championship-playoff-final-2020-21-live-brentford-vs-swansea-city-updates-results

"The party has just begun!" 🥳

Brentford lift the Championship play-off trophy after securing promotion to the Premier League! 🏆🐝 pic.twitter.com/QUFAgKqNnl

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 29, 2021

And that's all we've got for you folks. The Championship playoff final is over and it was a pretty impressive event with Brentford finally making the cut. Lovely to watch them finally do well in the playoff final but now they've got the biggest challenge they've been asking for; Premier League football.

It's tough, it's ugly, it's relentless and it's unrelenting at times. This will be the biggest test Thomas Frank and this side has faced and it could be superb to watch. But that's enough out of me and no, we're not done with liveblogs here because we've got one more game. The Champions League final but for now this is goodbye and I'll see you then.

YES WE ARE#BrentfordFC #BeeTogether 🐝 pic.twitter.com/1ZD1nEwRYs

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) May 29, 2021

Emiliano Marcondes: “It’s unreal. It’s amazing. I can’t believe it. It’s been a very tough season. Last year’s disappointment was so crazy. We were so low. I never cried so much in my life but for us to be here again in a play-off final and be cool and clever in situations .... it’s unbelievable.

"It shows that we have very good character. We have an unbelievable squad; we’ve had so many injuries this season and we still managed to play well and to win a lot of games and go all the way.”

On his contract, which expires next month: "To come from a small town in Denmark and make it to the Premier League is unbelievable. When the owner gets something to drink maybe I'll ask about a contract again!"

Ivan Toney: "It's crazy. I've got no words, my voice is going. It's the best dressing room I've been in, I've loved every minute of it.

"I'm in the Premier League with the best bunch of boys I could ever dream of. I'm a Premier League striker now and I can't wait to score goals there."

Last time Brentford were in top division. Alongside Grimsby. pic.twitter.com/ZTNwE1HbKP

— Michael Walker (@mwalker2771) May 29, 2021

It's now 3-1 to Koln

— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 29, 2021

Pontus Jansson: "It's unbelievable, I'm so proud. It's been a hard year but we're finally there. This year we had a very strong group and we believed in it from day one.

"A lot Leeds fans have been behind me and all of Brentford this season. I could go home to Sweden and retire no as this is what I have dreamed of. I wont 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."

All over at Wembley and the win means that Brentford have been promoted. They were deserving winners on the day with Swansea City struggling to step up when it mattered. The occasion simply got to the Swans and the red card, plus the penalty, put the game beyond them.

Congratulations to Brentford and commiserations to their Swansea counterparts.

Correct#BrentfordFC #BeeTogether 🐝 https://t.co/5TFsPo3DcF pic.twitter.com/QOfPQhJp4K

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) May 29, 2021

Congratulations, @BrentfordFC 👏

Welcome to the #PL 👋 pic.twitter.com/yraPRuWnB8

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 29, 2021

Brentford win the Championship playoff and are in the Premier League!

They will be the 50th team to compete in the Premier League ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/AJBUo79312

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 29, 2021

So close last year, but this year they’ve done it! Congratulations Brentford 🥳 So excited to see this team compete next season, some top players, a wonderful stadium, and a brilliant manager in Thomas Frank. Welcome to the Premier League!! #EFLPlayOffs

— Jules Breach (@julesbreach) May 29, 2021

Brentford finally lift the curse of Roy Hodgson. https://t.co/6xBynx59C3

— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) May 29, 2021

Brentford basically the blueprint for every Championship club - 'big' club or otherwise: Sell to reinvest sensibly, scout meticulously, keep faith in their manager and sell the project to every potential player. Terrific work (and yes, I'm jealous).

— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) May 29, 2021

73 – Next season will see Brentford play top-flight football for the first time since the 1946-47 campaign; their 73 seasons since is the most different seasons played in between English top-flight campaigns. Patience.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 29, 2021

50/10 – Brentford will be the 50th different team to play in the Premier League, and the 10th side from London to do so. Welcome. pic.twitter.com/72aggUi2qO

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 29, 2021

FULL-TIME AND BRENTFORD HAVE FINALLY BEEN PROMOTED!!!

For the first time in 70 plus years, Brentford will be playing top flight football. For the first time ever in their club's history, Brentford will be playing Premier League football.

At the tenth time of asking, Brentford have finally won a playoff final.

Into the final minute...

