Missing Ivan Toney? He’ll struggle to get back in the side! Ben Mee heaps praise on his Brentford team-mates as Thomas Frank’s entertainers fire three past Luton

• Brentford claimed a valuable three points against Luton at the weekend
• The Bees have continued to impress in Ivan Toney’s long-term absence
• We expected perfection from VAR – we haven’t got it: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off

Such is the culture Thomas Frank has created at Brentford that even without Ivan Toney, his players have gone about their business just fine.

Ivan Toney scored 20 of Brentford’s 58 Premier League goals last season before he was banned for eight months for breaching betting rules. But in his absence, the Bees have more points and goals than they did at this stage last season. 

With three different goalscorers against Luton, this dominant performance was another reminder of the quality throughout this Brentford side.

A one-man team? ‘We’re definitely not,’ said Ben Mee, who got a goal and an assist on Saturday. 

‘We have some great talent. Neal (Maupay) has come in and got goals. It’s a great group with togetherness and we’re playing some good football. Ivan will come back and bring another dimension to the attack.’

Brentford defender Ben Mee praised his side for their victory against Luton at the weekend

Such is the culture Thomas Frank has created at Brentford that even without Ivan Toney, his players have gone about their business just fine

Toney can’t play until January 17, but is in the middle of a 16-week training plan at Brentford

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Toney can’t play until January 17, but is in the middle of a 16-week training plan and Mee insisted the 27-year-old is in great shape. 

‘He’s been really good,’ said Mee. ‘He’s been working with us for a while and played in a couple of games that he’s been allowed to. He’s looking really sharp.’

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are linked with a January move but Brentford want to keep Toney until at least the summer.

‘He’s a big character and a big player for us,’ said Mee. ‘It will be a massive boost having him back and hopefully we’ll be even more menacing — but he’ll do well to get back into the side!’

MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS 

Brentford (4-3-3): Flekken 6, Ghoddos 6 (Roerslev 77), Pinnock 6, Mee 7.5, Janelt 6, Onyeka 6, Norgaard 6, Yarmoliuk 6 (Baptiste 70, 7), Mbeumo 7 (Lewis-Potter 78), Maupay 7 (Peart-Harris 90), Wissa 6.

Scorers: Maupay 49, Mee 56, Baptiste 81.

Booked: Norgaard.

Manager: Thomas Frank 7.

Luton (3-4-2-1): Kaminski 5, Mengi 6 (Giles 76, 5), Lockyer 6 (Brown 45, 6.5), Osho 6, Kabore 6, Mpanzu 6 (Clark 60, 6), Barkley 6.5, Bell 6, Chong 5, Ogbene 5 (Townsend 60, 6), Morris 5 (Adebayo 61, 6). Scorer: Brown 76.

Booked: Kaminski, Chong.

Manager: Rob Edwards 6.

Referee: Anthony Taylor 7.

Attendance: 17,075

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