In a game that was only ever going to be about one man, Ivan Toney not only ripped up the script but rewrote it in his favour to be even more incredible than we could have ever imagined. A 3-2 win for Brentford over Nottingham Forest had us all celebrating yet it was as much the manner of the performance and the way the team took their goals which will live on in the memory.
First and foremost, Ivan Toney.
Spoiler alert – he wins the star player award for this one. That’s a surprise anybody with even half an eye on the game would be able to predict. He was magnificent and despite all the attention following his return after eight months out, it was like he had never been away. We’ll get to his individual performance in the top five review but the goal itself is one everybody will have an opinion on.
Twenty minutes in and the Bees were trailing to Danilo’s wonderfully struck early shot past the static Flekken, a moment of magic. Damsgaard was chopped down on the edge of the box, referee Darren England placed the ball for the free kick and as he spoke to the Forest wall, Toney moved it to the right and – presumably in the spirit of fair play to ensure proper distance was maintained – also picked up some of the ref’s foam to continue the line to the new position.
To Forest fans subsequently whipping themselves up into a lather about the foam incident on social media the question is as much why none of their players, who let’s not forget were standing yards in front of their own line, failed to say anything at the time?
Moreso, why they set up a wall so out of position and badly constructed that David Hasselhoff could have sung ‘Looking For Freedom’ and it would have crumbled.
The outcome was inevitable. A shot drilled low and hard past the wall with Turner in nets completely out of position. He could only watch Callum Hudson-Odoi start to waft a leg at it before deciding that would be too much effort as the ball flew past and in to the back of the net.
Cue ecstasy from Ivan, the team and Bees fans. A celebration that had been a long time coming and a goal – with added levels of Maupay style sh*thousery – that was as good as any he has scored.
Ah yes, Neal Maupay. Not only had Thomas surprised us on Friday by announcing Ivan would be starting and captain, but as the teams were named he pulled a further shock by pairing them together. No bad thing too as, with Ben Mee giving us a second half lead before Chris Wood levelled things up soon after, we needed something special.
With a plethora of wonderful opportunities having already been created but spurned, it was Neal who produced what – on any other day – would have been the moment of the game. Ivan fed Mads Roerslev on the right. The ball back in to the box found Neal with his back to goal. One touch to control as he turned through 180 degrees and rifled the ball low and hard into the bottom corner from just inside the edge of the area.
The three defenders around him could do nothing but appeal for an alleged handball that VAR, correctly, ignored. The hapless Turner even less so, such was the power and precision of the shot. Truly, a contender for goal of the month and the celebration more than matched.
With that, Forest looked like the stuffing had been knocked out of them. Brentford in cruise control for the remaining twenty or so minutes, along with an in no way squeaky extra ten minutes added on when the board went up, but there felt no real jeopardy. No threat. No danger.
Just an immense out pouring of noise to greet the final whistle and our first league win of 2024. The Bees overtaking Forest in the table and then taking that wonderful post-match lap of celebration around the pitch.
The Bees are back. Ivan is back. If we can get through to the transfer window slamming shut with him still a Brentford player, the remainder of the season could be really exciting. He’s just added an extra ten million or so to his value.
Next up, the trip to Spurs followed by four games that include the double with Manchester City, a visit from Liverpool and yet another game with Wolves. One thing’s for sure, Ivan couldn’t have timed his return any better.
Until then, let’s look at our top five performances. The ongoing quest to find Brentford’s overall player of the season with five points awarded for star player, four for second place, three for third etc with the totals added up game by game.
2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 20 (vs Nottingham Forest)
1st (5 points) – Ivan Toney
There aren’t the words to describe how pivotal Ivan’s return was. With the eyes of the world watching, he rose to the occasion and then some.
Of course there was the goal. A moment that even the writers of Dream Team (bring it back, come on…) would probably have considered too outlandish to include. Yet it happened. We saw it. We immersed ourselves in the waves of passion that washed over the Gtech.
Yet, for me it was as much his performance as an all-round player that won it for Brentford. One almost forgets just how good he is. How much ground he covers. How many chances he creates for others.
Ivan was at the centre of all our best opportunities and, honestly, his hard work at the start of the second half deserved more from those around him as a trio of gilt-edged chances were created.
In the end though, Brentford won. Ivan demonstrated, once more, what a complete player he is and just what value he brings to our team.
What pressure? The man thrives on it.
2nd (4 points) – Neal Maupay
If Ivan’s return has been immediate, Neal’s second coming has been more gradual. Re-finding his footballing feet after being banished to Everton – the place where talent goes to die.
He’s had his share of plain bad luck – the crossbar at Old Trafford must still be rattling – but the goals have started coming. No moreso than Saturday where he finished off a move that will have everybody in TW8 reaching for the rewind button when they watch the highlights.
It was an absolute banger but, like Ivan, it was as much his movement that brought a smile to the face. He never stopped working. Never stopped finding position. Never stopped the link up play with Ivan that already looks like it will be a quite beautiful partnership. Imagine when Bryan returns…
As pleasing, he never stopped the shi*housery. It just one of the many reasons why we love him and he never fails to disappoint.
The love for him remains unadulterated and Saturday was another reason why.
3rd (3 points) – Ben Mee
Boom. What a header and what a crucial time to take the lead.
His effort just inside the hour came after we had seen the aforementioned chances go begging and whilst a goal felt like it was coming, you never know. It’s Brentford, innit?
The finish was all timing, technique and precision. He’d had a great game before this, anyway, and would go on to make defensive duties look as easy as possible to close it out, but make no mistake about the importance of his strike.
As he said afterwards, “Great game and result. Enjoyed that header – knew I’d heard a lot of chatter about the return of a prolific goalscorer.”
4th (2 points) – Vitaly Janelt
Unsung hero alert. Vitaly has been pulled from pillar to post all season. Restored to midfield this time around in the absence of Christian Norgaard, he was solid as.
Tough tackling on the back foot, passing it out to open up play from in front of the back line (his 61 passes were 11 more than the next best contributor) and even breaking into the Forest area at times.
It was a proper box-to-box performance from a player who gave his all for over 100 minutes of hard fought football.
5th (1 point) – Josh Dasilva
Perhaps a surprise choice – with a lot of plaudits coming in for Mads Roerlsev – but I thought Josh looked fantastic after his late arrival and, more importantly, made a crucial difference to our approach. To our seeing this game over the line.
The advantage of fresh legs over tired ones was never plainer to see. He brought drive, enthusiasm and a second wind to the team that dispelled any later thoughts the visitors may have had about hauling themselves back into this game.
Put simply, they couldn’t really get near the ball.
2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 20)
All of which means that with the trip to Spurs next up on Wednesday week, there is no change in the top five although we have two new names on the board. Josh and Ivan both picking up their first points of the season after those long absences.
Here’s to many more.
1st – Ethan Pinnock (36 points)
2nd – Bryan Mbeumo (31 points)
3rd – Christian Norgaard (29 points)
4th – Mathias Jensen (27 points)
5th – Nathan Collins (18 points)
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