Brentford 0-0 Tottenham: Frank frustrated on Premier League return
Read a report from Brentford vs Spurs in the Premier League
Thomas Frank endured a frustrating return to former club Brentford as Tottenham were held to a goalless draw in the Premier League.
Frank managed the Bees for seven years and 317 games before joining Spurs and received a warm reception as he strode out on to the pitch and applauded all four sides of his old ground before kick-off.
But that was about as good as it got for the Dane with Spurs not managing a single effort on target until stoppage time and their fans chanting ‘boring, boring Tottenham’ towards the end of a dour encounter.
Tottenham have now kept more Premier League clean sheets in 19 games under Frank this season (7), than they did in 38 games under Ange Postecoglou across the entirety of last season (6).
Brennan Johnson was a notable absentee from the travelling squad as the Wales winger is closing in on a move to Crystal Palace.
Spurs had to wait 33 minutes for a half-chance, when Richarlison cushioned a volley across goal and Archie Gray’s header was blocked by the shoulder of Nathan Collins.
There was a brief VAR check for a penalty when Gray went down in the box under a challenge from Kevin Schade, but it was quickly dismissed.
Richarlison could have stolen the points at the death but his finish was as lame as Tottenham’s performance as it flew into the arms of Bees keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Both sides are next in action on Sunday (15:00 GMT), when Tottenham host Sunderland and Brentford visit Everton.
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Brentford team vs Spurs
Brentford made a change in midfield, Jordan Henderson replacing Mathias Jensen.
Igor Thiago started the game on 11 goals in 18 Premier League appearances this season but Brentford manager Keith Andrews said the forward had played through pain in recent weeks.
Defender Sepp van den Berg missed the 4-1 home win over Bournemouth five days earlier with a knock and was on the bench this time.
Josh Dasilva had a knee ligament issue and fellow midfielders Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo had long-term knee injuries.
Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka and Burkina Faso forward Dango Ouattara were at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Brentford starting XI: Caoimhin Kelleher, Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Nathan Collins, Rico Henry, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Jordan Henderson, Vitaly Janelt, Keane Lewis-Potter, Igor Thiago, Kevin Schade
Brentford substitutes: Hakon Valdimarsson, Aaron Hickey, Sepp van den Berg, Ethan Pinnock, Mathias Jensen, Reiss Nelson, Hakon Valdimarsson, Mikkel Damsgaard, Yunus Konak, Romelle Donovan
Tottenham team vs Brentford
Spurs made three changes. Midfielder Lucas Bergvall was out after being forced off in their preceding 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, but centre-back Radu Dragusin returned from the bench during that game following a long-term knee injury and was in their squad again.
Joao Palhinha came into central midfield in place of Bergvall, joined in the line-up by defender and captain Cristian Romero, who was back following suspension at the expense of Kevin Danso.
Wilson Odobert supplanted Randal Kolo Muani in attack, but forward Dominic Solanke (ankle) and defenders Destiny Udogie and Kota Takai (both hamstring) remained out, as did midfielders James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski with knee injuries.
Midfielder Xavi Simons was serving the second of a three-match ban for a red card in the 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool on December 20.
Mali midfielder Yves Bissouma and Senegal counterpart Pape Matar Sarr were part of their countries’ AFCON squads.
Brennan Johnson was not involved because the winger is on the verge of a move to Crystal Palace.
Tottenham starting XI: Guglielmo Vicario, Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence, Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, Archie Gray, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Wilson Odobert
Tottenham substitutes: Brandon Austin, Radu Dragusin, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Antonin Kinsky, Ben Davies, Randal Kolo Muani, Dane Scarlett, Callum Olusesi
Premier League results today
Elsewhere on New Year’s Day, Liverpool were targeting a fourth straight win when Leeds United headed to Anfield and Crystal Palace were seeking a first win in six matches in all competitions when Fulham, who had won their previous three league games, visited Selhurst Park.
Second-placed Manchester City then failed to close the gap on leaders Arsenal to a point with a goalless draw at Sunderland.
Thursday, January 1
Brentford 0-0 Spurs