The winners of what was a thrilling Championship Playoff Final for the 2020/21 season are now officially promoted to the Premier League.
Brentford and Swansea City were fighting it out in front of up to 12,000 fans were in attendance at Wembley Stadium, with promotion worth an estimated Β£178million
Going into the game, the West London club haven’t been in top flight for 74 years while the Welsh outfit last played in the Prem in 2017-18.
Steve Cooper’s side went and beat Barnsley in the semi-finals of the Championship playoffs whilst the Bees overcame Bournemouth.
Swansea were be out for revenge on Saturday afternoon, because it was Brentford who put them out in the semi-final stage of the playoffs last season.
5th minute in and Marcondes had the first shot of the game from long range and… well, it remained 0-0 which is the best thing said for his effort.
Swansea’s Matt Grimes, who scored a beauty in the semi final second leg, was booked for a poor challenge on Canos near the halfway line.
On the 9th minute, Mbeumo was fouled in the area by Swansea goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, spot kick awarded.
It was goal number 33 for the season for Toney with Woodman going the right way in the Swans goal but he was never keeping it out.
π | “The talisman for Brentford gives them the ideal start!” π
Ivan Toney opens the scoring at Wembley after less than 10 minutes! β°
Watch live on Sky Sports Football now: https://t.co/7FJvSFTDad pic.twitter.com/bUm3MNg0bH
β Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 29, 2021
It was his 11th penalty from his haul of 33 Championship goals for the 2020/21 season.
Toney’s technique was calm, striding up to the spot slowly and picking his spot – this time in the bottom left-hand corner.
In Brentford’s two most recent playoff finals, in League One in 2013 and the Championship last season, they’ve fallen 2-0 behind.
Pressure from Wembley’s neighbours continued and on the 20th minute, it was 2-0 to Thomas Frank’s side.
The Bees countered on Swansea and Bryan Mbeumo teed up Mads Roerslev who squared for Emiliano Marcondes to steer home a beauty.
Jed Wallace (On BBC Radio 5 Live): “It’s brilliant from Brentford.
“Emilaino Marcondes plays in the big games and you can see why. He pops up with a fantastic finish from the near post.
“They need to hold on until half-time.”
Catch them if you can! π₯
Emiliano Marcondes finishes off a blistering counter-attack as Brentford double their lead at Wembley! π
Watch live on Sky Sports Football now: https://t.co/OB3DA9NueH pic.twitter.com/Pw8X2FcOih
β Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 29, 2021
It was so close to 3-0 on the 21st minute!
Ivan Toney hit a stunning volley from 20 yards that smashed off the crossbar and lands just in front of the line.
Rob Stevens (BBC Sport at Wembley): “What a half the Bees are having.
“After Emiliano Marcondes rounded off a counter-attack to make it 2-0, Ivan Toney almost scored a sensational volley.
“I’m almost in line with the Swansea goal, and it was mere inches from heading in as it bounced down just in front of Freddie Woodman’s line.
“The Bees have celebrated both goals in front of the Swans fans, who have now been stunned into almost silence.
“It’s a long, long way back for their side, who have barely threatened. Brentford have certainly been pumped up from the off.”
“That would have been game over!” β
Ivan Toney is inches away from one of *THE* great play-off final goals! π¬
Watch live on Sky Sports Football now: https://t.co/OB3DA9NueH pic.twitter.com/VLJX6Oy0Jd
β Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 29, 2021
Despite numerous chances, no more goals could be scored in the remaining minutes of the first half.
The Swans did however have almost all of the ball since conceding twice, but were yet to force Bees goalkeeper David Raya into a notable save.
Swansea should have had one back minutes into the second half.
Connor Roberts swung in a beaut of a cross that the Bees defenders didn’t want to touch in case they put it in their own net and Andre Ayew hurls himself at it but it bounced off his head and away from goal.
Moments later, Jamal Lowe showed great skill and strength to cut in from the left but he had a rush of blood to the head an his shot is high and wide.
It was all Swansea since the restart, Brentford didn’t try hard for a third and came close a few times to conceding by the 60th minute mark.
The Swans went a man down with Jay Fulton given marching orders with manager Cooper immediately looking at the replays to see how bad it was.
Swansea attacked and the ball was loose down their left, Fulton and Mathias Jenssen chase it and the Bees man is first to it.
Fulton lost his footing as he goes to challenge but he’s off the floor and it’s from behind.
Red card for Swansea! π₯
Jay Fulton loses his footing and catches Mathias Jensen’s heel – Chris Kavanagh was adamant about his decision…was it the right one? π€
Watch live on Sky Sports Football now: https://t.co/OB3DA9NueH pic.twitter.com/gr4Q97h2lh
β Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 29, 2021
Rob Stevens (BBC Sport at Wembley): “It just isn’t Swansea’s day.
“Their fans have not been happy with referee Chris Kavanagh for most of the game and that decision has cemented their dislike of the man in the middle.
“The replays show that Fulton trod on the back of Jenson’s ankle and then lost his balance.
“I don’t think it was really intentional by the Swans midfielder.
“With Brentford 2-0 up and now facing 10 men for the final quarter of the game, surely their long wait to return to the top flight will be over.
“If they let this slip, then their historical play-off curse must be real.”
Last 10 minutes of the game, Swansea resorted to pumping it long which clearly showed wasn’t their type of game at all.
Toney had a chance to really wrap it up but hit his shot straight off the back of Bidwell.
The full time whistle blew and Brentford were up!
