Brentford have been promoted to the Premier League for the primary time in 74 years on Saturday as they beat Swansea 2-0 in a Championship play-off closing price round £180 million ($255 million) to the winners.
Thomas Frank’s aspect accomplished their fairytale rise thanks to first-half targets from Ivan Toney and Emiliano Marcondes at Wembley.
Swansea’s Jay Fulton was despatched off halfway by means of the second half to put the outcome past doubt in what’s broadly thought to be soccer’s single most profitable recreation, primarily due to the published revenues that Premier League golf equipment obtain.
After a long time caught in decrease league obscurity, retro Brentford can be one of many smallest golf equipment ever to play within the high tier.
In simply their second season on the new Brentford Community Stadium, the Bees will welcome the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool to west London.
The riches earned from the victory can be transformative for Brentford, who’ve lastly erased the painful reminiscences of their wretched play-off previous.
Beaten by Fulham in final season’s Championship closing, Brentford had failed to earn promotion in all 9 of their play-off appearances earlier than this time period.
No workforce had misplaced extra play-off finals than Brentford’s 4, however Frank had insisted the unhealthy omens would rely for nothing.
The Bees boss was proved proper as he grew to become the primary Danish coach to win a Football League promotion.
“I don’t know if I can describe it. It’s been such an extended journey,” Frank said before his players gate-crashed the interview to throw him into the air in celebration.
“This group of players is incredible. Everyone has played a major part,” Frank added, as soon as he was again on his ft.
“The feeling was calm and relaxed and prepared to be ruthless.
“Right now I would like to get drunk after which fear in regards to the Premier League tomorrow!”
Brentford’s rise has captured the imagination of neutrals after they spent 59 out of 60 seasons in the third or fourth tiers before reaching the Championship in 2014.
They have climbed well above their traditional status thanks to innovative owner Matthew Benham.
Benham has introduced an analytics-influenced approach overseen by two directors of football, ensuring the club make the most of their resources, which are meagre in comparison with the Championship’s wealthier teams.
Prolific Toney
Fittingly, it was Championship top scorer Toney who put Brentford on course for the top-flight for the first time since 1947.
Toney, signed from third tier Peterborough last year, fired Brentford to a third-place finish despite the close-season sales of star forwards Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma to Aston Villa and West Ham respectively.
Now the 25-year-old, rejected by Newcastle as a youngster, will get the chance to show he can thrive in the Premier League.
Six of Brentford’s team started last season’s final and they quickly seized the initiative in the 10th minute.
Bryan Mbeumo made a clever run behind the Swansea defence to reach Sergi Canos’s superb pass into the penalty area, prompting Freddie Woodman to race off his line and crash into the Brentford striker.
Referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot and Toney stepped up to slot the penalty past Woodman for his 33rd goal of the season.
Brentford weren’t going to sit on their lead and a blistering counter-attack produced their second goal in the 20th minute.
Breaking from their own penalty area, Frank’s men caught Swansea out of position as Mbeumo picked out the over-lapping Mads Roerslev.
Roerslev’s cross was perfectly measured for Marcondes and he guided a clinical finish past Woodman from 12 yards.
Toney was inches away from his second goal moments later when his dipping volley hit the bar and bounced clear off the line.
Shell-shocked Swansea failed to manage a single shot on target in the entire game.
And when Fulton saw red in the 65th minute for a crude foul on Mathias Jensen, it was only a matter of time before Brentford could start their promotion party.
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