Ivan Toney insisted he was scoring goals and winning games for Brentford during his time away from football as he marked his return from an eight-month ban with a goal in Brentford’s 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest.
‘I knew 100 percent this would happen. I manifest things like this. Before the match, before I left my house, I thought, “We’re winning today and I’m going to score.” And I got it done, and that’s good,” Toney said.
‘It took a long time. “I manifested this victory when I was at home during the time I was away and I am eager to score goals and win with the team again,” the 27-year-old added.
Toney equalized for Brentford with a free-kick in the 19th minute after Forest had taken an early lead, although replays showed the striker controversially moving the ball to create a better angle for himself.
‘Yes, I saw the hole. Sometimes you have a gap no matter what and I bent the ball around the wall and was so happy to see it go in,” Toney said.
Ivan Toney said he scored on his return to the Brentford team after his suspension
The Brentford star equalized for the hosts in the first half of their win over Nottingham Forest
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Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo insisted it was ‘a clear ball move’, but Brentford manager Thomas Frank called it ‘clever’ and joked he was happy with his ‘January signing’ after his first Brentford appearance since May 2023.
‘Classical Ivan loves the big stage. He thrives there,” Frank said. ‘I have to say it was extra impressive for him to come back after eight months and play the way he did: scoring a smart goal, his combination play, his presence, his work ethic and defending at set pieces were all superb. impressive. I’m happy with our January signing,” Frank added, after Toney’s player of the match display.
And Frank highlighted Toney’s value to the rest of the team after Brentford won for the first time in six games to move up to 14th in the table.
“When you have big players they normally lift other players up. He is one of our best players, if not the best. So it makes sense that the other players have been disbanded. Plus, his personality and character is tremendous.
“I couldn’t stop smiling before the game when I saw him talking to Neal (Maupay) and Keano (Keane Lewis-Potter) and the other players. All those pieces are crucial. I can put together a game plan, but to make it happen you need good players who can communicate with each other,” Frank said.
Toney helped Brentford end a run of five consecutive league defeats and move up to 14th place
For Forest, who dropped to 16th after the defeat, Nuno was left fuming after Toney’s free-kick was not checked for ball movement.
“Of course I have a problem,” Nuno said. ‘Everyone saw the movement of the ball. The law is clear. Every goal and every situation leading to a goal must be controlled.”
Mail Sport understands that the exact position from which a free kick is taken is ultimately the referee’s decision and not something where VAR would intervene. Toney’s free kick was therefore not overruled by the VAR.