SM
Bayern vs. Augsburg: 12 hrs 44 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Jonathan Woodgate: 'Ivan Toney is not better than Dominic Solanke'

:Headline: Jonathan Woodgate: 'Ivan Toney is not better than Dominic Solanke':
The rival centre-forwards are set to face off in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs.
Sports Mole

Jonathan Woodgate insists record-breaking Brentford hitman Ivan Toney is not as good as “absolutely outstanding” Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.

In-form Toney is arguably the most sought-after frontman outside the Premier League after netting a remarkable 31 Sky Bet Championship goals for the Bees this term, while Cherries forward Solanke registered a more modest total of 15.

The rival centre-forwards are set to face off when their clubs meet in the play-offs, beginning with Monday evening’s semi-final first leg at the Vitality Stadium.

While statistics suggest otherwise, Cherries boss Woodgate believes one-time England international Solanke is the superior player, pointing to the number of penalties converted by Toney to explain the gulf in goals scored.

Asked if the Brentford player was the best striker outside the Premier League, Woodgate replied: “Better than Dominic Solanke? You think he’s better than Dominic Solanke? I don’t think he is.

“Nine penalties; if Dom had taken our penalties, he would be on the same amount. I think Dom is better than Toney.

“Listen, I do like Toney but I think Dominic Solanke is absolutely outstanding.”

Bournemouth are seeking an immediate return to the Premier League following last year’s relegation, while Brentford were beaten in the 2020 play-off final and have not featured in the top flight for 74 years.

The Bees’ third-placed finish owed a lot to Toney, whose impressive haul following last summer’s arrival from Peterborough for an initial £5million is the most goals scored by a single player in a Championship season, surpassing the 30 Glenn Murray registered for Crystal Palace in 2012-13.

Woodgate is determined to deny 25-year-old Toney a dream trip to Wembley but feels the opposition’s prized asset is destined for the Premier League regardless of the outcome of the play-offs.

“I think there will be definitely teams sniffing around him,” said Woodgate.

“Last year, no one (in the top flight) really took a chance on him when he was at Peterborough. I thought, when I watched him, he was always a really, really good centre-forward.

“I am sure Premier League teams will take him now, even if they don’t go up.”

Following a difficult start to life on the south coast, Solanke has finally found his shooting boots, albeit in a lower division.

The 23-year-old, who was capped by his country in 2017, cost a reported £19m from Liverpool in January 2019 but struck just three times in 42 top-flight appearances for the Dorset club before relegation last summer.

Having expressed his high opinion of both Toney and Solanke, Woodgate was unsure whether he would be able to keep hold of the latter should promotion not be achieved.

“I won’t be making those decisions. I haven’t got a clue on that one,” he said.

body check tags ::

amp_article__447540 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-15 05:58:28:
html db last update - 2021-05-15 05:58:28 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Dominic Solanke

Click here for more stories about Bournemouth

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Dominic Solanke Ivan Toney Jonathan Woodgate Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Two more years! Man City confirm Pep Guardiola contract extension
Reunion at Man United: Amorim 'has spoken' to Sporting star over 2025 transfer
Premier League: Transfer ins and outs - Summer 2023

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

newE www

Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PC

Arsenal star 'facing race against time' to be fit for Forest clash

2

AS

Maresca to extend olive branch to struggling Chelsea attacker?

3

MT

Preview: Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace - prediction, team news, lineups

4

PA

Preview: Las Palmas vs. Mallorca - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PL

Preview: Hearts vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PH

Preview: Millwall vs. Sunderland - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PM

Preview: Arsenal vs. Nott'm Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PA

Preview: Leicester vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PL

Preview: Man City vs. Spurs - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PM


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .