Toney exit talk no distraction for Brentford as they edge past Eagles

Brentford 2 Crystal Palace 1

Brentford got their Premier League season off to an ideal start with a London derby victory over Crystal Palace - but the imminent departure of Ivan Toney remains the anxious subject matter.

England striker Toney was left out of the Bees' squad by boss Thomas Frank due to a refuelling of transfer talk, with the talisman linked with moves to both Arsenal and Manchester United.

Frank was keen to kick off the campaign with a line up not affected by any distractions. And goals in each half from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa were sufficient in the end, with Oliver Glasner's side initially equalising through an own goal by Bees' defender Ethan Pinnock.

A deal has yet to be agreed with another suitor for Toney, 28, who is in the final season of his contract in west London.

While the three points are a boost for Brentford, Frank is a realist and sees the bigger picture. Toney is the club's most high profile player, and will almost inevitably depart for a bigger challenge. It is really a question when it will occur before the end of the transfer window.

Having netted 67 league goals in 128 games since joining Brentford from Peterborough United in 2020, it is easy to see why Toney is current hot property, and has since gained England international honours too.

"There are various things going on," admitted Frank afterwards. "The club and me decided on Thursday he would not be involved.

"We thought it was the best thing. Ivan always wants to play but I don't know if he was here. He's a top player and is one of our best players over a long spell. Like any good players, one day they will leave the club. Someone else will have to step in and Yoane Wissa did that for us today."

When asked if Toney has played his last game for Brentford, Frank said: "I've been in football long enough and you never know what can happen."

Relieved

The Bees can now travel to Liverpool next weekend in good spirits, and Frank was clearly relieved with a win over a Palace team he has much respect for.

"It was a great win in a tight game against a great Palace side," added the Dane. "They are well coached by Oliver Glasner and his staff. I knew we had to dig in and fight in spells. We scored a fantastic goal (Mbeumo) and we found extra energy (in the second half). We got over the line and just edged it."

Palace dominated much of the first half but went behind when Mbeumo fired a left foot shot into the corner of the net after 29 minutes.

The Eagles levelled in 56 minutes when Pinnock turned the ball into his own net from close range, when Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer failed to deal with a high cross to the far post.

Wissa netted what proved to the winner for the Bees in the 76th minute. The winger forced in the rebound when Palace keeper Dean Henderson could only palm Nathan Collins' scruffy shot into his path.

Glasner's men continued to apply pressure with Ebere Eze at the heart of the promptings, but the Eagles left empty-handed.

Life after Michael Olise - who has joined Bayern Munich for a cool £50m - will be a challenge for Palace, but they applied themselves well here. With their precision passing and positive outlook, quite why they emerged pointless is mystifying.

Eze and Adam Wharton looked dangerous in attacking areas, and unsurprisingly Glasner rued the chance to make real capital for all their impressive approach play.

Disappointed

"We feel disappointed at losing - we feel we shouldn't have lost," said the Eagles manager. "There were many situations where we did okay but could have done better. There were many situations when we could have took the lead in the first half but we were sloppy.

"In decisive situations we were not at our top level. We were unlucky with their second with a couple of deflections. We have to improve in certain situations going forward.

"We gave the ball too easily to Brentford and every team in the Premier League can create chances. They have a lot of pace with Schade and Wissa and Mbeumo, and everyone knows this."

Ultimately, for Brentford, this was an important victory in terms of points, an early setting of standards and strong hints of their durability when Toney eventually leaves the club.

Anfield next Sunday will represent a serious upward arc for Frank and his players, with Liverpool already demonstrating why they are one of the favourites for the Premier League title. It is extremely doubtful Toney will still be a Brentford player by then.