Aha! Nick Ames’ match report is here.
Which means we’re done for now. Thanks for your company and comments – peace out.
Postecoglou says Brentford are a quality side and it’s always difficult to get a result at the Gtech. But his players put in another huge effort, particularly physically, and produced their best defensive effort of the season.
Spurs had to defend a lot of set pieces but managed to get first contact on most balls and bodies in the way too; he’s very pleased with their performance especially after the game in midweek.
On Tel, Florian Plettenburg has tweeted that he’s decided he wants United – makes sense, a striker with no goals scored all season should fit in perfectly – but with numbers not agreed, Arsenal aren’t out of the running.
Can he also play in goal, at centre-back, in midfield and up front?
Misery or misery?
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I wonder if that game has saved Postecoglou. If Spurs went out of the League Cup having lost today, the pressure to fire him would’ve been intense, and his demeanour over the last few weeks has been that of a man who’s almost given up. But that win, and the application Spurs showed in getting it, will have him fired up, and a positive result at Anfield will change everything.
But how will he displace Archie Gray and Ben Davies?
And England’s cricketers are distinguishing themselves once more.
We’re 27 minutes away from kick-off at the Emirates. The great Rob Smyth has all the buildup.
Chelsea are miles clear at the top of the WSL, but they’re drawing at Villa with 20 or so to go…
Palace have won 2-0 at Old Trafford, meaning they move above United in the table to sit 12th; Spurs move up from 17th to 14th, while Brentford stay 11th.
Elsewhere:
Thomas Frank will, I think, be really disappointed in his side today. Their set-piece delivery wasn’t of its usual standard and they looked devoid of other ideas; I’m also surprised that they didn’t try 3-5-2, because two proper centre-forwards would’ve asked more searching questions of Spurs’ makeshift centre-backs.
FULL TIME: Brentford 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
A fantastic win for Spurs, their first in the league for 49 days. They, and Ange Postecoglou in particular, badly needed that.
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90+4 min This is a massive result for Spurs who, as discussed earlier, travel to Anfield for the second leg of their League Cup semi with a one-goal lead. Keeping a clean sheet against the leaders is not the same as doing so against Brentford, but they’ve done it before and this will help persuader them they can do it again.
90+3 min Alan Smith gives Spence player of the match; I might’ve gone for Davies, but I can’t argue with that.
90+1 min Finally, we see the Spence clearance; it comes as a ball bounces following a Brentford corner, Damsgaaard, falling, hooks over his shoulder, and Spence is in the perfect position to hump away.
90 min We’ll have four added minutes.
88 min Back at Old Trafford, Mateta has scored again, putting Palace 2-0 up.
GOAL! Brentford 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Sarr (88)
Spurs have barely ventured out of their own half since the break but they swing it wide to Son and he slides a prefect pass in behind, forcing Valdimarsson to come, and allowing Sarr to flick with the outside of his boot through the keeper’s legs! What price that Spence clearance now?!
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87 min My screen greens out, returning just in time for me to see Spence kick off the line.
85 min Change for Brentford: Carvalho for Norgaard.
84 min Anther brute whipped to the front post, Kulusevski not quite able to get his flick then, when the ball comes back to him, he slings in a beauty that’s got ust too much gas on it for Bentancur and Scarlett.
82 min Pre-match, Jamie Carragher said he’d be surprised if Spurs conceded less than three – yes, he meant fewer – but football rarely works like that. Brentford aren’t so good they can roll over a side set up to stop them, and they don’t have as much class in midfield as the visitors. Meantime, Son wins them a corner…
80 min I love what Brentford do and I’m glad we have teams in the division who play differently to the others, but they’ve been very blunt today – it’s been the physical, direct stuff and nothing else, against a side ill-equipped in defence.
78 min Change for Spurs, Richarlison eventually realising it’s him being hooked – he’s less than gruntled – and Scarlett, who scored a nice goal in midweek, replaces him.
78 min Again, it yields nothing but a throw deep inside the Spurs half, and Ayode hurls into the box … but not flat enough, so it’s cleared easily enough.
