Toral nets hat-trick in Bees victory

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Brentford 4 Blackpool 0

Jon Toral scored a brilliant hat-trick as Brentford comfortably defeated the Championship’s bottom club.

On-loan Arsenal midfielder Toral made the most of a rare start, grabbing the opener from close range on 16 minutes before nodding in a second shortly afterwards.

Blackpool defender Charles Dunne was sent-off just before half-time for a late challenge on Jota.

Andre Gray added the third early in the second half before Toral completed the scoring late on.

Brentford boss Mark Warburton made two changes to the side which beat Bournemouth 3-1 on Saturday, with Toral and Harlee Dean replacing Alan Judge and Tony Craig.

And it was Toral, on his first start since 6 December,  who opened the scoring when he was picked out by Jonathan Douglas before finishing from six yards.

The Spaniard scored again two minutes later as he converted Andre Gray’s delivery.

Blackpool, struggling at the foot of the table, went close through Joe Rothwell but were reduced to 10 men after Dunne’s foul.

Brentford continued to dominate after the break. Alex Pritchard and Toumani Diagouraga were both denied by Blackpool keeper Joe Lewis, who also kept out a Gray shot but the Bees striker reacted quickest to pop home the loose ball.

Gray, Toral and Pritchard tested Lewis further and Moses Odubajo fired just over before Toral had the last word, slotting home after Blackpool failed to clear a corner.

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Button; Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Dallas; Douglas (Saunders 62), Diagouraga; Jota (Smith 66), Pritchard, Toral; Gray (Long 62)
Subs not used: Bonham, Craig, McCormack, Yennaris.

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