Tottenham show a different side to give themselves a big lift ahead of decisive week

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Evening Standard

·2 February 2025

Tottenham show a different side to give themselves a big lift ahead of decisive week

Spurs dig in to seal first Premier League win since December with impressive defensive performance

Tottenham stopped the rot in the Premier League with a scrappy 2-0 win at Brentford.

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Vitaly Janelt turned Heung-min Son's corner into his own net to give the visitors a 29th-minute lead and substitute Pape Matar Sarr wrapped up an important victory with a late goal on the counter-attack.

Here are three Spurs talking points from the match…

Huge results lift Spurs ahead of crucial week

This was Tottenham’s best result in the league since their 4-0 win at Manchester City on November 23, finally halting their alarming slide down the table and giving the whole club a much-needed lift ahead of what feels like a decisive week in their season.

A first three points since the thrashing of hapless Southampton in mid-December eased the threat of Spurs being sucked into a relegation scrap and will increase optimism that they can steadily climb the table in the second half of the campaign, once Ange Postecoglou’s selection crisis has passed.

Spurs stopped the rot in the Premier League to win 2-0 at Brentford

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Just as important as the result was the manner of an ugly victory over the Bees, sealed by Janelt’s own goal from a set-piece and Sarr’s close-range finish on the break.

Teams in a rut often need a fortunate break and Janelt knew nothing about Son’s corner, which struck him on the back after a mix-up with goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson.

While Brentford edged a cagey first half, the Bees were totally dominant after the break but Spurs’ makeshift defence stood up impressively to their barrage.

Postecoglou's side scrapped for every ball, run down the clock when possible (with Richarlison taking an age to leave the field after being replaced by Dane Scarlett in the 78th-minute) and put their bodies on the line defensively.

With a nervous finish looming for Spurs, Sarr wrapped up the victory shortly after Djed Spence had cleared an effort off his own line.

The win eases the pressure on Postecoglou, who can now look ahead with renewed belief to Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final decider at Liverpool and the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Aston Villa next Sunday.

Back four impress after Danso arrival

On the day Spurs announced the signing of a new defender, with Kevin Danso joining from Lens, they produced an outstanding defensive display without a specialist centre-half in the side.

With Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin all missing, midfielder Archie Gray and Ben Davies started in the heart of defence against a Brentford side who characteristically flung ball after ball into the box.

Ben Davies, Archie Gray and Antonin Kinsky all impressed at the Gtech Community Stadium

AFP via Getty Images

Davies, who has spent most of his career as a left-back, was outstanding in the air, repelling several dangerous crosses, while 18-year-old Gray again played with a composure beyond his years.

Spurs rode their luck at times, notably when Yoane Wissa’s effort skimmed the top of the bar, but their makeshift back four, which also included the right-footed Djed Spence at left-back, stood up well to Brentford’s attacking threat.

Danso and perhaps van de Ven are likely to come into the side for Thursday’s game at Liverpool but this was an encouraging display from Postecoglou’s understudies, backing up the manager’s repeated claims that his side have grown through adversity during their winter selection crisis.

Postecoglou’s selection headaches

The bulk of Spurs’ injured players will not be ready in time to face Liverpool and Villa next week, but for the first time in months, Postecoglou should have some selection decisions looming.

Davies, Gray and Spence all made compelling cases to start again at Anfield but Danso and likely Van de Ven will be in contention, too.

In midfield, Postecoglou also has an intriguing choice between Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and now perhaps Gray for three positions, with James Maddison also pushing to be back in action this week.

Spurs still look shortest in attack and both Mikey Moore and Richarlison struggled to influence the game against Brentford, but they remain in the market for a new forward before Monday’s transfer deadline, so may have more options by Thursday.

Having barely had a decision to make this winter, Postecoglou should find himself with several in the weeks ahead - a good headache for the head coach to have.