Southampton 0-2 Brentford: Saints stay rock bottom

03/15/2023

Southampton 0-2 Brentford: Saints stay rock bottom as goals from Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa see the Bees take all three points at St Mary’s… with fans starting to dream of European football

On the eve of Southgate’s next squad announcement Ivan Toney struck again
He then set up Wissa to give the England manager a little more food for thought
Toney has made his case with 17 goals including six in ten since post-Qatar

Just in case a final nudge was needed, Ivan Toney provided one for Gareth Southgate at Southampton.

On the eve of Southgate’s next squad announcement Toney struck again and set up Brentford’s second Yoane Wissa to give the England manager a little more food for thought.

His form since the World Cup had already done that but one more goal would not have done his chances any harm with Southgate prepared to look beyond the FA betting case that is hanging over the Brentford striker and consider his merits, as reported by MailOnline on Wednesday.

Toney has emphatically made his case with 17 goals this season including six in ten since the season’s post-Qatar resumption.

Of Southgate’s options only captain and Tottenham’s Harry Kane has more.

Ivan Toney sent a message to Gareth Southgate ahead of the England manager naming his squad

Toney has emphatically made his case with 17 goals this season for high-flying Brentford

On form, there is no reason not to include Toney.

Thanks to their talisman’s goal, assist and how his teammates defiantly defended in between – Ben Mee and Ethan Pinnock in particular – Brentford’s response to the defeat at Everton which ended their 12-game unbeaten run was instant, victory getting their bid for European football quickly back on track.

For Southampton, a chance to climb off the foot of the table and out of the bottom three was missed on what proved to be a somewhat dispiriting evening that ended with boos ringing around St Mary’s.

Brentford had the better of the first half by far and when Toney opened the scoring with a tap-in it was deserved.

Before that, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu spread himself well to keep out Bryan Mbeumo’s close-range volley and Southampton defender Armel Bella-Kotchap did similar to block another attempt from Brentford’s lively Cameroon forward after an impressive run and piece of skill down from

Brentford’s breakthrough came just after the half hour.

The finish looked simple, Toney poking Christian Norgaard’s flick-on into an empty net from a yard out.

But his anticipation to read the ball’s flight better than anybody else and dart into space while holdin off the challenge of Kyle Walker-Peter’s made the goal.

On the eve of Southgate’s next squad announcement Toney struck again and set up Brentford’s second Yoane Wissa to give the England manager a little more food for thought

MATCH FACTS

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Bazunu 6.5; Walker-Peters 7.5 (Bree 59, 6), Bednarek 6.5, Bella-Kotchap 6, Perraud 6; Ward-Prowse 7, Diallo 6.5 (Lavia 58, 7); Elyounoussi 6 (Walcott 58, 6), Alcaraz 6.5 (Onuachu 66, 6), Sulemana 6.5; Adams 6,

Subs not used: Caballero, A Armstrong, S Armstrong, Mara, Salisu.

Booked: Bednarek

Manager: Ruben Selles 6

Brentford (4-3-3): Raya 7; Hickey 7, Pinnock 7.5, Mee 8, Henry 7.5; Janelt 6 (Onyeka 45, 6), Norgaard 7.5, Jensen 7 (Damsgaard 79); Mbuemo 7.5 (Jansson 78), Toney 8, Schade 7.5 (Wissa 65, 7).

Subs not used: Cox, Dasilva, Zanka, Ghoddos, Baptiste

Scorer: Toney 32, Wissa 90+7

Booked: Hickey, Toney

Manager: Thomas Frank 8

Referee: Michael Salisbury 6

Aside from a Carlos Alcaraz shot that flew over Southampton were surprisingly flat in the first half but addressed that with a fast start after the break.

During it, Mohamed Elyounoussi saw a shot blocked on the line and Kamaldeen Sulemana fired narrowly over.

Even once a little of the sting went out of their response Southampton continued to threaten, with James Ward-Prowse whipping in a free-kick that had David Raya scrambling but arced wide.

And having failed to take their chances to level, Southampton were punished when Toney’s flick on sent Wissa through to score with the final meaningful kick of the game.

Source: Read Full Article