Ivan Toney’s hat-trick boosts Brentford and piles more misery on Norwich

A hat-trick from Ivan Toney gave Brentford a vital win at 20th-placed Norwich as Christian Eriksen took another positive step in his remarkable recovery.

The Denmark international played the whole match for the Bees and had a hand in the first two goals, almost nine months on from his cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 last summer.

Eriksen’s corner helped set up Toney’s opener before a second set-piece forced a penalty early in the second half when Ben Gibson caught Pontus Jansson with a high foot. Gibson’s misery was compounded soon after when he committed another foul inside the area and Toney completed his treble.

Teemu Pukki hit a late consolation but the Brentford manager, Thomas Frank, got the better of the club’s former manager Dean Smith, who must feel that Norwich’s Premier League survival battle is almost over.

All eyes were on the team news at Carrow Road and confirmation soon came that Eriksen would make his first competitive start since 12 June, when he collapsed playing for Denmark against Finland.

A show of solidarity occurred before kick-off with placards held up to display Ukraine’s flag and the home fans should have been off their seats again two minutes later. Milot Rashica was sent through on goal but was denied by David Raya before the Chelsea loanee Billy Gilmour fired over the rebound.

Brentford regrouped with Eriksen heavily involved, setting up two chances for Bryan Mbeumo as the frantic nature of the battle between the two promoted sides calmed.

It was the hosts who appeared to have the momentum when Pukki saw a low shot saved by Raya with Josh Sargent off target on the turn moments later. But the visitors had their own chance soon after, with Tim Krul tested sufficiently for the first time just