76 min And here comes Kayode, replacing Ajer; he’s immediately into the action, running for the line and swivelling into a low cross, blocked behind for yet another corner, Brentford’s ninth.
74 min On the touchline, Keith Andrews gives instructions of Michael Kayode, Brentford’s new loan signing from Fiorentina. Life in Florence will have him well prepared for hanging in Perivale and Greenford, I’m sure.
72 min Spurs are hinting at a second goal on the counter with Brentford leaving gaps as they seek an equaliser. Meantime their back four keep it nicely, eventually working the ball clear when forced to; they’re doing a really good job of stopping the hosts build momentum.
70 min …which Mbuemo lamps well beyond the back post, Bentancur doing really well to see the ball behind under pressure. Spurs have been so doughty today.
69 min I wonder if, at some point, Brentford might stick Mbeumo up alongside Wissa, who’s looked a little isolated today. Also, if you’re going to spam crosses, you need men who know what they’re doing attacking them. The former wins yet another corner….
68 min We’re live with Arsenal v Man City – join Rob Smyth for all the buildup; Spurs send Sarr on for Bissouma.
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66 min Change for Brentford, Jensen on for Janelt.
65 min “Regarding your comment about training to use the weaker foot,” emails Andy Fliontoff, “I feel the same way about training to take unsaveable penalties. I suspect it’s easier to control your temperament in high-pressure situations like shoot-outs if you’ve a perfected, reliable penalty-taking technique. You can probably tell that I’m not a fan of the ‘shoot-outs are a lottery’ idea that pops up in English football every time one happens.”
I agree. You see a player smash one top corner or sweep one roof and wonder why they ever do anything else – though we must also be cognisant of the brain-scrambling effects of pressure.
63 min The corner yields a throw while, at Old Trafford, Harry Maguire has opted to have a kip while defending a free-kick, Jean-Philippe Mateta giving Palace the lead. Exhibition hangdog fronting-up is imminent…
62 min Mbeumo curls in and Poor heads clear, Damsgaard’s decent volley deflected behind.
62 min Brentford win another dangerous free-kick, out on the left 20 yards from goal…
60 min But this is a decent attack, Porro doing well to hook over hit shoulder, behind and infield to Kulusevski, who draws two men to him then pokes square to Bergvall, goal-side of him … and from the edge, he shoots wide of the near post. That was a really good opportunity.
59 min It’s a while since Spurs spent any time on the ball or inside the Brentford half.
57 min Another Brentford cross, this time from Ajer, again repelled by a Spurs head. I guess you can look it one of two ways: assume eventually the error or perfect ball arrive, or they need to find a different tactic.
55 min Almost immediately, Kulusevski drives down the right and leathers a shot … into the near-post side-netting.
54 min Big chance for Brentford! Damsgaard curves a tempter into the box and though Scahde gets a flick that alters the flight, when it arrives at Wissa you assume the equaliser. But he can’t quite sort out his feet, a yank from Porro, let go just in time, also hinders, and he awkwardly flicks over the bar from close range. That’s Brentford’s best opportunity so far, and again, there’s a challenge that looks like a penalty that VAR allows to pass.
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52 min Brentford spread wide to Mbeumo, who goes back one, and only when Norgaard crosse does Kinsky-y move, palming away from Wissa unconvincingly.
52 min Brentford are in the ascendancy now, Schade the principal danger, and he nips into the box looking to flight a ball to the back post … but puts too much on it.
51 min I don’t get why professionals aren’t working hard enough to be comfy using their weaker foot if they need to. And I feel the same way about dead-ball delivery: if you work at it, there’s no reason you can’t get good.
50 min Dmagaard leaps to get first foot to a bouncing ball before flicking outside him to Mbuemo … who might shoot but on his weaker right foot, instead looks to square, … problem being there’s no one there to collect.
48 min …but again, it’s a Spurs head making first contact, the ball eventually ending up behind for a goalkick. The visitors have defended those situations very well indeed – so far.