A really nice Swansea City move, Cabango is picked out down the inside right but he rolls the ball wide of the far post. The flag eventually goes up for offside.

Four minutes of added time have ticked away and Swansea have found some life. Can they nick at least one goal back? Save their egos and then some??

Brentford are after another goal as Forss wins a corner. The fans roar and roar because they're nearly there, nearly nearly there.

The resulting corner, though, comes is worked short and as a time wasting tactic near the flag.

One minute of added time has ticked away and Brentford makes a change. Emiliano is replaced by Mads Bidstrup.

Into six minutes of added time...

Another free-kick is pumped into the box from half-line, Brentford win the second ball but it does fall for Yan Dhanda on the edge of the box. He tries the spectacular and sends a volley at goal but slices it into the stands instead.

Three minutes, and change, of normal time left. I have seen three goals scored in a fewer amount of time but the atmosphere, the way Swansea City are playing and the way Brentford are playing just makes me think, this isn't going to happen for the Swans. Not this year. 

Free-kick on the far left edge of the area for Swansea City, it's swung into the middle by Manning but David Raya deals with it well despite Andre Ayew trying to make something happen. Raya does go down hurt but he's fine to continue and does.

The red card has, as we expected, knocked the stuffing out of Swansea. Brentford look like they're destined for the Premier League and not even they can blow this ... can they?

Change for Swansea City. Jake Bidwell is off and replaced by Ryan Manning.

The resulting corner is a complete non-event.

CHANCE FOR BRENTFORD!!! Excellent move from the Bees as Toney peels off towards the back-post, is picked out in a lot of space but the forward just can't make it work first-time. He does eventually sort his feet out and hammers a shot at goal but it's blocked for a corner.

Change for Brentford. Pontus Jansson is off, Winston Reid replaces him.

Pontus Jansson is on the turf and he doesn't look like he will continue. Winston Reid is preparing to come on and replace the former Leeds United man.

RED CARD FOR SWANSEA 🔴

Ouch 😳 pic.twitter.com/CsuupdF89o

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 29, 2021

Into the final fifteen minutes of normal time in the second half and this game seems over. I'm not sure Swansea City can make a comeback because if we were going to see one, we would have already seen one.

Brentford make their first changes of the game and it's a double switch. Vitaly Yanelt and Sergi Canos are off, Marcas Forss and Saman Ghoddos replace them.

Free-kick three or four yards outside the penalty area after a Guehi foul on Ivan Toney and this is in a really decent area with it almost straight in front of goal.

It's taken by Emiliano AND HE SWINGS IT OVER. Up and over from the goal-scorer.

Tons of possession for Brentford now and that is something I don't expect to change.

Yanelt is booked for obstructing the progress of Roberts out by the touchline on the far right with a free-kick for Swansea, near enough to the corner flag. Brentford deal with it and clear their lines..

Scrappy stuff now as the tackles fly in and Swansea City look pissed off at what's happening. By that, I mean the boos, the red card, the fact that Brentford are playing slowly now and even a little time wasting from the Bees. The Swans aren't happy with all that..

There is a replay shown and while Fulton did look like he slipped, that was still a two footed, studs up, sliding tackle from behind on Jensen. That's a career ending tackle but the Brentford man is fine to continue and we move on.

RED CARD FOR SWANSEA CITY!!!

Jay Fulton is off after he produces a rash, reckless and a really stupid challenge after he slides in from behind Jensen and catches the Brentford man on his Achilles. That's an early bath..

Far more of a threat from Swansea City in the second half and it did force Thomas Frank to have a chat with a few players as Swansea made their changes

More changes for Swansea City. Conor Hourihane is off, Yan Dhanda replaces him.

CHAOSS!!! The delivery causes real problems as it's swung towards the near post, the ball falls for Jansson at the far post somehow and he nods it down for someone. That turns out to be Pinnock who sorts out his feet well and then smashes the volley at goal.

Right at Jansson it turns out and it loops out for a goal-kick...

Corner for Brentford down the right and the crowd responds. They're roaring now because this is a chance for Brentford to triple their lead and effectively put the game to bed..

Change for Swansea City. Kyle Naughton is off, Liam Cullen is on and that is an offensive change because Steve Cooper has taken off a defender for an attacker.

That seemed to have inspired Swansea as Jamal Lowe collects a cross in from the right by Naughton inside the six-yard box, does well to swivel and shoot but sends it wide of Raya's far left. 

