Life after Toney as Frank salutes 'aggressive' Bees with Mbeumo and Wissa seeing off luckless Southampton

Brentford 3 Southampton 1

Thomas Frank saluted his Brentford side who demonstrated how they can comfortably thrive in the Premier League without Ivan Toney, with a 3-1 win over Southampton at the Community Stadium.

A brace of goals from Bryan Mbeumo and another from Yoane Wissa were enough to ensure Brentford's second win of the league campaign, following their success over Crystal Palace in the opener.

The margin of victory was arguably a little flattering against a newly-promoted Saints side who played with impressive positivity, only to let themselves down with the sort of negligence at the back which will be routinely punished at this level. And Brentford, with their counter-attacking pace, are precisely the kind of opponent to take such advantage.

With the international break imminent, this was a decent way for the Bees to look ahead - their next task a much more formidable affair, away to champions Manchester City on 14 September.

Frank's men did much as they were asked to do, in terms of extending Brentford's deserved reputation as a difficult side to come up against in west London.

This was also the final opportunity for the Bees chief to offer his validation of Toney.

Legend

"He has been a great player for Brentford", said Frank.

"A Brentford legend, when you score 72 goals for us. He's been on a fantastic journey for us over the last four years. He wanted to come today to say goodbye to team mates and club staff. He and I were a bit emotional when he was having a conversation with the rest of the players.

"He has been one of our best, if not our best player over the last years. When a player who goes out and is so dominant, others will grow."

"It was a very good performance against a team who were twelve years in the Premier League before being out for one year.

"Our press and counter press was world class. We are one of the best in the Premier League to do that."

Frank singled out Mikkel Damsgaard, who starred on the left side of the Bees' midfield.

"It was the best game in a Brentford shirt for Mikkel Damsgaard", added the Brentford head coach. "He wins the ball well and made key passes. He can go on and be a big player for us.

"He was out for a year and has now picked up. It is a new opportunity for him to come in and do well for us. He had a good pre season and deserved to start."

The whole rumbling issue around the transfer of Toney has now almost subsided, with the striker having signed a deal with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli for £40m on transfer deadline day. While it is clearly a move solely from a financial perspective for the England international, his choice, at the age of just 28, seems a strange one.

Partnership

Still, there was one last chance for Toney to oversee events in west London, with his seat in the stands. Brentford are moving on and the partnership of Wissa and Mbeumo has already shown encouraging green shoots to the extent that the club is expected to hold its' own in the Premier League this season.

Frank's new summer signings, Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho had to content themselves with places on the bench; that in itself a fine indication of the strength in depth now available to the head coach.

The Bees are now through to the next round of the Carabao Cup, having taken care of Colchester United in midweek, after losing at Liverpool last Sunday - an outing which they probably should have given a better account of themselves. Southampton, meanwhile, arrived in the capital having lost both their opening two games in the league against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.

The Bees took the lead in the 43rd minute. Taylor Harwood-Bellis was caught in possession by Kevin Schade and the winger's shot subsequently cannoned off the post and invitingly into the path of Mbeumo, who slotted home.

Saints improved in the second half and began to cause intermittent problems, before they were caught out again when the hosts doubled their lead through Mbeumo in 64 minutes.

Precision

Another defensive lapse saw Wissa and Mathias Jensen combine to set up lurking Mbeumo, who placed the ball with precision into the far corner of keeper Aaron Ramsdale's net. Southampton's new £25m custodian could do little in the circumstances.

Saints were still mulling over their collective disappointment at being caught out for a second time, when they were punished five minutes later. From a long throw by Jensen, they failed to clear - and Wissa was quick to pounce from a yard out.

The margin of comfort confirmed for Brentford, new signing from Liverpool, Van Den Berg, came on for his home debut in the 74th minute, slotting in alongside Ethan Pinnock at centre half.

Martin and his charges, meanwhile, learned harsh lessons for a team newly promoted, the outcome a rather sour and inaccurate reflection of their endeavours. A consolation did arrive in added time when Yukinari Sugawara impressively volleyed first time with his left foot from an Adam Lallana assist in the penalty area.

A mere footnote to a good day for the Bees, nevertheless - the type of victory that will enhance their progression throughout their campaign.

"We knew there would be opportunities to regain the ball and it was up to us to capitalise," Frank concluded. "We forced Southampton into errors and scored two goals from that. We always want to be aggressive and be good on the ball."

Bees' stopper. Kristoffer Ajer, meanwhile, had to replaced in the first half with a knock but at the moment Frank believes it is nothing too serious.

Bees: Flekken, Pinnock, Norgaard, Schade (Van den Berg 74), Jensen, Wissa, Mbeumo, Ajer (Roerslev 38), Collins, Damsgaard (Carvalho 81), Janelt (Lewis-Potter 74)