Tottenham Hotspur take all three points vs Brentford in big 2-0 win

Tottenham Hotspur showed some real signs of being a true Antonio Conte team as Spurs made it two wins from three in the league under the Italian in a 2-0 win over Brentford.

Tottenham Hotspur had not played since a disappointing loss to NS Mura a week prior, having been snowed out over the weekend. As such, it was hard to say what Spurs team would show up on Thursday evening at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face the Bees. In a scrappy affair where the team who wanted it more was going to win, Spurs showed some classic Conte footballing effort and swept Brentford aside for three huge Premier League points.

Success started with team defence for Tottenham

Tottenham showed some real defensive identity and aggression from the start. Within the first minute, there was Heung-Min Son tracking defensively winning the ball back for Spurs. Although Tottenham almost immediately gave it back away, that effort from Son set the tone for what Spurs would do all night long.

Spurs struggled early to connect on second and third passes. Again and again, over the first 10 minutes, Tottenham would get the ball back and then just waste possession almost as quickly as the team looked to break quickly against a fast-breaking team.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg would win the ball and then Dier’s pass to Kane would be off and possession would be lost. Kane especially had difficulties early as Brentford kept him under enormous pressure, so he tried more lay-offs and touch passes as a result. Even when played in by Son early, Kane’s touch failed him, and he lost the ball to defender Charlie Goode.

Spurs finally score on a corner

Despite the inability to put things all together, it was already the team’s fourth corner of the match, and the game was only 12 minutes old. For the third time in four attempts, Son played the ball short.

This time, Reguilón quickly played it back to the South Korean who immediately looked to attack at the edge. A feign right and a cut back to his left put Son past the defender and gave just enough space for him to whip a left-footed cross into the box.

Son’s cross came in with some real zip and Brentford won the initial header to try and clear the ball. Fortunately for Tottenham that clearance flew straight into the back of Sergi Canos’ head – as Ben Davies fought him for the ball – and deflected backward past Alvaro Fernandez into the net.

Initial Davies was credited with the goal but upon review, Canos’ was awarded the own goal. Davies, effort, and fight for the ball helped as did a magnificent cross from Son, who would later benefit from similar service.

Brentford had plenty of fight and was the aggressive, forward-thinking team that was advertised. The Bees even pushed enough to win the battle for possession with 53% to Spurs 47%. However, Tottenham dominated the categories that really mattered, like shots (11/6 Spurs), shots on target (6/2 Spurs), and of course goals 2-0 Spurs.