Mbeumo spins and fires over from 14 yards out for Brentford after rather nice looking Brentford move and then holds his head in his hands. That was a half-chance.

Brentford have threatened very little since Toney smashed the crossbar about an hour ago but things are changing as I type. They want more goals and have started to gain a little more control on the ball especially with Swansea struggling..

Swansea City free-kick on the far right, Conor Hourihane takes but the on loan Aston Villa man overcooks the cross and sends it wide of the far left post. One bounce and out for a goal-kick.

The games moves on and Emiliano Marcondes is fine to continue.

And we've got another rough tackle. Conor Hourihane is the man with the tackle and he's insisting that the arm wasn't even close to the Brentford man. Marcondes is the man affected and he needs a little treatment before he can continue.

Unbeknownst to be, goalscorer Emiliano was booked for something or the other 22 minutes into the game. Hell, the way things are going, I'd be shocked if we finish with 22 on the field especially with the way tackles are flying in.

This is how close @ivantoney24 came to doubling his tally! #EFL | #EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp pic.twitter.com/WHFsuQuggQ

— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 29, 2021

Jamal Lowe cuts inside from the wing, wiggles past two defenders and then proceeds to sends his shot high and wide. Much better from Swansea but they’re still lacking that composure in the final third.

Yeah, I still can't believe he missed that. Should have found the net there or at least hit the target because with Pontus Jansson was statuesque, Ayew flew into the space.  The rest is history..

AYEWWWW SENDS IT WIDE!!! A lovely move from the Swans as a cross is flung into the middle from the right, Ayew ghosts in between two defenders and....sends a header wide. He should be hitting the target there, he really should be hitting the target there.

Swansea City have started the second half in control and they need an early goal. It could provide them with the injection of pace and confidence they need but also put a little pressure on Brentford.

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!! AND WE'RE BACK UNDERWAY...

Brentford do the honors and neither side has made a half-timey change.

Swansea City are already out. Brentford are making them wait.

HALF-TIME. @BrentfordFC in control at Wembley! #EFL | #EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp pic.twitter.com/pvJY4ZSK0Z

— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 29, 2021

HT: Brentford 2 - Swansea City 0. The Bees are 45 minutes from a first appearance in the Premier League in 74 years. Dominant from Brentford and poor from Swansea City. #BRESWA

— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) May 29, 2021

Brentford 2-0 Swansea HT:

Shots: 5-2
Shots on target: 3-0
Passing accuracy: 75%-77%
Possession: 43%-57% https://t.co/mGh7dxWghB

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 29, 2021

HALF-TIME AND BRENTFORD HAVE A COMMANDING LEAD...

Nobody expected this. Swansea City have struggled to grab a hold of this game while Brentford have actually managed to erase the ghosts of the past and make something happen. 

Into two minutes of added time...

AND IT'S OVER!!! An almighty scramble is created from the free-kick with Ayew, I think, getting there before David Raya and he sends it over the crossbar. Looped onto the roof rather.

Sergi Canos catches Roberts and Swansea City have a free-kick down the right. It's about 12 yards from the byline with Conor Hourihane over it.

I'm shocked. I'm genuinely shocked because with about a billion pounds at stake, this game has been shockingly open and end-to-end. Really awesome and hopefully, it stays the same.

A crazy/kamikaze headed back-pass towards Woodman by Guehi almost sends Bryan Mbeuma through on goal but the forward can't make it work in his favour. Swansea recover and scramble the ball clear.

High boot, he pulled play back for high boot by Toney but that didn't really look high because one, Toney was leaning backwards as he stuck the boot out and two, the defender was diving towards the ball. So I'm not sure why...

Down the other side and Brentford have themselves a corner. It's swung into the middle, Toney, I think, keeps it alive and a shot is hammered from the edge of the box by Janelt. It's blocked though and the referee pulls play back for something.

INTENT FROM SWANSEA!! Jay Fulton collects the ball just outside the Brentford penalty area and smacks one at goal but Pinnock is there to block. That's it, that's the move.

More Swansea possession but it's all of the sterile sort. Just passing the ball about with no real idea or intent to their play at the moment and the Brentford defense hasn't been threatened.

All Swansea City at the moment but if I'm being honest, they're not doing much. They have another throw-in as I type, Ayew is down the right and the ball is flung towards him. He, for some absurd reason, has let it go beyond him and out for a goal-kick.

