Tottenham 3 – 1 Brentford

Dominic Solanke received off the mark for Tottenham as Ange Postecoglou’s aspect defeated Brentford 3-1 in a frantic encounter on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The guests have been forward inside 22 seconds for a second week working, as Bryan Mbeumo lashed Keane Lewis-Potter’s cross into the highest proper nook. However the the rest of a frenzied first half belonged to Spurs.

Seven minutes after Mbeumo’s good opener, the hosts have been stage because of Solanke, answering his critics with an instinctive end after James Maddison’s preliminary shot had been generously palmed into his path.

Seizing momentum, Spurs then took the lead within the twenty eighth minute when Brennan Johnson was launched by Heung-Min Son, and he rifled a superbly exact strike throughout Mark Flekken – who continues to be the busiest goalkeeper of any within the Premier League.

Brentford have been carved open many extra occasions all through an unusually disorganised show.

Solanke introduced tireless Son with an opportunity for Spurs’ third, whereas Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski have been additionally denied, earlier than Mbeumo had a uncommon alternative to grab a leveller on the reverse finish, stopped in his tracks by Guglielmo Vicario, who, moments earlier than, appeared to have dealt with the ball exterior his field.

The ultimate say was Maddison’s, although. Cristian Romero launched a fast counter-attack, linking with Son, who unselfishly threaded the ball to Maddison 5 minutes from time, and he dinked over Flekken.

Tottenham’s second win of the season has lifted them to tenth, whereas Brentford – who’ve dropped extra factors from profitable positions than every other aspect for the reason that begin of final season (36) – have slipped to twelfth.

Ought to Vicario have been penalised?

Brentford have been rightly livid within the 58th minute when Vicario appeared to clumsily deal with exterior his space after he tried however failed to say a cross forward of Mikkel Damsgaard.

The entire episode was bizarrely missed by on-field official John Brooks, prompting offended responses from Kristoffer Ajer and Thomas Frank, who have been each booked for dissent.

The result, by the letter of the regulation, ought to have been a free-kick and yellow card for Vicario, however Frank was clear the incident “did not outline the sport”. VAR can solely intervene for a red-card incident, which this might have been if there was the denial of a objective or goalscoring alternative.

Talking in his press convention, Frank mentioned: “He handballed it, however that incident did not outline the sport. The margins must go our manner. It was a mistake, it might have helped us, however the chance for scoring from that’s low. John Brooks, general, had an excellent recreation.”

Postecoglou praises ‘relentless’ Spurs

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou:

“It wasn’t a really perfect begin. However it was prefer it by no means occurred. We knew Brentford can be aggressive, and we love that a part of the sport.

“We thought if we introduced our personal depth we might trigger issues, and we have been relentless the entire recreation. We absolutely deserved the win.

“The entire group was good. Actually targeted on ensuring we dominated the sport. Brentford attempt to play out, and that is nice for us, as a result of we wish to press exhausting. The midfielders performed a key position with that.

“For all of our play, we have not actually received the rewards up till this level. Three leaders within the membership contributed to the third objective, and that is what you are searching for in these moments.”

Frank: We’re lacking strongest gamers

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank:

“We at all times attempt to come right here to win, you see that in the present day, there is no such thing as a away floor we’re terrified of.

“I just like the bravery from my gamers. We play a group which might be absolutely firing, and we’re lacking 5 of our strongest gamers. That is simply to place issues into perspective.

“No moaning, no complaints. It is my job to place a aggressive group on the market. I noticed an excellent Spurs group in the present day.”

Story of the match in stats…

Evaluation: Spurs start to disclose finest aspect

When Tottenham click on they are often devastating. By far their most full show of the season, Spurs’ large hitters all stood as much as the depend, and took collective accountability for delivering an ‘Ange-ball’ type efficiency.

Solanke opened his Spurs account, Johnson scored in consecutive matches for the primary time since becoming a member of a yr in the past, and Maddison scored and assisted in the identical recreation for the primary time since Could 2023.

Postecoglou referred to as his group relentless, registering 23 efforts on objective – 10 on the right track – and producing an xG of three.51 – their highest of the season. This was a triumph of endurance.

It was solely a matter of time earlier than new elements started to sync with previous, in a extra cohesive and productive manner, Postecoglou had insisted. However doubters pointed to Spurs’ profligacy in video games up till this level.

“We’ve not received simply rewards till now,” Postecoglou responded. Now he should again it up.

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