Rob Stevens (BBC Sport at Wembley): “Finally, at the 10th attempt, Brentford have won promotion through the EFL play-offs.
“Nine months on from a extra-time defeat by Fulham, the Bees have returned to Wembley to seal promotion.
“The west London club join a select group of clubs who have lost a second-tier play-off final but won it the next, joining Leicester (1994), Palace (1997) West Ham (2005) and Villa (2019).
“He [Thomas Frank] becomes the first Danish boss to win promotion to the Premier League.
“Their supporters had become accustomed used to heart-break in the play-offs. This result will be celebrated in the famous four pubs which surround their old Griffin Park home, along with several other hostelries in that part of the capital.”
ππ πΌππ πππππππ πππΌπππ#BrentfordFC #BeeTogether π pic.twitter.com/OlsPspeZMw
β Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) May 29, 2021
Brentford’s Pontus Jansson: “It’s unbelievable, I’m so proud.
“It’s been a hard year but we’re finally there.
“This year we had a very strong group and we believed in it from day one.
“A lot Leeds fans have been behind me and all of Brentford this season.
“I could go home to Sweden and retire no as this is what I have dreamed of. I wont though!
“A lot of people questioned my move here but I saw something in Brentford and I brought things here that I learned from Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds. I brought his ideas here with me.”
“This year so many Leeds fans have been with me – I love Leeds!” π€π
Pontus Jansson cannot wait to face his former club in the Premier League next season and reveals the impact of Marcelo Bielsa on his career… pic.twitter.com/h1Cn6snSLC
β Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 29, 2021
Brentford’s Ivan Toney: “It’s crazy. I’ve got no words, my voice is going. It’s the best dressing room I’ve been in, I’ve loved every minute of it.
“I’m in the Premier League with the best bunch of boys I could ever dream of.
“I’m a Premier League striker now and I can’t wait to score goals there.”
“I’m a Premier League striker and I can’t wait to score some goals!”
Ivan Toney is hungry for more after his record-breaking season with Brentford in the Championship – how many goals will he score in the top flight? β½ pic.twitter.com/pWj1VYQ2us
β Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 29, 2021
Brentford boss Thomas Frank: “I’m completely empty right now. I don’t know if I can describe it. It’s been such a long journey.
“There’s been ups and downs…”
And with that Frank is carried away by some of his players and thrown in the air!
“This group of players is incredible.
“Everyone has played a major part in this.
“Somebody said to me that we need two hands and 10 fingers to lift the trophy and we have done it on our 10th attempt.
“The feeling was calm and relaxed and ready to be ruthless.
“We didn’t talk about last year. We focused on this.
“Right now I want to get drunk and then worry about the Premier League tomorrow!”
“The party has just begun!” π₯³
Brentford lift the Championship play-off trophy after securing promotion to the Premier League! ππ pic.twitter.com/QUFAgKqNnl
β Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 29, 2021
Fans reacted as the winners of what was a thrilling Championship Playoff Final are promoted to the Premier League…
ON SWANSEA’S TWEET:
@Dan_Fox13: Congratulations to @BrentfordFC deserved winnerβs! Absolute no arguments about the result, completely outplayed. We go again next year
@pantwood777: Congratulations to Brentford. Better team than Swansea over the Season and today. Would have been good for Wales to have a Premiership team but not to be.
@Jonno2601: No surprise they bottled it, but goodness thereβs bottling it then completely bottling it ππ should have had 9 men, diving all over the park. Luck finally run out π
@zzakwatson8: Imagine doing all that cheating and diving against Barnsley just to not have a shot on target in the final
@LiamDowson_55: LETS ALL LAUGH AT SWANSEAππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππ
β Rob Scott (@RobSc0tt) May 29, 2021
β Dan (@bfcdan_) May 29, 2021
Jamal, what league will you be playing in next season? pic.twitter.com/EL7vCAwMZt
β matt (@matt39728060) May 29, 2021
β alexRed (@AlexRed00561762) May 29, 2021
Reaction continued as the winners of a thrilling Championship Playoff Final are promoted to the Premier League…
ON BRENTFORD’S TWEET:
@StevenGerr8rd: Congratulations on your promotion to the Premier League. Demonstrates how well run your football club is.
@DJbluebird1927: Well done lads. Been the outstanding and most consistent team in the Championship the past 3/4 seasons. Enjoy the Premier League
@the__dart: Congratulations, amazing example for all lower league teams on how to achieve success with a well run club. Good recovery from last seasons play off final loss from managers + players, other teams/managers bottled in play offs in similar circumstances
@DannyGriffiths1: Well done Brentford. Well deserved to finally be in the premier league after the last couple of season. Play good attacking football & good to have another London club in the @premierleague
@TerraceMemoirs: Brentford’s progressive rise up the divisions under Benham has been nothing but impressive to watch. Genuine congratulations, this is a deserved reward for the effort and hard work put in
@JLew1979: Congratulations @BrentfordFC, thoroughly outplayed us and deserved it for coming third in the regular season. Whilst we were poor today and tailed off badly as season went on, Cooper deserves plaudits for over exceeding again. Weβve had no striker and a thin squad. #swans
@ElliottMiiniRoe: Fair play to Brentford. Been so unlucky the last few season.. definitely deserved the opportunity of the Prem. All the best for next season, from a Norwich supporter. Letβs show all these people saying βgetting relegated next seasonβ how weβre gonna stay in the Prem!
@Westham_Centre: Congratulations Brentford
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