47 min Brentford win a free-kick out on the left and Mbeumo will swing out…
47 min It’s Bergvall’s 19th birthday today, which sounds fair enough until you realise that means he was born in 2006, the bounder.
46 min And ignore me, obviously – the change is, we’re told tactical. I’m surprised by that, but perhaps Postecoglou wants to protect what he has.
46 min We go again…
Change for Spurs: Bergvall replaces Moore, who must have a knock – I thought he was Spurs’ best player.
Half-time entertainment:
HALF-TIME: Brentford 0-1 Spurs
Spurs will be delighted with how that went. They’ve been solid and disciplined at the back, sneaking a goal too. Work for Thomas Frank to do; his side have been disappointing.
45+1 min The corner is cleared to edge, where Mbeumo lurks, and he hurls himself into an instashot that Richarlison heads clear. I’m not sure how much choice he had about it, but theat’s brave defending; rather him than me.
45 min We’ll have two added minutes.
45 min A ball infield from the touchline sees Lewis-Potter find Mbuemo, who whacks at the nearest defender, winning a corner.
44 min Nice from Spurs, working Richarlison free down the left, but Schade does well to get back at him and make the challenge. Spurs want a penalty, but there’s nowt doing.
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44 min Someone please confirm that Kinsky’s nickname is Kinsky-y.
43 min Brentford win a free-kick way out on the left, 45 yards from goal, and send forward their units, but Kinsky’s punch is good enough and Spurs clear.
41 min Brentford work Mbuemo free and as he accelerates towards halfway, Son hauls him down and is booked.
41 min On which point I’m surprised that delivery is only just back in the game. George Graham’s Arsenal used it as their first-choice option because when done properly – and having Steve Bould there was extremely conducive to that – it’s almost impossible to defend.
40 min This time he goes near post and Kulusevski arrives first, but his flick goes over the top.
39 min Spurs win another left-wing corner…
38 min Spours almost make it two! Moore, their best player so far, carries off the right and into the box, slipping a clever reverse-pass down the side for Kulusevski. He does’t have a look across – if he had, he might’ve shot – instead screwing a square-pass to no one, Richarlison again on his heels.
36 min Richarlison overcommits to a tackle, studs up, but there’s no contact so he escapes censure.
34 min Spurs fancy this now and Kulusevski sets Moore away; he speed-weaves into the box and veers outside Collins who shoves him in the back, the kind of challenge on the ref’s blind side with which you’d get away pre-VAR. Spurs want a penalty, rightly so, but there’s no intervention. I guess for those of us who’d have binned VAR before it arrived, that’s a good thing, but I’d be keen to see the working of whoever didn’t think that was a clear and obvious error.
33 min For the first time, Brentford find space inside the Spurts box, Janelt unable to wedge a cross into the middle, then Ajer burrows into Davies and Damsgaard’s shot – a tricky one to take on, given how much the ball is spinning – is palmed behind. The corner comes to nowt.
32 min Damsgaard into Lewis-Potter, who turns beautifully and works it wide, but again Spurs defend the box well when the ball comes in, then again when Brentford hit the by-line.
31 min Immediately, Brentford win a corner of their own, but a huge header from Davies sends the ball well away. I didn’t think he’d be as good a centre-back as he is, but he’s developed into a solid option in that position.
GOAL! Brentford 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Janelt own goal 29)
We’re mentioning Son now! He curls in a ball that’s spitting venom, Valdimarsson gets himself boxed and isn’t strong enough in seeking to escape, flapping a hand and getting nowhere near, leaving Janelt to unwittingly back into his own net!
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28 min Spurs win a corner down the left…
27 min Moore has been Spurs’ most lively attacker and he turns up on the right but can’t force anything and Brentford counter, Norgaard working it out to Mbeumo on the right as is their wont. He control it well than cuts infield as is his wont, shooting low … and straight at Kinsky.
25 min Moore makes space down the left and whips in a decent cross, but Brentford get it away. Their centre-backs are excellent box defenders.
