Brentford will play in the Premier League for the first time next season after beating Swansea City 2-0 in the final Championship final.
Ivan Toney‘s fine puts them on a straight line before the end of Emiliano Marcondes‘ game.
Thomas Frank‘s team will play at the top level for the first time since 1946-47. After beating the Swansea team that finished with ten men.
The win could cost around £ 178m in the west London team.
The Bees were beaten in the second leg of the second leg by Fulham, who came out with a 2-1 victory over extra time.
But the pain of Brentford’s last visit to the stadium turned into joy as they finally tasted the game’s success during the 10th inquiry. And in doing so, it will be the 50th club to play in the Premier League.
Swansea’s hopes of rejoining the elite vanished as they failed to produce their full potential at Wembley. Hoping the second half’s return did not help Jay Fulton‘s dismissal to play for Mathias Jensen.
Big day for Brentford finally arrives.
Brentford fans have been waiting a long time for a moment like this.
This was the team’s 10th play-off and fifth-final campaign, with the last trip to Wembley coming in 1997, 2013. And last season, during the 2002 Millennium Stadium and Stoke conference.
Total promotional gaming before today was zero. There was a final loss to the EFL Trophy too. So Brentford will feel they have to win in the big leagues.
They were driven by perhaps the memory of their latest Wembley reverse, which came ten months ago. Frank’s side finally found its way to success.
Brentford’s victory was made in the first quarter. At the same time, they were leading the first attack of any note.
Sergi Canos hit the ball behind Swansea behind Bryan Mbeumo. While goalkeeper Freddie Woodman came running from his line. But he made contact with the player rather than the ball.
Even at this delicate stage, Toney appeared to be entirely out of the limelight. As he circled and rolled down the bottom corner of the net to find the number 33 spot for his fantastic season.
Buoyed by their opening and with Swansea struggling to keep up, Brentford quickly doubled their profits.
The move began when Brentford’s box was released by Mbeumo, who carried the ball into the opposition. Before supplying it to midfielder Mdds Roerslev.
Dane hoisted the ball into Marcondes’ cart to shoot a tense car, low inside Woodman’s post.
Swansea was struggling.
Any hope Steve Cooper’s team has an answer to is likely to be over in a minute as Toney’s long-range volleyball hit. Only Woodman to hit the bottom of the cross and strike safely into the lineup.
Brentford made their way into the break, with one-on-one fear in David Raya’s first half. When Andre Ayew met Conor Hourihane’s kick with a header that hit the top of the bar.
Swansea’s real chance came early in the second half when Connor Roberts crossed over to Ayew. But he was able to look at the header from a very long distance.
Brentford threatened again, with Mbeumo raising his voice. Before Fulton was unfortunately sacked but ended Swansea.
The midfielder appeared to have accidentally stepped on Jensen before slipping during his strikes. But referee Chris Kavanagh flashed a red card in the blink of an eye.
So Swansea has been beaten, and Brentford could look forward to facing Manchester City, neighbors United, Liverpool, and the club next season.
What’s next for Swansea?
For the second season in a row, Swansea’s hopes of returning to the Premier League were dashed in the play-offs by Brentford.
Cooper’s players responded well after last year’s semi-final defeat. But this comeback could be a stomach ache.
Nine months of hard work have been in vain. And there will now be questions about what’s next.
Cooper has just one year left on his contract with Liberty Stadium. There are already speculations about his future, with Crystal Palace without a manager believed to be among his favorites.
Ayew, a former Swansea star and their top scorer two seasons ago, sees his lucrative contract expire next month.
It could be shocking if he is available next season, with Woodman, Marc Guehi, and Hourihane returning to their parent clubs after a loan spell.
Then there are the likes of Roberts and Matt Grimes, who only have a year left on their deals so that they may be in the store window.
On top of all that, there will be no Premier League payments following Swansea’s demolition in 2018.
Once the dust settled when they failed to do themselves justice at Wembley, Swansea could now face a busy summer.
Swansea head coach Steve Cooper:
“We are disappointed. We did not win the game, and that is what we have come here to do.
“And we had started the game in second place in the lead, and sometimes we didn’t explain it. We gave ourselves a challenging task by going down 2-0.
“We had to change a few things. The players didn’t give up and gave you an excellent move, really early in the second half.
“I will not just sit here and criticize anything about anyone more because I have nothing to say just to make anyone feel better yet.”
On Fulton’s red card:
“There’s no way that Jay could have done that on any purpose because he’s really an intelligent player. The red card came out very quickly.
“We did not help ourselves today. But we did not get help from the authorities, that is for sure.”
