Dasilva shines as Bees sting Reading to go top of the Championship

Brentford secured a pivotal victory over Reading, becoming the first side to inflict a double upon the Royals all season, and in doing so, leapt ahead of Norwich City to reach the Championship’s summit.

In truth, for large parts, the contest was an even one. Reading began the brighter and raced into a deserved lead, Lucas Joao firing low and hard away from Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, converting the spot-kick awarded after Josh Laurent was clipped by Henrik Dalsgaard.

In a game of such fine margins, individual brilliance is generally required to make the difference in transforming a solitary point into three. On this particularly Baltic night in Berkshire, the tide was turned emphatically via the heroics of Josh Dasilva.

First, he drew his side level with a piece of exquisite skill. Ten minutes prior to the interval, the 22-year-old collected an intuitive free-kick from Ivan Toney, burst into the area, before cutting back and unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top left-hand corner.

Toney had been quiet for the majority of the evening, well shackled by the Reading rear guard. That altered significantly with under five minutes remaining, as the forward displayed why he is the division’s leading goal scorer, and much, much more than that.

Mathias Jensen found himself in space down the left, delivering a deep cross to the far post. Toney anticipated wonderfully, nonchalantly chesting down, and there waiting was Dasilva, demonstrating astute awareness at such a tender age.

Operating on the right of a midfield three and evidently keen to feature in an attacking sense; he lashed home a fierce strike from close range to complete his brace.

The difference between a career that languishes in lower league football and one that is played out at the highest level is end product, and on this evidence, the midfielder is clearly fully adept in this specific ability.

Toney later added a third to cap off a resounding evening for the Bees and a second 3-1 victory over the Royals this campaign, after subjecting their opposition to the same fate at their shiny new home back in December. There is no doubt about it though, this was Dasilva’s night.

Reading more than played their part and on another day, could easily have taken something from the game – much maligned for their ineptitude during the January transfer wonder, their lack of depth was highlighted on the night.

The Royals are inundated with attacking firepower themselves, mercurial wonder, Ovie Ejaria, often leaving opposition defences in fits with his bamboozling dribbling ability. Then there is the fleet of foot Michael Olise, capable of leaving the swiftest full-back woefully wrong-footed.

However, on this occasion, it was Dasilva who stole the show. A product of Arsenal’s Hale End Academy, he began life in a variety of attacking positions, including forward and on the left-wing, before finding his niche as a box-to-box midfielder.

With opportunities limited at a club the size of Arsenal, he inked a four-year deal at Griffin Park in 2018. Brentford, acquiring him on a free transfer, proving to be somewhat of a coup for the West Londoners.

After battling through some initial injuries, he burst onto the scene during his first season at the club. Limited to substitute appearances, to begin with, he showed admirable determination, making his first start in March 2019.

A month later, he notched his first goal in the famous red and white stripes, a long-range piledriver at Millwall to earn the Bees a share of the spoils.

Following a season of such promise, Thomas Frank afforded him considerably more chances, Dasilva’s appearance total increasing from 21 to 47 during 2019/20. He grasped his opportunity with both hands, recording seven goals, including a first senior hat-trick in the 7-0 rout over Luton Town.

On the back of the breaking up of Brentford’s infamous “BMW” (in ode to Benrahma, Mbeumo and Watkins) strike force, supporters were rightfully concerned for their future prospects, having had to part ways with such a wrath of quality.

The club, to its credit, has a reputation for consistently reinvigorating itself and it’s no different this time around. The aforementioned departures have opened up the door further for Dasilva and he is thoroughly rewarding the coaching staff who have entrusted in his ability.

“In games like this, you need your top players like Josh [Dasilva] to step up and deliver. A bit of brilliance was what we were looking for”. – Brentford manager Thomas Frank was full of praise for his midfielder’s display talking to BBC Sport following the game.

Dasilva has also represented England on the international scene, featuring at each level from U17 up to U21. He was part of the 2017 squad that won the UEFA European U19 Championship and claimed his first goal for his country for the U21s during a 3-3 draw with Andorra in September 2020.

Still in the infancy of his career, one would not bet against him making his senior bow in the future.

With a wealth of talent at their disposal, accruing an unbeaten streak which has now surpassed a staggering 21 matches, do not be surprised if Brentford make amends for last season’s Play-Off heartbreak and earn the right to compete in the Premier League for the first time in their history – and Josh Dasilva promises to play an integral part.

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