Gillingham have two wins from 16 League 2 games this season
Brentford suffered a shock exit from the Carabao Cup as League Two Gillingham overcame a penalty shoot-out to reach the fourth round for the first time in 26 years.
England World Cup hopeful Ivan Toney had put the Premier League hosts ahead in the third minute.
But the Gills scored their first try of the game in the 75th minute when substitute Mikael Mandron headed in.
This allowed them to record a stunning upset as Mikkel Damsgaard was the first to miss in a high-quality shootout.
Thomas Frank said his side, last year’s quarter-finalists after reaching the last four in 2020-21, were in contention to win it and formed his squad accordingly, welcoming forward Toney of the penalty in a strong formation in the West. London
Brentford, 78 places above the Gills in the Football League, quickly asserted themselves after the game was pushed back 20 minutes due to Gillingham’s late arrival at the stadium.
A long ball from goalkeeper David Raya released Damsgaard as he touched Toney for a simple tap-in with the first chance of the game, two days before England’s World Cup squad was announced.
Saman Ghoddos hit the post with a header after Toney had another effort saved as Brentford went close to a second but, despite their dominance, the Bees could not put the game beyond Neil Harris’ visitors , which are placed 20th in the fourth level.
They were punished when Alex MacDonald found fellow substitute Mandron with a cross with 15 minutes remaining, and that one chance in open play was enough to force penalties when Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock was denied in the closing stages.
MacDonald held his nerve with the first sudden-death penalty after a series of well-taken kicks, before Damsgaard hit the crossbar to send Gillingham into Thursday’s fourth-round draw.
Gillingham take their chance to claim the upset
Gillingham have struggled in their return to the fourth tier following relegation from League One last season.
Harris’ side have won two of 16 games so far this season, scoring just six goals, and have dropped to 22nd after Tuesday’s league games.
They had just 19% possession at the Gtech Community Stadium, recording one shot compared to Brentford’s 16, seven of which went on target.
But they successfully prevented their top-flight opposition from putting the game out of reach to set up their penalty shoot-out triumph, which sent them into the last 16 for the second time in the club’s history, and first time since 1996.
Despite a strong starting line-up, it’s now one win in nine games for Brentford, who face reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday in their final game before the Premier League football break for the World Cup.
Toney scores in final World Cup audition
Ivan Toney has scored 56 goals in 104 games for Brentford
In his last chance to impress England manager Gareth Southgate before he names his final 26-man World Cup squad on Thursday, Toney was able to get on the scoresheet and provided a reminder of his skill at the launch while making a final bid for inclusion.
Brentford boss Frank claimed Toney had done enough to be selected for his first World Cup after the striker scored twice in a 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton in mid- October
But this remains the only win for out-of-form Brentford in two months, and Toney has not scored in 270 minutes of Premier League football since that brace took his tally to eight goals in 10 games.
Unused by Southgate despite being called up for the first time in the England squad for September’s Nations League games, Toney missed another valuable chance to shine on Saturday when he was knocked out of the draw with Nottingham Forest in cause of suspension.
Currently attending Football Association investigations into allegations of historic match-fixing, he was able to refocus on Tuesday as he looks to achieve his “childhood dream” of representing England on football’s biggest stage .
Although his early contribution was not enough to see Brentford progress, he will hope he has done enough in recent months to convince Southgate.
alignments
Brentford
3-4-3 formation
1 Stripe
30Roerslev13M Jorgensen5Pinnock
14Ghoddos6Nørgaard15Onyeka3Henry
23Lewis-Potter17Toney24Damsgaard
- 1 Stripe
- 30RoerslevReplaced by Mbeumoat 81 minutes
- 13M Jorgensen
- 5 Pinnock
- 14 Ghoddos
- 6Nørgaard Replaced by Dasilvaat in the 45th minute
- 15OnyekaReplaced by Yarmolyukat 72’minutes
- 3Henry Replaced by Jensenat 61 minutes
- 23 Lewis-Potter
- 17 Tony
- 24 Damsgaard
Substitutes
- 8 Jensen
- 10Dasilva
- May 16
- 19 Mbeumo
- 32 Crama
- 33 Trevitt
- 34 Cox
- 36 Yarmolyuk
- 37 Gilbert
Gillingham
Formation 4-5-1
25 Turner
14McKenzie4Wright23Baggott17Law
21Adelakun16Jefferies6Williams8O’Keefe22Green
19 Walking
- 25 Turner
- 14 McKenzie
- 4 Wright
- 23 Bagot
- 17 Right
- 21 Adelakun
- 16 JefferiesBooked 5 minutes awayReplaced by Kashketat 90+3’minutes
- 6Williams Replaced by Alexandre in the 65th minute
- 8O’Keefe
- 22Verd Replaced by MacDonaldat 74 minutes
- 19Walker Replaced by Mandronat 64 minutes
Substitutes
- 1 Morris
- 2 Alexander
- 7 MacDonald
- 9 Lazy
- 24 Kashket
- 27 Akehurst
- 29 Gbode
Live text
-
End of game, Brentford 1(5), Gillingham 1(6).
-
Penalty shootout ends, Brentford 1(5), Gillingham 1(6).
-
Missed penalty! Still Brentford 1(5), Gillingham 1(6). Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) hits the crossbar after a right footed shot.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(5), Gillingham 1(6). Alexander MacDonald (Gillingham) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the center of the goal.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(5), Gillingham 1(5). Mathias Jensen (Brentford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the left post.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(4), Gillingham 1(5). Scott Kashket (Gillingham) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(4), Gillingham 1(4). Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right post.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(3), Gillingham 1(4). Cheye Alexander (Gillingham) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the center of the goal.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(3), Gillingham 1(3). Josh Dasilva (Brentford) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the left post.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(2), Gillingham 1(3). Will Wright (Gillingham) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right post.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(2), Gillingham 1(2). Saman Ghoddos (Brentford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the left post.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(1), Gillingham 1(2). Hakeeb Adelakun (Gillingham) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right post.
-
Goal! Brentford 1(1), Gillingham 1(1). Ivan Toney (Brentford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right post.
-
Goal! Brentford 1, Gillingham 1(1). Mikael Mandron (Gillingham) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the left post.
-
Penalty shoot-out begins Brentford 1, Gillingham 1.
-
End of second half, Brentford 1, Gillingham 1.
-
Exchange, Gillingham. Scott Kashket replaces Dom Jefferies.
-
Foul by Ethan Pinnock (Brentford).
-
Jake Turner (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Corner, Brentford. Corner taken by Robbie McKenzie.