Brentford Blast Birmingham into Oblivion

What a night for the Bees, who turned a routine Carabao Cup tie into a masterclass of clinical finishing and relentless pressure. Brentford, sitting 6th in the Premier League before the kick‑off, looked every bit the side that has been flirting with European places, while Birmingham City, languishing 22nd in the Championship, appeared to have brought a Sunday league squad to a professional bout.

From the first whistle Brentford dictated the tempo, slicing through a hesitant Blues defence with quick one‑twos and incisive runs down the flanks. The breakthrough came just before the half‑hour mark when Ivan Toney latched onto a loose ball in the box