‘Bielsa-inspired’ Brentford become Premier League’s No.50 by beating Swansea in Championship play-off final
Brentford became the 50th different club to call themselves a Premier League side following a 2-0 success against Swansea City at Wembley this afternoon.
By turning out today at the home of English football, Thomas Frank’s men had equalled last season’s feat of playing in the Championship play-off final. But they weren’t going to let this opportunity pass them by, with £170m at stake in football’s most lucrative match.
18+, UK only. Deposit and place a minimum £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/1 or greater and we will give you 1 x £5 in free bets plus an extra 3 x £5 Free Bets the following day. Applies to first cash bet only. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 bets to use on 3x Any sport & 1x Virtuals. Cashed Out, Void or Draw No Bet wagers do not qualify for this promotion. 1 x £5 Free Bets are credited upon qualifying first bet settlement, other free bets credited by midday the day after your first bet settles. 7-day free bet expiry. Available once per customer. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. Full T&C’s apply.
18+ only. Use code BET30. New Players Only. Minimum stake $/€/£ 10, minimum odds1.5, stake not returned.1X wagering the winnings from the free bet. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only, wagering starts from real funds. Free bet is valid for 7 Days from issue. Max conversion: $/€/£ 200. Excluded Skrill deposits. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Full Terms Apply
18+ only. £10 min. deposit required. 1 x £10 qualifying bet required. Qualifying bet must be placed on selection with min. odds of 1.8 (4/5). 4 x £5 Free Bets will be credited once the qualifying bet has been settled. 1 x Free Bet valid for any Football Match Result market. 1 x Free Bet valid on any Football Correct Score market. 1 x Free Bet valid on any Horse Racing market. 1 x Free Bet valid on any Tennis market. Free Bets valid for 7 days once credited. T&Cs apply.
In recent years, those who have come up have either gone straight back down or become a surprise package. Wolves and most recently Leeds United are perfect examples of the latter. Brentford defender Pontus Jansson, who joined from Elland Road in 2019. now feels vindicated in leaving and believes the spirit of his former boss runs through where he is now.
“It’s unbelievable, I’m so proud. It’s been a hard year but we’re finally there,” he told Sky Sports.
“This year we had a very strong group and we believed in it from day one. A lot of Leeds fans have been behind me and all of Brentford this season. I could go home to Sweden and retire now as this is what I have dreamed of. I won’t though!
“A lot of people questioned my move here but I saw something in Brentford and I brought things here that I learned from Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds. I brought his ideas here with me.”
The Bees, who finished third in the regular season (four points behind runners-up Watford), proved too much for their Welsh rivals and raced into an unassailable half-time lead. Ivan Toney was spot on from 12 yards — maintaining his 100% record this season (11/11) — before Emiliano Marcondes finished off a swift counter-attack.
Knowing a Swansea onslaught was coming in the final 45 minutes, they held firm and saw their opposition reduced to ten men just after the hour mark when Jay Fulton was shown a straight red after sliding into Mathias Jensen from behind. This moment of madness made life easier for Brentford, who can now look forward to a first top-flight appearance since 1947 (the first league season after World War II).
It consequently means they will be rubbing shoulders with Manchester City and Liverpool as well as Chelsea, subsequently keeping the West London derby alive in England’s top division next season after Fulham, who denied Brentford a year ago, were demoted. Once the celebrations die down, the onus will fall onto upper-management, who must be aware of the challenge that awaits.
Brentford, whose record signing is acquiring the services of Toney from Peterborough for a reported £5m with add-ons last summer, will be hoping their fate is not an immediate return to second tier football.
