Tottenham don’t register shot on target in 0-0 draw at Brentford
By Gary Pearson
Another stale outing, this time a 0-0 draw at Brentford, put Tottenham two points behind Arsenal with five matches to play.
Tottenham failed to win any away London derbies this season, losing five and drawing this one at Brentford. It’s a severely damaging draw, especially after seeing Arsenal win back-to-back matches against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Watching this version of Spurs is incredibly frustrating. Letting Brentford dictate the play in the first half combined with a horrendous inability to create scoring chances, particularly after bagging goals for fun prior to the Brighton match, has Tottenham at a disadvantage with just over a month left in the season.
Brentford almost scored the winner in injury time after Ivan Toney hit the post flush from a free header. Eric Dier didn’t even attempt to jump on Toney’s attempt, which should have cost Spurs dearly.
Toney hit the crossbar in the first half as well. Emerson Royal let Brentford’s big front man go free, whose resulting header almost found the goal. Royal was abysmal all afternoon, highlighting just how much Spurs miss Matthew Doherty on the right.
Ryan Sessegnon made his long awaited return to the first team but struggled mightily throughout.
Spurs failed to register a shot on target for the second match running and have played over three hours without testing the opposing keeper.
Antonio Conte’s enigmatic side, quite simply put, aren’t consistent or good enough to take the reins and secure a top four spot. Now the advantage has swung back into Arsenal’s favour, a distinctly worrying scenario.
The rollercoaster season continues for Spurs, who are on a precipitous downward trajectory at the worst possible time. Not securing a single shot on target in over three hours highlights the team’s current offensive woes.
After scoring so many in a four-game stretch, it makes you wonder how it’s possible to endure such an unfathomable decline in offensive production. Doherty is the only variable who stands out, as Spurs scored bundles with him but can’t muster a shot in his absence.
dark. Next. Two players who cannot afford to take the match off
Is it too simple to say the lack of offensive production is down to Spurs’ missing the Irishman? At this point, it’s hard to put a finger on the extensive list of issues at the top end of the pitch.