Another rollercoaster: Antonio Conte
(Picture: REUTERS)The Tottenham psychodrama played out on the pitch once again as the Premier League’s comeback kings delivered another rescue act with a 2-2 draw at Brentford.
Harry Kane’s towering header and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s crisp finish sealed Spurs’ 14th Premier League point from a losing position this season, in a lively encounter at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Just 16 days from his missed penalty against France that led to England’s quarter-final exit at the hands of France, the 29-year-old eased back towards his poise and finishing prowess on his club return.
Antonio Conte’s men do not know when they are beaten – but they almost do not know either how to find the starting line.
A Tottenham match in this recent sequence almost seems like a study of a group of players and coaches working out what they want to be, and all in the microcosm of the unforgiving, relentless Premier League.
This is not typically the arena for any internal struggle, and yet somehow Spurs are finding a way both to search their souls and then scramble some kind of response.
While it cannot continue indefinitely, those mental tussles are just as compelling after the World Cup break as they proved beforehand.
For the first hour Spurs were second-best in every department, looking disjointed and sluggish after the 43-day World Cup hiatus.
Brentford in comparison looked their sophisticated, stylish and committed selves. The Bees remain a constant credit to boss Thomas Frank and his backroom staff.
Janelt tapped home a well-worked set-up move, where Toney’s flick forced Japhet Tanganga out of position with Spurs failing to recover.
Toney tapped home from Mathias Jorgensen’s flick from a corner after the break, that Eric Dier will be furious with himself for conceding.
Spurs were so far off the pace that Brentford win would have been nailed-on against anyone else. But then Conte’s men came out the other side of any navel-gazing, sparked into life by who other than Kane.
The England skipper rose highest and proudest to meet Clement Lenglet’s fine cross with a devastating header.
In a flash, Spurs were back to life – and six minutes later, the visitors were level.
Dejan Kulusevski traded passes with Matt Doherty on the right flank to create the space for a low cut-back. The luckless Ben Mee’s deflection steered the ball straight into Hojbjerg’s path, and the Denmark midfielder kept his cool with a fine finish.
Kane could not quite win the argument at the death, hitting the crossbar with another header, but Spurs will take heart from even being in any position to bicker given their latest start.
