Ivan Toney celebrates late Brentford winner over Man City, days after missing out on England squad

Ivan Toney said he won’t let the disappointment of missing out on Gareth Southgate‘s England World Cup squad put him down after his sensational double earned Brentford a last-gasp win at Manchester City.

Toney scored a first half header and then a 98th-minute winner for the Bees as they beat City 2-1 at the Etihad on Saturday. 

It came just two days after the striker missed out on England’s 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar, which begins in eight days time. 

Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Toney said: ‘The only thing is to keep doing well for the team and who knows what can happen. 

Ivan Toney said he’ll continue to fight for Brentford following his match-winning brace away at Manchester City two days after missing out on England’s World Cup squad

‘Obviously it’s a disappointment [missing the squad], but I know what I’m capable of and I won’t let it put me down. I’ll just keep doing well for Brentford. The motivation is for the boys in the dressing room and the fans.’

Team-mate Ben Mee was quick to add to the praise for his captain, saying: ‘He [Toney] showed what he’s about, great quality and he can finish. The boys were brilliant at the back. Winning headers and interceptions.’

Despite pressing heavily for a winner in the second half, City were unable to get past Brentford after they found an equaliser through Phil Foden’s unstoppable half-volley on the stroke of half-time.

The resilient Brentford defence were able to mute the threat of their northern hosts and stop Erling Haaland from scoring on his return to the Manchester City starting 11.  

Toney responded to the snub by netting a brace as Brentford defeated City at the Etihad

Ben Mee, left, praised his captain Toney after his two goals secured a dramatic late victory

Brentford’s late, late winner came through a counter-attacking move, when substitute Josh Dasilva’s pass was perfect for Toney to tap home.  

Toney continued: ‘What we’re capable of week in week out on the training pitch, we can do things like this. It’s Man City, but they’re humans, humans can lose games and there’s dedication and wanting to work hard for each other.’

Furthermore, Mee said: ‘We’ve waited a long time for this away win and it sends us off into a good mood going into the break.’

Toney’s manager Thomas Frank was also delighted with the performance of his key striker – who also had a chance for a third, which was denied by a goal-line clearance two minutes after his winner.

Thomas Frank and Toney went to applaud the travelling Brentford fans after the final whistle 

Frank told BT Sport: ‘Fantastic, I can’t praise Toney enough. How good a person he is. What a player, what a striker, scoring two goals, should probably have scored another. 

‘He could have had a hat-trick at the Etihad, I thought they were only for Haaland.’

The win lifts the Bees into the top half of the Premier League at the final whistle, although other teams around them will still be playing their matches this weekend.  

Due to the World Cup break, Brentford’s next match will be their Boxing Day clash with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day,