It was Brentford's day at Wembley as they righted the wrongs of last season's final and secured promotion to the top flight for the first time in 78 years. 

  • Story of the game 

Brentford started the game the better side, last years beaten finalists looked a lot more comfortable and assured in their Wembley surroundings. 

Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo were getting joy against the Swansea City defence and just nine minutes in the Londoners were awarded a penalty. Mbeumo was brought down by Freddie Woodman and Toney had the chance to give Brentford the dream start. 

He started down Woodman from 12 yards and dispatched  his penalty brilliantly into the bottom left hand corner, leaving Woodman with no chance.

From that point on the Bees' tails were up and ten minutes later they doubled their lead. A wonderful counter attack was led by Mbeumo, he teed up Mads Roerslev who squared for Emilano Marcondes who brilliantly rammed home his shot into the bottom corner to put Thomas Frank's side in cruise control.  

It could well have been 3-0 just two minutes later, Toney smashed a volley from 20 yards which cannoned back off the crossbar. 

It took until 32 minutes for Swansea to threaten Connor Roberts was in behind the Brentford defence but a superb recovery tackle from Sergi Canos put a stop to  that particular threat. Connor Hourihane then delivered a dangerous corner into the box that led to a second, however, that was plucked out of the sky by David Raya. 

Swansea's first shot of note arrived in the 39th minute. Jay Fulton smashing an effort wide. In first half stoppage time, Ayew's header from a free kick clipped the top of the bar. 

Steve Cooper's men started the second half the stronger and they had a glorious early chance. Roberts' cross was met Ayew who was free but he glanced it wide of the far post. 

There was an improvement after the break from the Swans. Ayew steering a free header wide of the far post before Lowe's quick turn and shot was wide of the post. 

Things went from bad to worse for Swansea on 65 minutes Fulton red carded for a challenge on Jensen which at first sight looks very bad, although replays suggested it was not as bad as first seen. 

Toney then went close again, only a superb block denying him his second and Brentford's third. 

  • Takeaways 

Bees strike early

Brentford could not have asked for a better start. They dominated the early exchanges and seemed to have learnt their lessons of play-off finals gone by. In their previous two finals against Yeovil and Fulham they found themselves 2-0 down after a sensitive start to the game. There was none of that here. Woodman's foul on Mbeumo just gave Brentford that golden chance they needed to get in front and from that moment onwards they never looked back. 

Frank and co right the wrongs of last year

It's been a long year for everyone associated to Brentford after the heartbreak of last season's final and particularly how those Fulham goals came about.  But from minute one to minute ninety they were the better team and the deserved winners. They look so much more comfortable in their surroundings  and of course they had their army of supporters, a big miss last season. 

  • Teams

Brentford: Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson (Reid 79), Pinnock; Rasmussen, Jansen, Janelt (Ghoddos 74), Canos (Forss 74); Marcondes (Bidstrup 90); Mbeumo, Toney 

Subs not used: Daniels, Norgaard, Fosu, Goode, Stevens.

Swansea: Woodman; Naughton (Cullen 60), Cabango, Guehi, Bidwell (Manning 83); Fulton, Grimes, Hourihane (Dhanda 64); Roberts, Lowe, Ayew.

Subs not used: Hamer, Bennett, Smith, Whittaker, Latibeaudiere, Freeman.

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