Brentford will play in the top division for the next season after a 74-year absence due to the win over Swansea City
Brentford will play in the Premier League for the first time next season after beating Swansea City 2-0 in the championship play-off final.
Ivan Toney’s penalty kick put her on the road to the top flight before Emiliano Marcondes scored the close-range finish.
Thomas Frank’s team will play at the highest level for the first time since 1946/47 after passing a team from Swansea that ended up with 10 men.
The win could be worth around £ 178million for the West London club.
The bees were beaten in the second-rate play-off final last season by Fulham, who won 2-1 after extra time.
But the pain of Brentford’s last visit to that stadium was delighted as they tasted of play-off successes for the tenth time, becoming the 50th club to play in the Premier League.
Swansea’s hopes of re-entering the elite faded when they failed to do their best at Wembley. The hope of a comeback in the second half was not supported by the controversial dismissal of Jay Fulton for a foul on Mathias Jensen.
Brentford’s big day is finally coming
Brentford fans have been waiting for such a moment for a long time.
This was the club’s 10th play-off campaign and fifth final. Previous trips to Wembley were in 1997, 2013 and last season, while there was a Millennium Stadium meeting with Stoke in 2002.
The total amount of play-offs before today? Zero. There were also three final defeats at the EFL Trophy so Brentford feels like he’s taking a win on the big stage.
Driven by the memory of the recent Wembley reversal that came just ten months ago, Frank’s side finally found a way to victory.
Ivan Toney’s start was his 11th successful spot kick this season
Brentford’s win came in the opening quarter when they took the lead thanks to the first attack of a note.
Sergi Canos pushed the ball behind Swansea’s rearguard for Bryan Mbeumo, and goalkeeper Freddie Woodman sped off his line but made contact with the player rather than the ball.
Even on this big stage, Toney looked completely calm as he showed up and rolled the penalty deep into the bottom corner of the net for goal number 33 of his remarkable season.
Thanks to their opener – and with Swansea struggling to get going – Brentford quickly doubled his advantage.
The move began when a long throw into the Brentford box was cleared for Mbeumo, who carried the ball deep into opposing territory before feeding the overlapping Mads Roerslev.
The Dane lifted the ball over the goal so Marcondes could fend off a violent, low ride into Woodman’s near post.
Swansea staggered. Any hope Steve Cooper’s team had of a reaction could have been erased within a minute when Toney’s long-range volley defeated Woodman, only to hit the bottom of the crossbar and get off the line to safety.
Brentford made his way into recess. David Raya scored in the first half when Andre Ayew hit Conor Hourihane’s free kick with a header that hit the top of the crossbar.
Swansea’s only real chance came early in the second half when Connor Roberts crossed for Ayew, but he could only throw a header past the far post.
Brentford threatened again with Mbeumo, who lavishly dropped by before Fulton’s unfortunate dismissal nearly killed Swansea.
The midfielder appeared to accidentally step on Jensen before slipping when his bolts were caught, but referee Chris Kavanagh immediately showed the red card.
That beat Swansea and it is Brentford who can look forward to playing against Manchester City, neighbors United, Liverpool and Company next season.
Emiliano Marcondes is currently shooting his third goal of the season home at the far post
What’s next for Swansea?
For the second straight year, Swansea’s hopes of a return to the Premier League were ended in the Brentford play-offs.
Cooper’s players reacted admirably after losing in last year’s semi-finals, but this reversal may be harder to take.
Nine months of hard work have failed and now there will be questions about what comes next.
Cooper has only one year left to finalize his Liberty Stadium deal and there has been speculation about his future, with the managerless Crystal Palace considered one of his admirers.
Ayew, Swansea’s talisman up front and their top scorer for the past two seasons, sees his lucrative contract expire next month.
It would be a shock if he was still around next season as Woodman, Marc Guehi and Hourihane all return to their parent clubs after loan periods.
Then there are those like Roberts and Matt Grimes who only have a year left on their respective deals and therefore may be in the shop window.
Additionally, after Swansea’s relegation in 2018, there will be no more parachute payments for the Premier League.
Once the dust clears on a day they couldn’t do themselves justice at Wembley, Swansea could now face a busy summer.
Swansea Head Coach Steve Cooper:
“We’re disappointed. We didn’t win the game we came here for.
“We started the game second-best and there were some crucial moments that didn’t go our way. We did a very hard job for ourselves 2-0.
“We had to change a few things. The players never gave up and tried really well, certainly early in the second half.
“I’m not going to sit here criticizing anything because I can’t say anything to make someone feel better right now.”
On Fulton’s red card:
“There was no way Jay would have done this on purpose because he’s too sensible a player. The red card came out so quickly.
“We didn’t help ourselves today, but we didn’t get any help from the officials, that’s for sure.”
Constellations
Brentford
formation 3-5-2
1Raya
22ndDalsgaard18thJansson5Pinnock
30thRasmussen8thJensen27Janelt9Marcondes7thCanós
19thMbeumo17thToney
- 1Raya
- 22ndDalsgaard
- 18thJanssonReplaced byReidat the 79 ‘protocol
- 5Pinnock
- 30thRasmussen
- 8thJensen
- 27JaneltBooked at 70 minutesReplaced byGhoddosat the 74 ‘protocol
- 9MarcondesBooked at 22 minutesReplaced byBidstrupat the 90 + 2 ‘protocol
- 7thCanósReplaced byForssat the 74 ‘protocol
- 19thMbeumo
- 17thToney
replacement
- 4thGoode
- 6thNørgaard
- fifteenForss
- 20thGhoddos
- 23Reid
- 24Fosu-Henry
- 28Daniels
- 36Stevens
- 41Bidstrup
Swansea
formation 3-1-4-2
1Woodman
26thNaughton44Cabango5Guehi
8thdirt
23Roberts6thFulton14thHourihane24Bidwell
10An Ayew9Lion
- 1Woodman
- 26thNaughtonReplaced byCullenat the 60 ‘protocol
- 44Cabango
- 5Guehi
- 8thdirtBooked at 6 minutes
- 23Roberts
- 6thFultonBooked at 65 minutes
- 14thHourihaneReplaced byDhandaat the 63 ‘protocol
- 24BidwellReplaced byManningat the 82 ‘protocol
- 10An Ayew
- 9Lion
replacement
- 2Bennett
- 3Manning
- 7thBlacksmith
- 17thWhittaker
- 18thHamer
- 20thCullen
- 21Dhanda
- 22ndLatibeaudiere
- 34Freeman
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Participation: 11,689
Live text
End of the game, Brentford 2, Swansea City 0.
The second half ends, Brentford 2, Swansea City 0.
Away from Swansea City. Liam Cullen attempts a pass, but Ben Cabango is caught offside.
Corner of Brentford. The corner was created by Ryan Manning.
Attempt blocked. Marcus Forss (Brentford) left footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
Substitution, Brentford. Mads Bidstrup replaces Emiliano Marcondes.
Missed attempt. Yan Dhanda (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box goes up and far to the right after a set piece.
Jamal Lowe (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Henrik Dalsgaard (Brentford).
Foul by Ben Cabango (Swansea City).
Mathias Jensen (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ryan Manning (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ivan Toney (Brentford).
Foul by André Ayew (Swansea City).
David Raya Martin (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ryan Manning (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Saman Ghoddos (Brentford).
André Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ethan Pinnock (Brentford).
Attempt blocked. Saman Ghoddos (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Prepared by Ivan Toney.
