Brentford VS Swansea City – Match Report

3pm GMT Kick Off, Wembley Stadium, Championship Playoff Final

After an incredible first half, Brentford have been promoted to the Premier League, after overcoming Swansea City at Wembley.

A penalty from Ivan Toney and a well taken goal by Emiliano Marcondes was enough for Thomas Frank’s men to become a Premier League team next season. It will be their first time in the English top flight since the 1946/47 season.

Brentford had a great start as they won an early penalty after a fantastic ball from Sergi Canos opened up the defence, which Bryan Mbeumo made a clever run off the defender onto the ball, and was brought down by Freddie Woodman. Ivan Toney stepped up to take the penalty, and slotted it in the corner.

Things got even better for the Bees as Brentford doubled their lead in the 20th minute. Brentford counter-attacked from a Swansea corner through Mbeumo who played it of to Mads Roerslev Rasmussen. He waited for the run of Emiliano Marcondes and the Dane volleyed it home.

One minute later, they could have grabbed themselves a third, Toney went for a sensational effort from outside the box, which cannoned off the bar and bounced away from danger.

Swansea came close to letting Brentford getting another just before the break. Marc Guehi tried to head it back to Woodman. Mbeumo jumped onto the loose ball, but luckily for Guehi his effort was wide of the target.

At the beginning of the second half, Andre Ayew should have pulled one back for Swansea. Connor Roberts whipped it ball into the area, which was met by the head of the Ghanaian, but he missed the target from 6 yards out.

Jamal Lowe had been quiet in the first half, but he made a dangerous run goalward and looked to bend it into the top corner. He reached the edge of the box and tried his luck, but his shot flew high into the stand.

Mbeumo should have finished the game off. Once again it was Canos and the Frenchmen who linked up, after Mbeumo made a run off his defender and made himself space on the edge of the box. When we went to take his shot he leaned back too much and his shot went over the bar.

Then the opposition went close as Lowe looked to turn his defender and find the far corner from a tight angle. He perfected the turn, but the shot whistled past the post.

Things got worse for Swansea as Jay Fulton picked up a straight red card. Mathias Jensen picked up the ball on the corner of his box, and the Scot made a nasty challenge on the midfielder.

Toney had the chance to seal the game, as he found himself with space in the box. He looked for the far post, but the effort was blocked by Jake Bidwell.

Brentford came away from the game with Premier League football for next season, as for Swansea, they will play at least another season in the Championship.

Man Of The Match – Bryan Mbeumo

The winger was crucial for Brentford in this game, and was the main man in their push for Premier League football next season.

He had a great involvement in both goals, and could have easily grabbed himself another. He created a series of chances, and was so dangerous in this playoff final.

“Olympic Football at Wembley Stadium” by the_junes is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

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