Tottenham Hotspur secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Brentford to ease the pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou. Despite a less adventurous display than usual, Spurs were clinical when it mattered, with an own goal from Vitaly Janelt and a late strike from Pape Matar Sarr sealing all three points.
⚽ Match Summary
Brentford, known for their strong home form and goal-scoring prowess, struggled to find their rhythm against a disciplined Tottenham side. The opening stages were cagey, with few clear-cut chances for either side.
Spurs broke the deadlock after Vitaly Janelt turned the ball into his own net from a whipped Son Heung-min corner. The Brentford midfielder will be disappointed, having turned his back on the delivery as goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson was caught in no-man’s land.
Brentford responded well after the break, pinning Spurs back into their own half. However, Postecoglou’s men remained compact, soaking up pressure and breaking on the counter. Their resilience paid off when substitute Pape Matar Sarr finished off a rapid counter-attack, latching onto Son’s perfectly weighted through ball to slot home between the goalkeeper’s legs.
🗒️ Brentford Player Ratings (4-2-3-1):
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Hakon Valdimarsson | 5.7/10 |
| RB: Kristoffer Ajer | 6.3/10 |
| CB: Nathan Collins | 6.1/10 |
| CB: Sepp van den Berg | 6.5/10 |
| LB: Keane Lewis-Potter | 6.9/10 |
| CM: Christian Norgaard (c) | 6.7/10 |
| CM: Vitaly Janelt | 6.0/10 |
| RM: Bryan Mbeumo | 6.5/10 |
| AM: Mikkel Damsgaard | 7.8/10 |
| LM: Kevin Schade | 7.4/10 |
| CF: Ivan Toney (Not Listed) | – |
🗒️ Tottenham Player Ratings (4-2-3-1):
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Antonin Kinsky | 8.1/10 |
| RB: Pedro Porro | 7.5/10 |
| CB: Archie Gray | 7.2/10 |
| CB: Ben Davies | 7.2/10 |
| LB: Djed Spence | 8.5/10 ⭐ |
| CM: Rodrigo Bentancur | 8.3/10 |
| CM: Yves Bissouma | 7.2/10 |
| RM: Mikey Moore | 6.6/10 |
| AM: Dejan Kulusevski | 6.8/10 |
| LM: Son Heung-min (c) | 7.9/10 |
| CF: Richarlison | 6.9/10 |
🔄 Substitutes:
- Lucas Bergvall (46′ for Moore) – 6.9/10
- Pape Matar Sarr (68′ for Bissouma) – 7.5/10 ⚽
- Dane Scarlett (79′ for Richarlison) – 6.1/10
Subs not used: Brandon Austin (GK), Dante Cassanova, Malachi Hardy, Callum Olusesi, Sergio Reguilon, Damola Ajayi.
🏆 Player of the Match: Djed Spence (Tottenham)
Spence was outstanding both defensively and offensively, making key interceptions and even clearing a potential Brentford equalizer off the line. His energy and composure were vital in securing Spurs’ clean sheet.
🔑 Key Moments:
- (34′) – GOAL! (0-1) – Vitaly Janelt’s own goal gives Spurs the lead from Son’s corner.
- (88′) – GOAL! (0-2) – Pape Matar Sarr finishes a brilliant counter-attack, assisted by Son.
- (75′) – Djed Spence clears a Brentford effort off the line, preserving Spurs’ lead.
📊 Match Stats:
- Possession: Brentford 54% – 46% Tottenham
- Shots: Brentford 11 – 9 Tottenham
- Shots on Target: Brentford 3 – 5 Tottenham
- Corners: Brentford 6 – 4 Tottenham
- Fouls: Brentford 12 – 9 Tottenham
🚀 Final Thoughts:
While not as free-flowing as Postecoglou’s typical style, this was a mature performance from Tottenham. They showed grit, defensive organization, and clinical finishing when it mattered most. Brentford had their moments but lacked the cutting edge to break down Spurs’ resolute defense.
This win keeps Spurs in the hunt for a top-four finish, while Brentford will look to bounce back in their next fixture.
