his and the Bees' tally.