24 min Thinking about Postecoglou, it seems to me he’s suffering from the same ailment which afflicted Erik ten Hag at Man United. Discovering that what worked with the best players and most money in a less good league doesn’t work in the Prem, where Ten Hag was unable to find a compromise or alternative, he’s unwilling – though he was given a hint that he’d need to in advance by how poorly Celtic performed in Europe under him.
22 min Now pressure from Brentford, last-ditch defending from Spurs repelling a ball into the box, then Janelt swings in a terrific cross that Wissa heads over.
2o min Talking of Gray, he’s done so well to adapt to a roll for which he’s not obviously suited, but again I need to interrupt myself because Spurs attack down the left, Spence crossing well … only to find Richarlison on his heels, reacting once the ball has been delivered. Moore, though, intelligently works it back to Kulusevski, who shoots low and hard … but Collins blocks well.
19 min We’ve barely seen Spurs front three, the first time I’ve mentioned Son to mention he’s not been mentioned. Meantime, Schade wriggles between weak challenges from Kulusevski and Davies, left side of the box, shooting directly into Gray’s shin.
17 min Porro and Kulusevski combine to find Bissouma, who feeds one into the box seeking Richarlison, but Lewis-Potter blocks.
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15 min Brentford won’t mind that and they’re winning it higher now; Spurs are looking to take heat and pace out of the game.
14 min It’s a bit messy now.
12 min Kinsky is caught in possession, tries to pass when he needs to launch, and Brentford pounce, finding Mbuemo out on the right. He slows Spence down then nips by on the outside, crossing, and the ball ends up behind when Porro does enough at the back post. Brentford want a corner, but ref says goalkick.
11 min There’s not been much midfield action so far; rather, there’s a bit of messing at the back before whichever side look to get it froward quickly. I’d be staggered if this game ended goalless.
9 min Valdimarrson picks a long pass in behind, Spurs’ line higher than the sun, and Schade, on the half-turn, takes the ball nicely, pulling it into stride and winning a corner … which comes to nowt.
7 mim Spurs keep it in midfield, but then Wissa menaces Gray, who does enough to win the throw. That’s a warning, though – Brentford aren’t going to just allow that.
6 min Better from Spurs, a clever from Bentancur taking men away as Kulusevski again marauds forward at inside-right, swivelling into a shot that Richarlison isn’t far off sticking in at the back post.
5 min Spurs knock it about at the back before Gray brings them away and finds Porro, who curls a ball into the channel; a decent sliding interception from Collins stops Kulusevski latching on.
4 min Already, there’s greater snap and aggression about the home side.
2 min Almost immediately, Brentford attack down the right and win a throw, loading the box. Is one of their signature early goals coming? Er, not immediately: they go short, then square, but do eventually pump one in, Damsgaard having a shot blocked.
1 min “…this Spurs defence, if they can keep a clean sheet,” intones Alan Smith without laughing even once. Kudos!
1 min Brentford kick off and we’re away!
Here come our teams…
On the other hand, Bryan Mbuemo, two years younger, couldn’t be loving life more. He’s scored 14 times this season, and keeping him quiet today won’t be easy.
Dominic Solanke scored his first Spurs goal that day, but his absence “for a few weeks” offers Richarlison a chance to nick his spot. He’s got a lot of what you need to be a serious player and was one of very few Brazilians to speak out against Jair Bolsonaro, but at 27 it’s now or never for him.
When the sides met at Spurs in September…
So Mikey Moore, then. He’s a fantastic prospect – you’ve got to be to get a league start at 17 – and has plenty of pace, skill and attitude. He knows this is for him, and he won’t be scared to get after it.
So where is the game? It’s worth noting that, at least on the face of things, Brentford will deploy a 4-2-3-1 , rather than the 5-3-2 they use for the better sides, and they’ll be buzzing having seen Spurs’ back five. They’ll want to get the ball forward quickly, and will overload in wide areas to put Archie Gray and Ben Davies, neither a centre-back but both playing centre-back, under aerial pressure.
