‘He gives us oxygen’: Sergi Canos praises Ivan Toney after Brentford striker gets off the mark in the Premier League in Aston Villa draw
- Brentford drew 1-1 with Aston villa in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon
- Ivan Toney opened the scoring just seven minutes into the match
- It was the striker’s first goal of the season and an important one for him
Three games unbeaten, five points, and their key man Ivan Toney off the mark. It is some start for the ‘bus stop in Hounslow’ as their manager Thomas Frank described his Brentford side.
Their wide men, Sergi Canos and Rico Henry, are not afraid to venture forward, their defence is not shy of physicality, but it is Toney, 31 goals in the Championship last season, who will define their season.
He got his tally up and running against a makeshift Villa side — Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn went down with Covid and Tyrone Mings with injury — with a neat finish in the box.
Ivan Toney of Brentford celebrates after scoring against Aston Villa on Saturday
The striker, though, is more than just about goals. He brings others into play, he is lethal aerially and has an arsenal of finishes in his locker.
The 25-year-old more than filled the boots of Ollie Watkins last season and is now looking to take that next step. The way Canos waxed lyrical about the forward’s contribution spoke volumes.
‘Toney played really well,’ said Canos. ‘He gives us a lot of good things and if he can top what he gives the team already with goals, that’s amazing. ‘What a finish. Every time he goes for a header, for a flick, he wins it. He gives so much — he gives us oxygen so we can breathe and have the ball a little bit.’
Toney’s goal — cancelled out by Aston Villa’s Emi Buendia — ensured the west London club stay unbeaten in 15 League games over two seasons.
Sergi Canos says he gives the team oxygen so they can breathe and have the ball a little bit
It is early but how Brentford dominated Villa in the first half shows there is no fear in their ranks; they believe they belong.
Take, for example, Vitaly Janelt cheekily poking the ball out of goalkeeper Emi Martinez’s grasp as he primed himself with a small ball toss to clear upfield. Janelt then struck into an empty Holte End net, sprinting to the fans with a peak over his shoulder at referee Peter Bankes before it was disallowed.
With Toney at the helm, there could well be plenty of teams looking over their shoulder at the Bees this season.