Forest Green stunned promotion-chasing Crewe as Jordan Garrick struck twice in a 3-0 win.
Steve Cotterill’s strugglers hit three goals in a 15-minute first-half spell then defended resolutely, with keeper Vicente Reyes conjuring heroics in the second half to preserve the lead.
The success ended a three-game losing spell for Forest Green, while adding to the woes of Crewe, who have lost four of their last seven games as their hopes of automatic promotion continue to fade.
Forest Green made a bright start and were ahead in the 13th minute when Christian Doidge seized the ball off Ed Turns and squared for Garrick to go clear on goal and fire past Tom Booth.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 26th minute from a set-piece delivery, with Ryan Inniss meeting Dominic Thompson’s corner with a powerful downward header and Garrick helping the ball over the line.
The home crowd were howling in disapproval when Jamie Robson glanced a header on Charlie McCann’s cross to find the far corner for a third after 28 minutes.
Emmanuel Osadebe went close to grabbing a fourth but his effort cannoned off the post.
Crewe half-time substitute Aaron Rowe almost made an immediate impact, firing an effort just past the far post as the Railwaymen attempted to rally.
But they were thwarted by Reyes, who kept out a close-range volley from Elliott Nevitt.
There was anguish for Crewe, who had a penalty appeal for a handball turned away and then Charlie Kirk’s volley came off the underside of the bar and post, but claims the ball crossed the line also fell on deaf ears.
Reyes then kept out a low blast from Kirk and he was in the right place to thwart Shilow Tracey who was sliding in for a low finish.
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life after Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life without Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
Pirlo sacked as Sampdoria head coach after dismal Serie B start
Andrea Pirlo has been sacked as Sampdoria's head coach after just over a season at the helm.
Pirlo, who managed Juventus for the 2020-21 campaign, has been relieved of his duties after an underwhelming start to their Serie B season.
After finishing seventh in Italy's second tier last term, the 45-year-old was given the green light to try and return to Serie A at the second time of asking.
However, an opening day draw with Frosinone was followed up with back-to-back defeats to Reggiana and Salernitana, leaving them second-bottom in the division.
During his time in charge, Pirlo won 18 of his 45 matches in charge (D10 L17), averaging 1.42 points per game, a total only bettered by his time with Juventus (2.15).
Sampdoria return to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris this weekend in search of their first three points of the season, welcoming Bari to Genoa on Saturday.
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