As I said, they've got the ball but not doing much with it.

Conor Hourihane takes this again, flights it across the box and right into David Raya's hands at the far left post. Not the greatest corner from the set-piece specialist.

The resulting corner is worked towards the near post, nodded clear and the Swans have another throw which is quickly taken. Brentford don't react, Ayew is the man flying down the outside right but his cross is met by nobody and rolls through.

Yet, somehow, after the ball is sent in from the opposite flank, Canos has hooked it clear for corner number two.

Better from Swansea as they shithouse a bit and win a throw although the referee is called to stop a little bickering between two opposition players. Didn't see who they were but the throw comes to nowt......and yet, somehow, Swansea have themselves a corner.

A Swansea City free-kick on the far left, about 35 yards from the Brentford goal. Connor Roberts sends one into the mixer but Ivan Toney is there to nod it clear once again. This dude is absolutely everywhere and Swansea can't deal, at either end.

Swansea City really need to grab a foothold in this game. Or else the scoreline could read 4 or 5 very soon but Steve Cooper has just changed his team formation to the 4-3-3. They were, until then, matching Brentford's 3-5-2.

Another free-kick goes Brentford's way and they've got another chance to create. Mbeumo swings it in deep again from the far left, but after a little aerial tennis, Ayew is fouled by Pinnock and the referee pulls play back for a foul.

Mr Miller is right. The last three, or four, playoff finals have been terrible but this, this looks like it could be so much more if Swansea City can sort their s**t out. If they can..

This is great. The last few playoff finals have been, broadly speaking, utter dogs. Hopefully this is the start of some absolute chaos.

— Nick Miller (@NickMiller79) May 29, 2021

Nothing to report as Swansea City pass the ball about, looking for openings. Brentford are sitting back and soaking up the pressure, which is something they can afford to do now.

The commentator said "Swansea are at 6s and 7s" right now and that might be true. They're struggling to get a hold of the occasion, something that Brentford did last year. That is not the case this time with the Bees clearly sorting stuff out in the time.

OFF THE CROSSBARR!! Ivan Toney, what on earth was that? Somehow the ball falls for the forward, he deals with and sorts out his feet well before smashing a half-volley from the right of the box. It flies viciously through the air and crashes the crossbar, with Woodman beaten.

That’s a proper counterattack, Brentford.

— . (@Nigerianscamsss) May 29, 2021

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

LOVELY LOVELY COUNTER ATTACK FROM THE BEESS..

Bryan Mbeumo flies forward after collecting the ball, he slides it for Rasmussen down the inside left and he picks out Emiliano down the inside right with a lovely ball. He absolutely smashes home and Woodman could have done more.

The throw is terrible, Ayew falls inside the box and off fly Brentford on the break....

Free-kick for Swansea on the far right, Roberts hoists it into the middle but Brentford do well to deal with the threat although they do concede a throw down the right.

Sergi Canos cuts in from the left, again, and tries to swing a cross but gets his angles all wrong and sends it right down Freddie Woodman's throat. Not sure what that was but it turned into a shot.

Ticking off for Marc Guehi after he knocks the ball from the hand of the Brentford man taking a throw and nobody involved in that is happy. Guehi looks irritated with something else altogether but accepts the ticking off....and then deals with the throw. Goal kick for the Swans.

Four fouls already from Swansea City and it shows just how frustrated they've been in this opening 15 odd minutes of the game. They're trying to make things happen but Brentford's pressure combined with everything else, seems to be getting to them.

It's swung deep towards the far right but Swansea's defense do just enough to ensure that Brentford can work nothing more than a goal-kick.

Sergi Canos is causing all sorts of problems for Swansea as Kyle Naughton sends Canos down tumbling to the floor and the Bees have a free-kick on the far left.

Ivan Toney's 33rd goal of the season. That's nuts but what makes it even better is the fact that he has taken 11 penalties......and scored every single one.

That Toney penalty was like Socrates in 1986.

— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) May 29, 2021

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

THE IVAN TONEY SPECIALL...

One step, slowwwwllyyyy taken and while Woodman dives the right way, Toney sends it into the bottom corner.

No red card but this is a penalty. No VAR to overturn it remember.

Toney vs Woodman...

PENALTY FOR BRENTFORDDDD!!!

Freddie Woodman vs Bryan Mbeumo, the keeper gets there second and catches the Bees' striker, sending him down on the turf. Red card?