Ivan Toney was the only goalscorer as we beat Brighton & Hove Albion in a Behind Closed Doors friendly this afternoon.

Toney got on the end of a Halil Dervisoglu assist with just 10 minutes remaining at the American Express Community Stadium, netting his first goal of the campaign so far.

Brighton had the ball in the net after just seven minutes but the offside flag went up to deny them an early goal. A free-kick had been whipped across the box and nodded home at the far post, appeals went in to referee Tim Robinson early though, and it looked like the backline had done their work to perfection.

Ben Mee was making his first appearance in a Brentford shirt and saw action at both ends in the first half. First, he made a fine interception to deny a ball flying across the face of goal before sending a perfect pass forward to Wissa. The winger found the run of Aaron Hickey, who got a shot away but it was saved by Jason Steele.

David Raya was called into action after 25 minutes. The home side put together a string of passes that cut open the Brentford back four and found Neal Maupay. The Frenchman’s shot was saved well by Raya down to his left before Hickey could sweep up and clear.

After half an hour, Shandon Baptiste tested Steele at the other end. This time, Hickey played a ball through the middle of the pitch into his path, the midfielder took it in his stride and fired low at goal. Steele got across well to parry the ball away from danger.

Soon after, Maupay was set in behind by Adam Lallana and smashed a shot against the right post. Raya had to be up quickly to then save the follow-up shot by Kaoru Mitoma, which was curled across the face of goal and palmed away by the Spanish keeper for a corner.

The Bees had a chance to go one ahead from a set-piece of their own just before the interval. A free-kick on the edge of the box had Josh Dasilva whipping a shot narrowly over the crossbar.

At the break, Thomas Frank swapped Mathias Jensen out and fitted Fin Stevens into a new back five system. The youngster was in action almost immediately as he put in a ball for Dasilva to run on to and get tripped by a defender. The free-kick that followed was punched clear by Steele as it drifted towards the back post.

Brighton notched their first chance early on too. Sarmiento raced through a gap in the midfield to strike at goal but Raya managed to cling on to it above his head. Jan Paul Van Hecke then went close with a volley from close range but it sailed wide.

Ivan Toney had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down after 10 minutes of the second half. Racing beyond Van Hecke, he was clattered into by Shane Duffy as he drove into the box. Referee Robinson waved away the protests.

Sarmiento was involved again on the hour as he drove a cross into the middle, Raya tipping the ball away and Stevens completing the job at the far post.

Maupay went close with 67 on the clock, spinning in the area with the ball at his feet. His shot was taken quickly but Mads Roerslev threw himself in the way and diverted it from danger.

Brighton went close from a corner soon after but Raya was sharp to kick away a deflected header towards his goal. Roerslev again cleared up with a block from the follow up by sub Florin Andone.

With just under quarter of an hour to go, Dasilva made a darting run down the right. He clipped a ball into the centre of the box but Baptiste’s effort was straight into the arms of Albion sub keeper Kjell Scherpen.

After 80 minutes, Brentford snatched the lead. Scherpen played a low clearance that was blocked by Yehor Yarmoliuk and found the path of Dervisoglu. He stayed calm and rolled the ball to Toney, who sat down Shane Duffy on the line before knocking home his first goal of pre-season.

The remaining minutes ticked by without incident, Brentford content with keeping possession to stall any Brighton attacks.


Brentford: Raya; Roerslev, Jansson (Yarmoliuk 62), Mee (Crama 62), Hickey; Baptiste, Janelt, Jensen (Stevens h/t); Wissa (Dervisoglu 76), Toney, Dasilva

Brighton: Steele (Scherpen 62); Van Hecke, Duffy, Clarke; Enciso (Karbownik 62), Sarmiento (Kozlowski 62), Lallana (Zeqiri 62), Alzate, Mitoma (Moran 70); Undav (Andone 70), Maupay