This is how the national media reacted to Leeds United's 5-2 demolition at the hands of Brentford yesterday.
‘The Ivan Toney show’ - Sky Sports
Sky Sports reporter Ron Walker christened the game “the Ivan Toney show” after the Brentford striker bagged a hat-trick. A penalty, free-kick and spectacular 30-yard chip induced talk of a potential England call-up as the 26-year-old put Leeds to the sword.
Harry Kane and Tammy Abraham are the only Englishmen to have scored more goals than Toney since the start of last season. The match report read: “It was the Ivan Toney show in west London as his stunning hat-trick earned Brentford a 5-2 win over Leeds in a breathless game at the Gtech Community Stadium.
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“Toney netted a superb treble of his own as a penalty, free-kick and 30-yard chip saw his one-man masterclass down a Leeds side who otherwise largely matched their hosts, and saw a frustrated Jesse Marsch sent off shortly after his third.
“It is the kind of commitment which will be music to the ears of Southgate, whose demands on work rate have hindered some clearly talented players during his England tenure. With Toney in attack, Brentford are already considering waving away any worries of second-season syndrome. With Toney on the plane to Qatar, might England have a secret weapon?”
More Toney talk - The Daily Mail
Unsurprisingly, Toney dominated the post-match discussion in the Daily Mail, too. Writer Kieran Gill decided to stretch the record book back further to August 2018.
He wrote: “Mohamed Salah on 115. Then Harry Kane on 113. Then Ivan Toney on 101. Not bad company the Brentford striker is keeping at the top of English football’s scoring charts since August 2018.
“Toney added another three to his collection here, each one impressive in its own way as Leeds were tormented by the 26-year-old intriguing Gareth Southgate. His first was a penalty, maintaining his perfect record of having scored all 18 of the spot-kicks he’s taken for Brentford. His second was a 25-yard free-kick, despite Toney having never previously bagged from outside of the box. His third? Well, that was a work of art.”
Marsch reality check - The Guardian
The Guardian preferred to focus on the U-turn in Leeds’ fortunes from the final day of last season. In May, the Whites claimed a dramatic last-minute victory to retain their Premier League status.
Three months on and disaster struck for Marsch as he was sent off to the stands. Ed Aarons provided the lowdown: “How quickly things can change in football. Only 104 days since Jesse Marsch was revelling in the glory of a final-day escape in this corner of west London Ivan Toney ensured this was an afternoon to forget for the Leeds manager.
“Toney’s brilliant hat-trick, comprising a penalty, a superb free-kick and an audacious chip, blew Leeds away before Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa wrapped up the points despite consolation goals from Luis Sinisterra and Marc Roca. To compound Marsch’s frustration, the American was also sent to the stands for protesting.”
‘Emphatic victory’ - The Telegraph
It was more love-in for Toney from The Telegraph, who also cited his impressive goalscoring feats in recent years. Reporter Tom Prentki described the result as “emphatic'' as Brentford climbed up to seventh in the Premier League.
His third, in particular, saw the Leeds backline cop some flak for their calamitous defending. The report read: “Brentford’s stock continues to rise and so does Ivan Toney’s. Only Harry Kane and Mo Salah have scored more goals in English football since August 2018.
“The second Premier League hat-trick of his career gave Thomas Frank’s side the platform for an emphatic victory over Leeds in this breathless, enthralling match.
“What was most striking about Toney’s feat was the variety of his goals. The first a coolly struck penalty, the second a sensational free-kick and the third a composed chip as the Leeds defence looked on dumbstruck.”
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