Bryan Mbeumo announced himself as Brentford’s new talisman with two goals in a 3-1 victory over Southampton, who finally scored for the first time since returning to the Premier League.
Ivan Toney watched from the stands at the Gtech Community Stadium as he bid a final farewell after signing for Al Ahli on Deadline Day while Mbeumo clinically gave Brentford their second win of the season and inflicted a third defeat on the Saints.
“He’s been a great player for Brentford, a Brentford legend,” said manager Thomas Frank. “It shows a lot about Ivan that he wanted to come here and say goodbye.”
But on their new main man Mbeumo, Frank added: “When he got injured in December, he was on track to have an unbelievable season. He has just picked up the level again. He’s a very important player for us and did well.”
Aaron Ramsdale shone on his debut for Southampton despite being helpless in preventing their three goals. His best moment came in only the second minute when he had to smother Mikkel Damsgaard’s close-range effort.
Despite the early scare, Southampton started quickly and saw Kyle Walker-Peters denied by Mark Flekken before Joe Aribo’s flick header came back off the left post at the resulting corner.
Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saves a shot from Brentford’s Kevin Schade
Brentford began to get a foothold with Yoane Wissa spurning several half-chances until the visitors self-destructed. Centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis dallied on the ball deep inside his own half, having it poked off him by Damsgaard. Kevin Schade burst into the box and hit the left post but Mbeumo followed in to tuck home the rebound.
Southampton should have equalised in added time when a deflected cross came to the unmarked Adam Armstrong in the box and he missed his kick.
The visitors struggled in both penalty areas and only had themselves to blame for Mbeumo’s second, losing the ball on the edge of their own box which allowed Mathias Jensen to tee up the striker, who calmly slotted home.
Yoane Wissa celebrates after making it 3-0
Wissa then bundled in the third after Vitaly Janelt had flicked on a long throw but Saints did at least end their goal drought when Yukinari Sugawara struck in added time.
Mbeumo: I have great relationship with Wissa
Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo told Sky Sports:
“I train a lot during the week to score goals and being on the front foot is okay.
“I have a great relationship with him [Wissa]. We have a great relationship off the pitch. We need to work together all the time.
“Ivan [Toney] did a lot for the promotion and to stay in the league. He scored a lot of goals. We can only wish him the best.”
Martin: We have to stop making mistakes
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Russell Martin says the mistakes from Southampton were down to his style of play in the loss at Brentford
Southampton manager Russell Martin told Sky Sports:
“We’re very disappointed with the result and the goals we conceded. I feel like we’re hurting ourselves a little bit.
“We had the best chance in the first half with Adam Armstrong. It’s about taking a breath in that moment, that’s my job to get rid of the tension.
“I don’t think there was much in it between the two teams. We have to stop making mistakes that hurt us.
“What comes first is us and I don’t think Thomas [Frank] will say it’s their pressing because it’s mistakes from us. We get punished in the Premier League as you do in the Championship. It’s a much better performance than against Nottingham Forest.”
Frank: We forced Southampton’s errors
Brentford manager Thomas Frank said:
“It was a very good performance. Our press and high press and counter-press were exceptional. It was world-class. We showed again today that we are one of the best in the Premier League to do that.
“It was aggressive, well-organised and the players were extremely committed. We knew there would be opportunities to regain the ball there and get a lot of big transitions and small transitions. It was just up to us to capitalise on it.
“I think we forced errors from Southampton, not they made the errors. That’s why I think it was so good. We scored two goals from it.”
On Toney departure: “He’s been a great player for Brentford. A Brentford legend. When you are at a club like us and he scores 72 goals in 141 games, it’s incredible numbers.
“I’ve enjoyed working together with him on and off the pitch. It shows a lot about Ivan he wanted to come here and say goodbye to his friends and team-mates, staff members and everyone around the team and the club.”
On Mbeumo: “He started the [last] season exceptionally well. When he got injured in December, he was on track to have an unbelievable season. I think he has just picked up the level again. He’s a very important player for us and did well.”