Norwich 1-3 Brentford
Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick as Brentford ended an eight-game Premier League winless run at the expense of relegation-threatened Norwich City.
Toney scored two second-half penalties at Carrow Road to put the game beyond bottom-side Norwich, as Thomas Frank’s side moved six points clear of the relegation places.
Following his emotional return as a substitute last weekend – 259 days after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 in June – Christian Eriksen made his first competitive start for Brentford.
It was from an Eriksen corner that Brentford punished the hosts’ first-half profligacy, with Kristoffer Ajer’s near-post header falling to Toney.
Toney’s first spot-kick arrived after 52 minutes as referee Anthony Taylor reviewed a high foot by Ben Gibson on Pontus Jansson as the Norwich defender attempted to clear a cross.
A second penalty in six minutes, awarded after Toney was felled by Gibson, allowed the 25-year-old to complete his treble.
The damage had already been done when Milot Rashica had a response ruled out for offside midway through the second half, while Bryan Mbeumo was denied adding a fourth for Brentford the same reason.
Teemu Pukki gave the home fans something to cheer in added-time but an otherwise miserable day for Dean Smith’s Norwich left the Canaries five points from safety with 11 games remaining.
