Not for the first time this season Spurs took an hour to get going at Brentford, but their point from this game sums up both their best and their worst.
‘Spurs at home, you say? On Boxing Day? A lunchtime kick-off? And eight days after the end of the World Cup? With Hugo Lloris and Cristian Romero rested and Fraser Forster making his first appearance in goal for them and Richarlison injured?’ You can only imagine the extent to which Thomas Frank’s eyes lit up when this fixture at this particular time was thrown up by the Commodore 64 that decides such matters.
But when push came to shove in the first Premier League game back after its enforced six-week break, Brentford couldn’t quite find enough to get the win that had looked so likely when Spurs gave them their two-goal lead nine minutes into the second half. And while Antonio Conte may feel somewhat vindicated over his anger at his team being pushed back into action just eight days after the World Cup ended, the truth remains that the shortcomings displayed during this match were repeats of shortcomings that they were displaying well before the World Cup began.
For an hour at the Brentford Community Stadium, Spurs played with all the nerviness that sums them up when they’re at their worst, giving possession away cheaply, looking vulnerable and panicky every time Brentford pushed forward, showing this strange kind of nerviness that seems to descend over them for periods of games. But when they did click, they served up reminder after reminder of why they can be so dangerous in the first place and almost snatched a win in the closing stages.
Perhaps a lot of mistakes were inevitable, considering the bobbly pitch upon which they were playing. There was certainly a hint of good fortune about Brentford’s first goal. A cross from the left from Bryan Mbeumo found Christian Norgaard at the far post, but his volley would have sailed well wide had it not deflected off Clement Lenglet. Forster reacted by half-blocking with his leg, but Vitaly Janelt was on hand to stab the ball over the line to give the home side the lead.
Right place, right time!
Brentford have the breakthrough against Spurs thanks to Vitaly Janelt 🐝
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