FULHAM fans were left fuming with Ivan Toney tonight.
And it was all due to the Brentford striker’s “disrespectful” celebration aimed at Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Toney scored his first goal since pleading guilty to FA betting charges as the Bees downed their London neighbours 3-2.
The striker kept his cool from the penalty spot to fire home past Bernd Leno to put his side 2-1 up.
And as he celebrated with fans, Toney cheekily twirled his hand by his ear.
The same movement is used by Fulham striker Mitrovic, who had a run-in with Toney earlier this season.
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Mitrovic claimed he was Toney’s “idol” after the Englishman did the same celebration in Fulham’s 3-2 league win in August.
The Serb, who briefly played with Toney at Newcastle, had the last laugh at Craven Cottage by scoring a last-gasp winner.
But Toney made sure he bagged bragging rights tonight as other goals from Ethan Pinnock and Mathias Jensen sealed victory for the home side.
However, some Fulham fans were not best pleased with Toney’s efforts to once again imitate Mitrovic’s celebration.
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One supporter said: “Why is Ivan Toney doing Mitrovic’s celebration? How disrespectful.”
Another declared: “Smug little p***k Toney is – copied Mitro’s celebration in the home game, now done it again.”
One noted: “Toney’s a massive d***hole.”
Another added: “Toney is such a p***k doing Mitrovic celebration again loooool.”
Having copied Mitrovic, Toney rounded off his celebration by sucking his thumb.
The ace has just become a new father.
And explaining both gestures, Toney said: “I am a fan of Mitrovic so I have to do his celebration and it was also for my son.”
On netting yet another penalty, the 28th of his career so far, Toney added: “The wait doesn’t matter, the longer the better really because I can get away and think of other things like being away on holiday and chilling.
“The goalkeeper didn’t move but I have always got a spot where I put the ball. I only changed the way I take penalties after I missed one.”
Brentford boss Thomas Frank was full of praise for Toney, adding: “I take all the praise, it is solely me. No it is Ivan that is the technique he had when he arrived at Brentford.
“He is the best penalty taker in the world for a few reasons, his strategy, he practices it and he is very cool. He keeps doing it all the same.
“It is a unique skill with him, I think in general before this situation with the case going on before that unique ability to focus on games and training and he has kept doing that so that doesn’t surprise me.
“He doesn’t like the situation but he has top focus.
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“He is a special footballer, I think his character is unique in terms of leadership and driving his team.
“His link-up play and the way he sees his team-mates around in terms of combinations and then his ability to score goals. He is an all-around football player.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
