At the double: Ivan Toney scored a brace on his 100th Brentford appearance on Friday
(Picture: Getty Images)Ivan Toney further pressed his claims for a World Cup berth with England this winter after firing Brentford to an impressive Premier League victory over Brighton.
The in-form striker scored a goal in each half to take his tally for the season to eight in 11 appearances in another defiant message to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
Toney - who earned his maiden senior England call-up last month but did not play in the Nations League games against Italy and Germany - produced a superb backheeled flick from Frank Onyeka’s cross to give the Bees the lead on Friday night, shortly after Bryan Mbeumo had struck the crossbar with a brilliant volley.
That was the 26-year-old’s 50th league goal for Brentford on the occasion of his 100th appearance and he wrapped up victory 25 minutes from time at the Brentford Community Stadium, coolly sending Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez the wrong way from the penalty spot after being pulled down by Joel Veltman.
Only Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland has now scored more top-flight goals this season than Toney, who moved level with England captain Harry Kane.
A third win of the season lifts Brentford up to eighth in the table on a night where managers Thomas Frank and Roberto De Zerbi were both yellow carded for a heated clash just before the interval and Brighton paid tribute to the retiring Enock Mwepu, with the hosts bouncing back well from a three-match winless run that included heavy defeats by Newcastle and Arsenal.
Brighton, meanwhile, missed the chance to rise up to fourth after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season. Their wait for a first win under new boss De Zerbi goes on and they are now just a point ahead of Brentford in seventh.
