Ivan Toney shows Brentford what they’ve missed – and may fear to lose

As it had to be, so it was. There were plenty of scares and bumps and wobbles along the way – and surely nobody was anticipating a brilliant Neal Maupay winner – but the story that always seemed probable eventually played out as the returning Ivan Toney brought Brentford their first win in 49 days, lifting them above Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Toney, having been suspended for eight months for breaching Premier League gambling regulations, scored – “of course”, as the stadium announcer bellowed, after an unnervingly euphoric sprint through the stand – but more significant in easing Brentford’s relegation fears was how much more coherent they looked as an attacking force with him in the side.

Since Toney last played, in a 1-0 defeat against Liverpool at the beginning of May, Brentford’s own situation has become significantly more precarious. They went into that game against Liverpool ninth and would finish the season 25 points clear of the bottom three. They went into Saturday’s fixture 16th and three points clear of the relegation places.

Recent form has been dire, with five defeats in succession, a situation partly, perhaps largely, caused by the lack of attacking options, with Toney suspended and Bryan Mbuemo out with an ankle injury. With Yoane Wissa off playing for DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations, Brentford have a desperate need for Toney; Maupay may be a different beast in red-and-white to the insipid and indecisive figure he cut at Everton, but he’s not somebody in whose goals too many survival hopes can be invested.

Which makes Toney’s comments broadcast this past week about wanting to play for “a big club” and hinting at a move in this window a little uncomfortable, particularly given how he had