Ivan Toney at the double in Brentford's win against Brighton

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:53 am

Brentford striker Ivan Toney scored with a deft backheel finish in the first half and added a penalty in the second to give his side a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in their Friday night Premier League clash at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The 26-year-old gave his hopes of being included in England's World Cup squad a considerable boost with a superb all-round display, capped off by two goals that took his tally to 55 in 100 games in all competitions for Brentford.

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Both sides had decent chances to take the lead in the first half, with Bryan Mbeumo hitting the crossbar with a volley for Brentford just before Toney opened the scoring with a strike that might have been less spectacular, but still oozed class.

The home side broke forward and Frank Onyeka pulled the ball across the box for Toney to flick thorough the legs of defender Adam Webster and into the net with an audacious flick.

With the visitors struggling to deal with Brentford at set pieces, Toney won a penalty in the 62nd minute as defender Joel Veltman bundled him over in the box, and the Englishman stepped up to confidently stroke home the spot kick to make it 2-0.

Ivan Toney gave a boost to his World Cup chances with his brace for Brentford against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images

Brighton enjoyed plenty of possession in the closing stages but couldn't get the ball past David Raya in the Brentford goal as the home side held on for a win the lifts them to eighth in the standings on 13 points, one behind seventh-placed Brighton.

"I enjoy playing with these boys, we put in a great shift, everyone, we worked hard off the ball and that's what Brentford is about," Toney told Sky Sports.

The striker was included in the England squad who faced Germany and Italy in the recent international break, and, although he didn't get any playing time, his confidence is still high.

"I feel good, I feel ready to go," Toney added. "Obviously everyone is talking about the England thing, it's unfortunate not to get on but I'll keep going and I'll keep working hard."