Ivan Toney treble helps Brentford dent Norwich’s survival hopes

A hat-trick from Ivan Toney saw Brentford claim a vital 3-1 win at basement club Norwich on the day 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.

It was Eriksen’s corner which 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 hat-trick hero Toney completed his treble.

Teemu Pukki hit a late consolation, but Thomas Frank got the better of old boss Dean Smith, who could feel Norwich’s Premier League survival battle is almost over.

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

A show of solidarity occurred before kick-off with placards held up to display the Ukraine flag and the home fans should have been off their seats again two minutes later.

Milot Rashica was played through but was denied by David Raya before Chelsea loanee Billy Gilmour fired over the rebound.

Brentford regrouped with full debutant 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 soon after.

The visitors’ moment was to come, though, with Tim Krul tested sufficiently for the first time just past the