Spurs, meanwhile, will look to flood forward in transition if they can, but otherwise will hope their midfield three are good enough to dominate possession. In particular, they’ll want to set Moore one on one with Ajer, coming back from injury and not really a right-back, looking for him and Son to attack the space between full-back and centre-back while Richarlison heads for the near post or drops off for cut-backs.
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Email! “There are a lot of literary references on Spurs’ bench today,” writes Karen Asad. “That’s just as well, given this could be a very dramatic season for them.”
To pick one, the way it’s going, they’re going to make The Mayor of Casterbridge look like a screwball comedy. And when the Coen brothers end up making that a couple of years from now, remember where you heard it first.
And another transfer line:
Postecoglou advises that Van de Ven is OK, they’re just trying to manage his minutes, while explaining that 17-year-old Moore has earned his go.
Otherwise, he’s happy to have Kevin Danso arriving on load, an experienced defender especially good one on one.
Also going on for you:
As for Spurs, the front three is the same as as against Elfsborg in midweek, while in midfield, Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski, rested for that one, return with Pepe Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall dropping out. And finally, Micky van de Ven, still feeling his way back from injury, doesn’t make it so Ben Davies moves inside with Djed Spence coming in at right-back and in net, Brandon Austin is replaced by Antonín Kinský.
Brentford make two changes to the side that won at Palace last weekend. Out go Flekken and, at right-back, Mads Roerslev has beetled off to Wolfsburg on loan, so Kristoffer Ajer comes in.
Ah but first of all, Thomas Frank explains that Mark Flekken has a side strain so won’t play today but he’s every confidence in his replacement, Hákon Valdimarsson, did well coming on last week.
Otherwise, he’s expecting an entertaining game and a lot of transitions and “open situations”; he wants his side to limit them and exploit Spurs’ – he cites Brentford’s creditable 0-2 defeat to Liverpool as a good example of what his side need to do.
He says Spurs have good attackers, but wants his side to make sure their rest defence is sharp and defend well in the big moments.
Righto, I’m going to write these down and then we’ll have a think about what they mean.
Teams!
Brentford (4-2-3-1): Valdimarsson; Ajer, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis=Potter; Norgaard Janelt; Mbuemo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa. Subs: Eyestone, Pinnock, Jensen, Carvalho, Mee, Yarmoliuk, Konak, Maghoma, Kayode.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): (Kinsky; Pedro Porro, Gray, Davies, Spence; Bissouma, Bentancur, Kukusevski; Moore, Richarlison, Son. Subs: Austin, Reguilon, Hardy, Cassanova, Sarr, Bergvall, Lluesi, Ajayi, Scarlett.
Referee: Jared Gillett (Gold Coast, Australia)
Preamble
This could be Tottenham’s greatest season in nearly 65 years. They’re a goal up on Liverpool going into Thursday’s League Cup semi-final second leg, with the even more success-averse Newcastle a likely final opponent, and they’re into the last 16 of the Europa League, second favourites behind the worst Manchester United team in recent memory. Exciting times for Daniel Levy’s intrepid Lillywhites!
Er, or not. They’re also16th in the table having lost eight of their last 10 league games, most recently to Leicester and Everton, their brash, larrikin manager, Ange Postecoglou, seemingly a step away from scrawling the team on the dressing room wall in his own tears. If England’s cricketers could only send their Aussie counterparts to N17 for a few months, they might just have a chance of winning the Ashes.
So the last thing Spurs need this afternoon is a trip to Brentford. Thomas Frank’s men have the league’s fourth-best home record having scored the most goals, pose as physical a challenge as any side in the division, and their strikers, excellent and in form, will more than fancy a look at Postecoglou’s makeshift back five.
Of course, Spurs still have the attacking firepower to seize any game – just ask Manchester City – and we can be sure that, for marginally better or for absolute worst, they’ll turn up at the Gtech to do the same stuff they always do. However much he might enjoy the frisson of power and the evidence says it’s a lot, Levy won’t want to fire yet another failed manager appointed by him, but two defeats this week and – given that firing himself doesn’t appear to be an option – he may feel he’s no choice but to act.
Kick-off: 2pm GMT
