CHERRIES boss Jonathan Woodgate hailed the quality of “outstanding” Dominic Solanke – and insisted he was better than Brentford frontman Ivan Toney.

Former Peterborough striker Toney has taken the Championship by storm this season, breaking Glenn Murray’s goalscoring record with his 31st strike of the campaign in Brentford's 3-1 win against Bristol City last Saturday.

Solanke finished with 15 goals for the season – having played five league games fewer than Toney.

But with nine of Toney’s strikes coming from the penalty spot, Woodgate believes his frontman is better than the division’s top scorer.

The two forwards are set to do battle when Cherries welcome Brentford to Vitality Stadium for Monday’s play-off semi-final first leg (6pm).

Asked whether he felt Toney was the best striker outside of the Premier League, Woodgate replied: “Do you think he’s better than Dominic Solanke? I don’t think he is.

“Nine penalties. If Dom had taken our penalties, they’d have been on the same amount.

“I think Dom is better than Toney.

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

Brentford forward Toney also recorded 10 assists to go with his impressive goal haul this season.

He finished three strikes ahead of Blackburn’s Adam Armstrong in the race for the Golden Boot, with Teemu Pukki third on 26 goals.

Cherries have already twice been beaten by Thomas Frank’s side in league action this campaign.

The Dorset club were defeated 2-1 in west London under Jason Tindall back in December before a 1-0 home loss at Vitality Stadium last month.

But Woodgate insisted he would not swap any of his squad for those in the Brentford camp ahead of the two-legged play-off tussle.

He added: “We know on the big stage the players should be there and I’m sure they will be. We’ve got some outstanding individual talent in that changing room.

“I wouldn’t change any of my players for theirs. I love the squad that I’ve got.

“Okay they are a very, very good team but, for me, I love my players that I’ve got at the minute.”

He added: “I think these players really enjoy the bigger games.

“When we just got beat by Barnsley (back in March) we had to go on a run. We were five points behind Reading – we finished seven points ahead of them at the end.

“These players can play in big games, there’s no getting away from that. I’m sure they will be bang up for this game.”

Victory in the semi-final would mean Cherries could meet either Swansea or Barnsley in the play-off final at Wembley on May 29.