Brentford kicked off their season with a narrow 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, despite the absence of striker Ivan Toney amid ongoing transfer interest.
Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring for Brentford in the 29th minute shortly after Crystal Palace had a goal controversially ruled out. Eberechi Eze found the net directly from a wide free-kick, but referee Sam Barrott had blown the whistle for a foul before the ball crossed the line.
Just moments later, Mbeumo showcased his skill with a mazy run, slipping the ball past Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson to put Brentford in front.
Crystal Palace equalized in the 56th minute when Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock inadvertently nudged Daniel Munoz’s header into his own net while Odsonne Edouard was in close proximity, making it 1-1.
However, Brentford regained the lead in the 78th minute with Yoane Wissa scoring from close range after Henderson had initially saved Nathan Collins’ effort.
Despite manager Thomas Frank revealing before the match that Toney was left out of the squad due to transfer interest, Brentford’s performance showed their attacking potential. When asked if Toney had played his final match for the club, Frank said: “Who knows? There is interest, but it’s not close.” If Toney departs, finding a replacement for his goal-scoring capabilities will be a significant challenge for Brentford moving forward.
Without Toney, Brentford demonstrated their clinical finishing, converting two key chances. Following Mbeumo’s opener, Kristoffer Ajer forced a smart save from Henderson from close range, and Kevin Schade narrowly missed just before half-time.
New signing Fabio Carvalho made his debut, coming off the bench in the closing stages, while fellow summer acquisition Igor Thiago remains sidelined until late 2024 due to a knee injury sustained during pre-season.
Credit: BBC Sport
