Another Spurs Slip-up as They Fail to Beat Brentford

Saturday 23rd April 2022 - 5:30pm

Match Report

Brentford 0 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur

Venue: Brentford Community Stadium, London

Competition: English Premier League

"Pre-Match Thoughts – After that shocking defeat last weekend to Brighton, we're all hoping Spurs bounce back with a win. Brentford have been in brilliant form since the arrival of a certain Christian Eriksen though, so they won't go down easy.

I think we'll be fired up for the three points and win it 3-1."

Conte made a single change to the line-up as Sessegnon replaced Reguilón at left wing-back.

18' Eriksen sent in an out-swinging corner and Toney connected with a header that crashed off the crossbar.

Brentford had been the team on top in the opening stages with Spurs struggling to create anything going forward.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – A dull and frustrating first half where nothing seems to have got going. Hopefully Conte has a plan up his sleeve because we'll have to be a lot better in the second half if we're to win this and reclaim that fourth spot from Arsenal."

52' Romero played it into the feet of Kane who held off his man on the edge of the area before spinning and getting a shot away. A deflection off a Brentford boot took it up and over the bar though.

Spurs had slightly stepped it up in the second period but they were still severely lacking in the final third and had failed to register a shot on target.

65' A loose pass from Dier was pounced on by a Brentford man who nudged it to Eriksen in space outside the area. He took on the shot but a deflection took it just wide.

66' Lloris punched away a cross but it was swiftly chipped back in and nodded at goal, thankfully Kane was there to head it off the line. The rebound fell to Eriksen who drilled a shot at the near post, but Lloris managed to get down well and save it.

74' Sánchez was thrown on for Sessegnon and Davies moved out to left wing-back.

86' Conte looked to inject a bit of energy into the attack by bringing Moura on for Royal and shifting Kulusevski to right wing-back.

90' Eriksen curled a free-kick in behind the backline and Toney's header for the bottom corner cannoned off the post.

92' Kulusevski hit a long cross that Kane acrobatically bicycled from a tight angle across goal. Unfortunately it fell just wide of the mark.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – Another slip in the race for the top 4 and a second game in a row without a single shot on target. Conte's goal scoring machine appears to have come to a dramatic halt and in the end we were lucky to get a point. Brentford were the better side and created more clear-cut chances. It leaves us sitting in fifth with five games to go and Arsenal two points ahead."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 7 – Forced into making a few saves including a good one to deny Eriksen at his near post. Hairy moment when he came rushing out of his box to clatter into Toney at one point. Fortunately he just about got enough of the ball.

• 4. Cristian Romero – 8 – Solid. Made a number of interceptions and tackles including one when covering for Royal who'd been waltzed around.

• 15. Eric Dier – 5 – Made a string of poor passes forward and our build-up play really suffered as a result. Was beaten to a header by Toney that he'd have been relieved to see hit the post.

• 33. Ben Davies– 6 – Did his job defensively but as with the rest of the team he struggled when on the ball in the final third.

• 12. Emerson Royal – 3 – We haven't looked the same side after he's come in for the injured Matt Doherty. Doesn't seem to know what to do when he's in the opposition half.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 5 – Didn't really make his mark on the game and Eriksen outshone him in the middle of the park.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 4 – He was slow releasing the ball today and it cost us as we couldn't string enough pieces of play together.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 4 – Disappointing return from him. Went about his work defensively but his crossing was woeful.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 4 – Brentford did a good job nullifying his threat and it was another frustrating game for him.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 4 – A wasteful free-kick straight into the arms of the keeper towards the end summed up his evening. Struggled to create chances.

• 10. Harry Kane – 5 – Marked out of the game again which clearly affects all of our play going forward. Vital header off the line at one point. Would have been a wonderful way to win it had his bicycle kick found the corner, but it wasn't to be.

Substitutions:

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon ⬅ 74' ➡ 6. Davinson Sánchez – 6 – Came on and tried to get involved.

• 12. Emerson Royal ⬅ 86' ➡ 27. Lucas Moura – N/A – Had one opening down the right but was quickly brought down.

Man of the Match – Christian Eriksen - We could have done with him back in a Spurs shirt today.