IvanToney will find out on Thursday whether he has won a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad having restated his case for inclusion with his 16th league goal of the season as Brentford strengthened their unlikely challenge for a European spot.
Toney’s first half goal – together with Yoane Wissa’s added time second – helped Thomas Frank’s side quickly shrug off the weekend defeat at Everton that ended their 12-game unbeaten league run and ensured Southampton remained rooted at the foot of the table.
The forward, who was called up for the first time in September but overlooked for the World Cup in Qatar, is facing a hearing into alleged breaches of FA betting regulations. But with Southgate reportedly of the belief that should not affect his selection decision, Toney will hope his tally of six goals in ten appearances since the mid-season break is enough to earn a return with Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager, in no doubt about the strength of his player’s claim.
“I don’t expect anything in football, it’s up to Gareth to pick the right squad,” Frank said. “I think Ivan has done more than enough to give Gareth a headache in a positive way. If you look at pure goalscorers for England, he is the second most after Harry Kane.
I think he should be thinking about calling him up. He is a fantastic player to work with. It’s that optimism and belief he transmits to his teammates and his team. He has an unbelievable mentality.”
The win moved Brentford, who lie eighth, to within a point of Liverpool in sixth and Frank praised his side’s response to the weekend disappointment. “I loved the bounce-back mentality formed by the players,” he said. “The difference between good and great players is the ability to bounce back. They ran hard, they were more determined in the 50-50s and were more focused.”
Ruben Selles, the Southampton manager, also attempted to draw positives from the game but in truth his side rarely looked capable of getting anything from the game. A positive start soon faded and Brentford could have been ahead before Toney’s 32nd minute goal.
Bot for the first time it was a set-piece that caused problems for the Saints defense with Christian Norgaard allowed to rise unchallenged and flick on Bryan Mbeumo’s corner towards Toney who this time connected to poke home from a little more than a yard out.
It was no more than the visitors deserved and at that point it looked as though they might quickly add to their lead. There had been signs of the home supporters growing anxious even before the opening goal but it was to Southampton’s credit, though, that they responded well, with Carlos Alcarez directing a well struck shot just over the bar.
Selles’s side came even closer to equalizing within two minutes of the restart when Che Adams met a low cross only to be denied by an excellent goalline clearance by Aaron Hickey. Brentford, though, never looked like conceding and wrapped up the win when Wissa was sent clear by Toney’s header in the final moments of the game.
“We didn’t manage the key moments of the game,” said Selles.