Tottenham Hotspur ended their seven-game winless Premier League run with a victory at Brentford that provides under-pressure manager Ange Postecoglou with much-needed respite.
Spurs’ previous top-flight victory came on December 15 against bottom club Southampton and Postecoglou came under increasing scrutiny as his side slipped down the table, starting this match in 16th.
But in a game of few clear chances, Vitaly Janelt unwittingly diverted Son Heung-min’s corner into his own net after 29 minutes and Tottenham, with their injury-enforced makeshift defence, kept out a Brentford team who are the division’s top-scoring home side this season.
Pape Matar Sarr made sure of the win with his side’s second goal in the 87th minute, poking home at the end of a quick Tottenham breakaway.
Jay Harris and Jack Pitt-Brooke analyse the key talking points.
How significant was this result for Postecoglou?
Tottenham had lost four Premier League matches in a row — and eight out of their previous 10 — and it was crucial they ended that run against Brentford.
It was not a fantastic performance from Spurs at the Gtech Community Stadium. Brentford caused them problems with crosses into the box, with Mikkel Damsgaard constantly floating the ball into dangerous areas, while Kevin Schade’s speed was a nuisance to Pedro Porro and Archie Gray.
Tottenham have kept faith with Postecoglou despite a long run of disappointing results (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
Spurs repelled everything that was thrown at them though, with Antonin Kinsky making a superb save in the first half to prevent Christian Norgaard’s half-volley from hitting the back of the net, and they profited from a small bit of fortune when Son’s corner went in via Janelt’s back.
The squad have been left jaded by their exploits in multiple competitions this season and it would not have been a surprise if the players’ levels dropped in the second half but they managed the game well after taking the lead and actually finished it strongly, with Sarr adding the late second.
Securing a 2-0 victory over Thomas Frank’s side means they have started a season-defining week in the best way possible. They head to Anfield on Thursday for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool (leading 1-0 from the first leg) and then face Aston Villa away in an FA Cup fourth-round tie on Sunday.
Losing to Brentford would have dampened the mood, which is already pretty low — but instead, a rare win has temporarily lifted the gloom and moved them up to 14th place.
Jay Harris
Has Spence made himself a starter when everyone is fit?
Djed Spence missed Tottenham’s defeat against Leicester City last weekend with a knock and was ineligible for Thursday’s victory over Elfsborg in the Europa League. They have missed him massively, which feels bizarre to say about a player who only made his first start for the club in December — two and a half years after joining from Middlesbrough.
Bryan Mbeumo has been linked with a move away from Brentford, but Djed Spence kept him quiet (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Having the 24-year-old defender fit and sharp for the Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool is crucial to Tottenham’s chances of reaching the final at Wembley. While Porro had a difficult time containing Schade, especially in the first half, Spence handled Bryan Mbeumo expertly.
Spence cut off Mbeumo’s crossing angles and made it difficult for him to cut inside onto his favoured left foot. He beat the Cameroon international for speed on multiple occasions when Damsgaard tried to release him into space.
The former England Under-21 international posed a threat going forward, too.
In the first five minutes, he dribbled forward with the ball and ghosted past multiple players before finding Dejan Kulusevski, whose right-footed shot was nearly tapped in at the back post by Richarlison.
Just before half-time, he tricked Schade with an elegant flick that left Richarlison in acres of space. Schade recovered to tackle Richarlison, but he came dangerously close to conceding a penalty.
Spence’s best contribution came in the 86th minute when he cleared Fabio Carvalho’s overhead kick off the line — 60 seconds later, Sarr scored the second goal.
The quality of Spence’s contributions in attack and defence means it is not unreasonable to suggest he should start ahead of Porro or Destiny Udogie when everybody is fit.
Jay Harris
Danso arrival eases defensive issues
With Radu Dragusin out with a knee injury picked up on Thursday and Micky van de Ven held back, Tottenham came into this game without a single fit specialist centre-back. This meant Gray and Ben Davies played together at centre-back for the first time this season (the last time Spurs did not have a fit specialist centre-back to choose from was January 2024, when they used Davies and Emerson Royal, just before Dragusin arrived from Genoa).
But Sunday afternoon at Brentford should be the last time Spurs have to play without a recognised player in that position for a while. On Sunday morning, they confirmed the arrival of Kevin Danso from Lens on an initial loan with an obligation to buy this summer. Danso will be eligible for Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield. If Van de Ven is ready, Spurs will be in a stronger position again.
Postecoglou said before kick-off that Danso is a “great fit” for the club and a “good one-on-one defender”. His athleticism should make him well-suited for the high line that Tottenham want to play.
Gray and Davies acquitted themselves very well at Brentford. They had a lot of defending to do, heading so many crosses away, but they did it well.
Maybe the front line, rather than defence, should be the priority on tomorrow’s transfer deadline day after all?
Jack Pitt-Brooke
What did Postecoglou say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at his post-match press conference.
What next for Spurs?
Thursday, February 6: Liverpool (A), Carabao Cup semi-final (second leg), 8pm UK time, 3pm ET
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(Top photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images))
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