Tottenham Hotspur eased the pressure on Ange Postecoglou's shoulders with a hard-fought 2-0 win at Brentford.
Thomas Frank's Bees had scored the most home Premier League goals of any side in the division heading into the game, often engaging in high-scoring encounters, but there was a distinct lack of cutting edge from both sides in west London.
After a relatively quiet opening half-hour, Spurs were gifted the lead by Vitaly Janelt's own goal from a vicious in-swinging corner from Son Heung-min. Brentford's midfielder will perhaps be disappointed with his role in the goal, turning his back on the ball as goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, starting in place of usual number one Mark Flekken, was boxed in by Yves Bissouma.
Brentford improved after the break, pressing Spurs back into their own half, but it was a more measured, calm performance from the visitors who didn't employ their usual gung-ho tactics.
Instead, Spurs soaked up the pressure that Brentford put on them, and they struck a second late on through substitute Pape Matar Sarr moments after Djed Spence had cleared off the line.
The central midfielder made a lung-bursting run as Spurs countered, with Son's exquisitely weighted pass subsequently prodded through the legs of the onrushing Valdimarsson.
Brentford player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Ratings |
|---|---|
GK: Hakon Valdimarsson | 5.7/10 |
RB: Kristoffer Ajer | 6.3/10 |
CB: Nathan Collins | 6.1/10 |
CB: Sepp van den Berg | 6.5/10 |
LB: Keane Lewis-Potter | 6.9/10 |
CM: Christian Norgaard (c) | 6.7/10 |
CM: Vitaly Janelt | 6.0/10 |
RM: Bryan Mbeumo | 6.5/10 |
AM: Mikkel Damsgaard | 7.8/10 |
LM: Kevin Schade | 7.4/10 |
CF: Yoane Wissa | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Mathias Jensen (66' for Janelt) | 6.6/10 |
SUB: Michael Kayode (76' for Ajer) | 6.3/10 |
SUB: Fabio Carvalho (84' for Norgaard) | N/A |
Subs not used: Julian Eyestone (GK), Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Yegor Yarmolyuk, Yunus Emre Konak, Edmond-Paris Maghoma.
Tottenham player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Ratings |
|---|---|
GK: Antonin Kinsky | 8.1/10 |
RB: Pedro Porro | 7.5/10 |
CB: Archie Gray | 7.2/10 |
CB: Ben Davies | 7.2/10 |
LB: Djed Spence | 8.5/10 |
CM: Rodrigo Bentancur | 8.3/10 |
CM: Yves Bissouma | 7.2/10 |
RM: Mikey Moore | 6.6/10 |
AM: Dejan Kulusevski | 6.8/10 |
LM: Son Heung-min (c) | 7.9/10 |
CF: Richarlison | 6.9/10 |
SUB: Lucas Bergvall (46' for Moore) | 6.9/10 |
SUB: Pape Matar Sarr (68' for Bissouma) | 7.5/10 |
SUB: Dane Scarlett (79' for Richarlison) | 6.1/10 |
Subs not used: Brandon Austin (GK), Dante Cassanova, Malachi Hardy, Callum Olusesi, Sergio Reguilon, Damola Ajayi.
Player of the Match: Djed Spence (Tottenham)
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