Ivan Toney may be ready to leave Brentford, but what is perhaps being overlooked is that his team may also be ready to part ways with him.
Toney was left out of the squad altogether by manager Thomas Frank due to persistent transfer rumours. However, Toney’s absence did not stop the Bees from starting the season with an impressive victory over their London rivals Crystal Palace.
There have been no bids for the striker this summer and Frank insists there is nothing close, despite strong interest from Saudi club Al Ahli. Toney has just one year left on his contract, meaning this is Brentford’s last chance to get a significant transfer fee. It is increasingly looking like he has played his last game for the club, but on the evidence, Brentford will be perfectly happy without him.
Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa both scored, while Kevin Schade, who was limited to just 11 appearances last season through injury, was similarly impressive. New signing Fabio Carvalho was given just a 10-minute cameo but looked lively on his brief debut.
Palace had their own transfer saga ahead of this game, with defender Marc Guehi the subject of four rejected bids from Newcastle. He started and captained the team, but was one of many who looked out of touch. Palace had the better chances, though, and will likely be wondering how they left this game with nothing.
Yoane Wissa scored and provided an assist as Brentford beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday
Wissa set up Bryan Mbeumo (left) for Brentford’s opening goal of the 2024-25 season
Palace equalised thanks to an own goal from Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock (right)
But Wissa restored Brentford’s lead by scoring the winning goal from close range in the 76th minute
A fan in the photo is wearing a shirt with the name of Ivan Toney, who did not play on Sunday
Despite this being their fourth consecutive campaign in the top flight, Brentford are still flourishing thanks to the underdog tag. Before kick-off, a series of pundits and football personalities were shown on the big screen predicting that they would be relegated at the start of each year.
Against a Palace team who had finished last season with six wins from their last seven games and who had been tipped by many to have a successful year, few would have predicted a home win. But the Bees have proven over the last four years that this is a tough place to come and they were quick off the mark here from the start, Guehi being forced into a crucial interception to prevent Mbuemo getting on the end of Schade’s cross after just 45 seconds.
There were signs of rustiness from both teams in the early stages of the opening day. Brentford were careless in possession at times, but Palace were unable to capitalise on this, their final moves in the attacking third letting them down. Eberechi Eze had a couple of chances to open the scoring, with a deflected shot and a low free-kick just wide. The forward thought he had opened the scoring when he deceived Mark Flekken to fire a long-range free-kick into the near post, but referee Sam Barrott had blown his whistle for a foul before the ball had hit the net, adjudging that Will Hughes had pushed over Nathan Collins in the penalty area. A brief VAR check ruled that the referee had made the correct decision.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner was furious with that decision, but he was undoubtedly even more furious when Brentford took the lead at the other end two minutes later.
It was against the odds, but it was a fine, flowing move from the hosts. Vitaly Janelt fed the ball to Wissa, who laid it off to Mbuemo. The forward then cut inside Guehi to curl a left-footed shot into the far corner, past a helpless Dean Henderson.
Palace thought they had been awarded a penalty when Jean-Philippe Mateta ran through the goal and went down under a foul from Flekken, but replays showed the goalkeeper holding the ball firmly and making a vital save.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has not selected Toney amid speculation over the striker’s future
Frank pictured congratulating star player Wissa after victory in Sunday’s season opener
Eberechi Eze thought he had given Palace a first-half lead when he found the net from a free-kick
But the goal was disallowed by referee Samuel Barrott (centre) on his Premier League debut
Schade was then inches away from doubling Brentford’s lead with a powerful shot that flew just wide of the far post. Guehi went into the referee’s book just before half-time when he made a tackle on Mads Roerslev. The defender’s studs were raised and he was perhaps lucky to escape with just a warning. A sign of his team’s frustration as the half-time whistle blew.
Adam Wharton came close to equalising twice in the second half, his first shot going just wide but forcing Flekken into a superb save from the low side.
A Palace goal was coming, but it was a Brentford man who made it. Tyrick Mitchell’s cross was headed into the box by Daniel Munoz and Ethan Pinnock could only stick his leg out to power the ball past his own keeper.
Odsonne Edouard thought he had put Palace ahead a few minutes later, but the assistant referee flagged for offside as soon as the striker had put the ball in the net.
As in the first half, Palace failed to apply pressure and were punished at the other end as Brentford regained the lead. Mathias Jensen’s cross found Collins in the box and the defender turned to hook a deflected shot towards goal. An outstretched Henderson got a hand on it but could only push it straight into the path of Wissa, who forced the ball over the line.
Eze almost equalised before the final whistle, but Flekken made a miraculous save.