Brentford 3-2 Fulham: Toney increased his season tally to 16 with another lethal spot-kick to help the Bees defeat their local rivals.

Brentford boosted their bid for Europe by winning a tense west London derby 3-2 against Fulham, with Ivan Toney scoring once again.


The striker increased his season tally to 16 with another lethal spot-kick to help the Bees defeat their local rivals.

Unfortunately for Brentford and Toney, if their unlikely bid to enter the Europa League is successful, they may have to do so without their talisman.

Toney faces a lengthy ban after being charged with 262 alleged violations of the Football Association's gambling laws dating back to 2017.

But, as he promised in a social media post this week questioning the confidentiality of the FA's investigation, Toney is focused on his football.

With only two minutes on the clock, he collected the ball on the edge of the area before curling a low shot towards the corner that Fulham keeper Bernd Leno palmed away at full stretch.

Toney's strike partner Bryan Mbeumo missed the easiest of chances moments later, arriving at the far post to meet Rico Henry's cross only to fire wide from four yards out.

Mbeumo was then denied by Leno's outstretched leg before Brentford's quick start was rewarded with a goal after only six minutes.

Fulham failed to deal with a corner, and Ethan Pinnock's drive was deflected off Fulham captain Tim Ream, leaving Leno helpless.

Mbeumo almost made it two with a curling free-kick that flew narrowly wide, and Toney tried an unconventional backside pass that almost found Yoane Wissa before clipping the crossbar with a free-kick.

Fulham equalized moments later, completely against the run of play, with a free kick of their own.

Andreas Pereira's shot from the edge of the box hit the crossbar and bounced up for Manor Solomon to nod into an empty net for his fifth goal in five games.

Sasa Lukic, a Serbian midfielder making his full Fulham debut in place of Joao Palhinha, was fortunate to avoid a second booking just before halftime when he tripped Wissa as the winger threatened to burst clear on goal..

Brentford took the lead five minutes into the second half when Issa Diop was penalized for a slight kick on Christian Norgaard's foot.

Toney calmly converted his 21st penalty of the season for Brentford, extending the Bees' unbeaten streak to 12 Premier League games and keeping them in contention for Europe.