Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 2 Brentford 0

2 December 2021

4 Min Read

2 December 2021

Spurs rise to sixth in league after easing past Brentford at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
By Haran Naresh

Tottenham players celebrate after taking the lead (credit is Tottenham Hotspur/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur secured a comfortable victory over Brentford in the Premier League. A Sergi Canos own goal gave the home side the lead and Heung-min Son made sure of the three points with a second-half tap-in.

Tottenham created the first big opening of the game in the sixth minute through an incisive counter-attack. Hugo Lloris threw the ball out to Sergio Reguilon, who found Harry Kane in space and he played in Lucas Moura whose shot was tipped over the bar.

Spurs took the lead with 12 minutes on the clock. Heung-min Son took a short corner to Reguilon and he played a return pass to the South Korean. Son crossed into the box and Brentford’s Pontus Jansson could only head towards Ben Davies and his header took a deflection of Sergi Canos and went into the net.

Son took a free-kick which narrowly evaded several Tottenham players in the box and was collected by Alvaro Fernandez.

Brentford were not deterred by conceding the early goal and in the 28 th minute Bryan Mbeumo hit a powerful volley which flew narrowly wide.

A minute later Oliver Skipp stood up a ball which Reguilon headed well off target.

With 36 minutes gone Son received the ball in space and fired in a left-footed strike that looked destined for the corner but was well saved by Fernandez.

Tottenham steadied themselves after a sloppy period and once again took control of the game.

Kane played an outstanding pass around the corner for Reguilon and he advanced but his cross was weak and the chance went begging.

Tottenham missed a good chance in the 59 th minute. Skipp drove forward and played in Kane but he was thwarted by Fernandez, who had quickly come off his line to narrow the angle.

Brentford failed to clear in the box and Davies directed a header on goal which lacked pace and was easily collected by Fernandez.

Tottenham then spurned a glorious opportunity to double their lead. Kane received the ball in space on the right and squared to Hojbjerg, who could only hit the side-netting from point-blank range.

Spurs were piling on the pressure on the Brentford goal and the visitors were struggling to keep themselves in the game.

Brentford created an opening when Ivan Toney and Vitaly Janelt exchanged passes and Toney directed an effort which was easily saved by Lloris.

Spurs scored their second in the 65 th minute with a devastating counter-attack. Kane played an outstanding through ball to Reguilon and he drove forward before squaring for Son to tap into the net.

Brentford substitute Mathias Jensen gave Lloris a scare when he sent in a cross which swerved towards goal and forced the Tottenham goalkeeper to tip over the bar.

Spurs were content to sit in following their second goal but this meant that they began to invite pressure. Christian Norgaard had a shot from close range blocked by Hojbjerg.

In the 83 rd minute Toney was picked out with a ball down the side and he steered an effort which Lloris blocked with his outstretched leg.

Tottenham gave the ball away deep in their own half and Mbeumo collected it before blazing well over.

Following their shock defeat to NS Mura in the Europa Conference League, Spurs manager Antonio Conte said that he would need more time to stamp his authority on his side.

There were signs in this game that he is getting his players to deliver exactly what he wants from them. Tottenham were a constant threat going forward whilst they managed to restrict a lively Brentford team to very few clear-cut chances.

Spurs host Norwich in the Premier League on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte speaking in his post-match press conference: “Today was a good win. It is not easy to get three points against Brentford. I have seen a good team that is well organised.”

“Today we showed a great desire to get three points. We fought to win tackles.”

“We have a lot of space for improvement in possession. Without the ball I think we did very well because we put pressure from the start until the end.”

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