Ange Postecoglou had spoken of Tottenham’s perceived frontline scoring issues and how they would be resolved internally. As it transpired, goals from Dominic Solanke – his first for the club – Brennan Johnson and James Maddison earned a workmanlike three points, while also exhibiting character after conceding a goal by Bryan Mbeumo which put Brentford in front with only a minute gone. This triumph of patience should provide increased faith from the fans towards their manager who was quick to acknowledge them afterwards.
Tottenham had a more familiar appearance than the one which eked out a late Carabao Cup win at Coventry in midweek. Solanke, the club’s record signing, only had to wait until the eighth minute on this occasion for his moment, while Johnson added the second goal with admirable aplomb.
Thomas Frank’s injury-plagued Brentford, meanwhile, approached north London in a respectable ninth place. With the in-form Yoane Wissa the latest to succumb to the sidelines with an ankle problem, there was an opportunity to see if Mbeumo and Fábio Carvalho could stretch the hosts and score on the Bees’ customary counterattacking policy.
That desired moment came earlier than even Frank would have dreamed of. Twenty two seconds, to be precise. Keane Lewis-Potter clipped a cross in from the left, and from 12 yards out, Mbeumo was perfectly poised to execute a hooked volley into the top corner of the Tottenham net.
Spurs’ response was impressive. An uncharacteristic loose pass from Ethan Pinnock was snapped up by Maddison inside the Brentford penalty area – and the midfielder’s shot was only parried by the visiting goalkeeper, Mark Flekken, into the path of a grateful Solanke to casually stroke home.
Suitably emboldened, Heung-min Son and Johnson both went close to scoring against the west Londoners’ rattled defence.
If Postecoglou was anxious about profligacy, the second goal, after 27 minutes, will have been particularly satisfying for the Australian. Son surged forward, causing the Bees’ defence to backtrack before delivering a neat pass to Johnson. The attacker forged a yard of space to fire low into the corner of the Brentford net from an acute angle.
A dribbling error by the Spurs keeper, Guglielmo Vicario, almost allowed Carvalho and then Mbeumo to take advantage before the interval. Vicario then denied Mikkel Damsgaard with a fine save.
Brentford experienced a collective blast of frustration in the second half when it appeared Vicario handled the ball outside the penalty area, which Frank and the defender Kristoffer Ajer were cautioned for understandable protests.
Fuelled by injustice, both Mbeumo and the substitute Kevin Schade were denied by two great Vicario saves, while, at the other end, Johnson pulled a shot wide from an inviting position.
With six minutes remaining, Son caught Brentford off-guard, supplying Maddison, who curved the ball over Flekken. A day of significant relief for Postecoglou where Tottenham can properly move forward.