Southampton 0-2 Brentford: Ivan Toney scores in win at Premier League strugglers

Ivan Toney joked Brentford are hoping to catch Arsenal after he scored one and assisted another to help the Bees beat bottom club Southampton at St Mary’s.

And in second-half injury-time his header sent through Yoane Wissa who calmly doubled the visitors’ lead.

Victory saw the Bees move up to eighth in the Premier League table, six points off the top four, and 25 points behind leaders Arsenal.

“It’s a tough league but hopefully we can catch Arsenal,” said Toney after full-time.

Southampton stay 20th, two points off safety having played one game more than most of their relegation rivals.

Saints’ best opportunity for an equaliser came shortly after the restart with Brentford defender Aaron Hickey blocking a Che Adams effort when keeper David Raya was beaten.

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Toney impresses on eve of England squad announcement

Toney produced a match-winning performance less than 24 hours before England manager Gareth Southgate will announce his squad for two European Championship qualifiers this month.

Uncapped Toney, 26, is the second-highest English goalscorer in the Premier League this season, having scored four fewer than Tottenham’s Harry Kane and two more than Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford.

“As a striker you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time and to keep doing that I’m grateful,” Toney added.

His opener was a true forward’s finish, meeting a header at the back post to poke the ball into an empty net.

It was just what Brentford deserved, rounding off a first half where Kevin Schade had gone close with a looping header.

The Bees sat back after the restart, adding another in the closing stages to complete a league double over Southampton for the first time since the 1958-59 season.

Victory saw them move to within one point of the top six, leapfrogging west London rivals Fulham up to eighth.

“In every season there are games where you need to dig in, get the job done and get the three points and we did that today,” Brentford boss Thomas Frank told BBC MOTD.

“[Southampton] came with everything, they are playing for their lives and I have to say they did very well.

“Between the boxes they were actually better than us but in the boxes that’s where you decide the game.”

‘The process is not always linear’

Such is the tightness of this season’s Premier League relegation battle, victory would have ensured Southampton ended the day outside of the relegation zone for the first time since 5 November.

Instead they looked flat in the first half, unable to follow up their goalless draw with Manchester United on Sunday with another positive result.

“The process is not always linear” Southampton boss Ruben Selles told BBC MOTD. “You have ups and downs. We need to analyse what happened, especially the two goals and what happened in the final third.

“We need to keep adjusting and stick with the plan. One result will not change things.”

Adams’ effort following a Kyle Walker-Peters cutback was one of very few clear-cut chances for the hosts.

Southampton’s loss was their 17th in the league this season, having only tasted defeat 16 times last campaign.

“The feeling is still ‘we can do it’,” added Selles. “We will keep working, fighting and trying to keep us alive.”

They host Tottenham in their next match on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while Brentford are at home to Leicester City at the same time.

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