Bryan Mbeumo at the double as Brentford spoil Aaron Ramsdale’s Southampton debut

Aaron Ramsdale’s Southampton debut was spoiled after goals from Bryan Mbeumo (2) and Yoane Wissa lifted Brentford to a 3-1 victory at GTech Community Stadium.

Ivan Toney, whose departure to Saudi side Al-Ahli was announced in the early hours of Saturday morning, watched from the stands to see how his former side would get on without him.

Mbeumo issued a promising answer with his second score of the new Premier League campaign just before the break, before netting his third after the restart.

Wissa then bundled home to hand the hosts a comfortable lead, with Yukinari Sugawara ending Southampton’s wait for a Premier League goal late on.

The hosts’ line-up was most notable for the absence of striker Toney, while the  immediate inclusion of newly-signed Ramsdale marked the only change made by Saints boss Russell Martin.

The former Arsenal goalkeeper was called into action early when Mbeumo drove into Southampton’s six-yard box, patiently controlling the ball before picking out Mikkel Damsgaard, who forced Ramsdale into his first save from point-blank range.

The visitors won their first corner in the seventh minute, nearly making it count when Joe Aribo clipped the woodwork after directing the ball goalwards with the small of his back.

Brentford enjoyed more deep drives into the visitors’ final third as the halfway point in the opening period approached. However, they lacked a clinical finish, with Wissa twice looking likeliest to break the deadlock.

A timely Sugawara intervention denied the onrushing Kevin Schade a shot, and an alert Aribo clearance prevented Wissa’s effort from the ensuing scramble, over the head of Ramsdale, from opening the scoring.

Thomas Frank was forced into a change in the 38th minute when Kristoffer