Brentford dispatched at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - report and reaction

We made it back-to-back home wins in the Premier League on Thursday evening, as a goal in each half against Brentford gave us all three points at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In what was the first-ever top flight meeting between the two sides, we benefitted from a Sergi Canos own goal in the first half before Heung-Min Son wrapped up the win after the break, a repeat of the 2-0 scoreline from our Carabao Cup semi-final against the Bees last season.

Our bright start paid dividends after just 12 minutes when Son’s cross into the box was headed by Pontus Jansson into Canos, who was under pressure from Ben Davies, before sailing into the net and we subsequently enjoyed the better of the first half without adding to the scoreline.

But we doubled our lead in the 65th minute with a wonderful goal on the break, Harry Kane releasing Sergio Reguilon down the left and his perfect ball was tucked home by Son, his sixth of the season.

The win moves us up to sixth in the table, two points outside the top four with a game in hand on all the teams above us.

Winning ways

After a disappointing week in which we suffered defeat to NS Mura in Europe and then had our game at Burnley postponed at late notice, this was a result and performance which will give everyone a boost. Our early intentions were clear as we started on the front foot and with plenty of endeavour, just six minutes gone when Kane slipped the ball in to Lucas Moura whose fierce drive was pushed away by Alvaro Fernandez in the Brentford goal. And that fast start was rewarded on 12 minutes when Son’s cross caused problems in the box, Pontus Jansson went up for the ball, heading it onto Canos with Davies in close proximity and it flew back into the net.

Despite the good tempo, the first half wasn’t full of clear opportunities but there was another half-chance when Lucas and Eric Dier got in front of the Brentford defence as Son whipped in a free-kick from the left but neither could get any contact on the ball and it went straight into the hands of Fernandez.

The visitors had their share of possession but we were dealing well with their attacks and the closest they came was a dipping 20-yard half volley from Bryan Mbeumo which drifted just wide. At the other end, a fine diving save from Fernandez denied us a second on 36 minutes after Son ran at the Bees defence, shifting the ball onto his left and hitting a low 22-yard effort which was well kept out.

And there was another big chance shortly after the interval as we made a fast start to the second period too. Oliver Skipp led the charge from inside his own half and threaded a perfect pass for Kane, but Fernandez made himself big and blocked the shot. A few minutes later, Kane’s low ball went right across goal and Hojbjerg could only turn it into the side-netting from a tight angle. Back came Brentford though and they enjoyed their best spell of the game just after the hour mark, upping their own tempo and getting their first real sight of goal although Ivan Toney’s effort from the edge of the area was easy for Hugo Lloris.

But then we hit them with a superb counter-attack to double our lead, Kane’s wonderful pass out to the left finding the surging Reguilon and he provided an equally delicious cross for Son to tap home at the far post. That gave us a healthy cushion to defend and we did so very well, blocking crosses and producing timely interceptions to prevent Brentford from getting up a head of steam as they tried to build some pressure. When they did get close, Lloris punched clear three times from in-swinging corners and then saved a Toney effort right on the goal-line with his foot before gathering the loose ball.

A couple of late breakaways promised much but failed to deliver anything, although that didn’t matter as it was a professional job done, making it seven points from a possible nine in Head Coach Antonio Conte’s first three league games. Interestingly, we finished the game with four Academy graduates on the pitch, with substitutes Harry Winks and Japhet Tanganga joining starters Kane and Skipp in the closing stages, while another former Academy midfielder Paris Maghoma was on the bench for Brentford.

Team news saw us make two changes from our side that last played in the league and which beat Leeds on 21 November, Davinson Sanchez and Skipp coming in for Tanganga and Winks respectively.

'We performed well, with great attention'

Head Coach Antonio told Spurs TV: "It was a good win, a good win against a very dangerous team, well organised, very strong on set pieces and the throw-ins always dangerous. We performed well, with great attention, great desire to get three points, to finish with a clean sheet, always important.

"We missed chances to improve the final result, but it’s important to create chances and I think we’re going to improve in our performance and the danger (we create) in the opponents’ box."

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Canos (OG) 12, Son 65.

Referee: Jonathan Moss.

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Weather: Clear sky, light winds, two degrees.

Attendance: 54,202.