Brentford 3 Nottingham Forest 2: Toney caps comeback from 8-month ban with stunning goal in huge three points for Bees

IVAN TONEY took less than 20 minutes to start repaying the huge debt that he owes Brentford.

We will only know at the end of the season whether the striker ends up all square with the club by keeping them in the Premier League.

Ivan Toney scored a free-kick on his return to the Brentford sideReuters

The England striker inspired his team to a much-needed victoryRex

Reuters

Neal Maupay scored a superb winner midway through the second half[/caption]

Toney was sensational on his return to Premier League football

It was a fairly even match that Brentford ended up shading thanks to Maupay’s strike

But on this evidence, Brentford – who had failed to win their previous six top-flight matches, will be absolutely fine, providing their No17 keeps playing like this.

Toney, who calls himself Big Dog, has spent the entire season straining at the leash to play competitive football again and unsurprisingly, he scored the first and was then involved in absolutely everything else.

He played the full 90 minutes, as captain.

While it seems Toney would get a move away from Brentford this week if he could, there is surely no chance the club would be crazy enough to sell him. Whatever the price.

Toney delivered some proper s***housery ahead of cancelling out the opening goal from Forest midfielder Danilo.

After being awarded a free-kick, Toney gained a clear advantage by moving the referee’s foam – and the ball twice – before sticking a free-kick into the bottom corner. The only surprise was that Forest’s players did not complain.

Ben Mee put Brentford ahead from a corner although the initial move was also started by Toney.

While Forest’s Chris Wood made it 2-2 with a header, Toney played a part in the attack which ended with Neal Maupay grabbing the winner.

Toney popped up everywhere for Brentford against Forest

Both sides had periods of dominance in the match

Toney, banned for eight months for betting, could not have hoped for a better return against a Forest team who are not only in trouble, but could be in even greater danger if they end up with a points deduction after being charged for breaking financial fair play rules.

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo was forced to give a Premier League debut to defender Andrew Omobamidele who had not played a minute since his £11million move from Norwich until featuring against Blackpool in the FA Cup.

And the Irish centre-back was then handed the task of marking Toney who covered every blade of grass.

If he was not leading the attack, Toney was in his own area, making challenges and using his head to block free-kicks.

Toney’s first touch came on 100 seconds when, to the delight of the home crowd, he took the ball off the feet of Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Yet although the mood had been upbeat, Danilo put a dampener on proceedings.

His right-footed volley from outside the area, after controlling the ball with his left thigh, was a quality goal although Vitaly Janelt was guilty of delivering a terrible clearance into the air.

Forest’s fans sang: “Ivan Toney – you should have cashed out.”

An aggressive-looking Toney, clearly on a mission, became frustrated and gave referee Darren England a death stare despite being awarded a free-kick after getting kicked by Omabamidele in his own half.

Yet it was from Brentford’s next set-piece, after Orel Mangala brought down Mikel Damsgaard, that Toney made his mark although Forest’s players will be cursing themselves once they have a look at the videos in their post-match debrief.

After keeper Matt Turner set up the four-man wall, Toney then delivered the dark arts by moving the foam and the ball to create a gap to fire a shot beyond Ryan Yates who was at the end of the wall.

With a stone-faced expression, Toney jogged towards the home bench alongside Nathan Collins who theatrically pointed at his team-mate.

Toney then collected a Brentford shirt with a message which read: “For You Uncle Brian.”

And so, Toney was off and running.

He set up a terrific chance for Keane Lewis-Potter, who hammered a shot against the bar, while Toney then threaded a pass through the legs of Murillo but Mathias Jensen was unable to force the ball over the line.

Sky Sports

Toney cleverly moved the ball, and foam, as he set up the free-kick from which he scored[/caption]

In the second half, Toney continued to be at the centre of everything and he picked out Lewis-Potter who could only stab a shot straight at Turner.

Yet it was inevitable that Brentford, showing more composure and confidence than Forest, would take the lead.

Mee scored with a glancing header from Jensen’s corner, although Toney was involved in the attack which led to the set-piece being awarded.

Forest put up a bit of a fight and Wood equalised with a brilliantly-taken header from Hudson Odoi’s cross.

Yet three minutes later, with Toney once again involved in a flowing move, Maupay had his back to goal but controlled Roerselv’s pass, swivelled and fired his effort into the bottom corner.

It was awarded following a VAR check for handball and it would have been ludicrous had it been ruled out, although Forest coach Rui Silva was booked for his protests.

Of course, Toney had the final say with the last kick of the game by booting it into the stands and was then the last player off the pitch.

Toney, who for some reason feels he has been harshly treated, is on one hell of a mission to prove a point.

Here is how all the action unfolded from the Gtech Stadium…