The Premier League returned with normal service as Tottenham came from two goals down to snatch a draw against Brentford at the Community Stadium to kick off a packed boxing day.
Brentford began the game the better side and deservedly took the lead when Vitaly Janelt was able to capitalise on a deflection to bundle past Fraser Forster, and put Spurs behind for the fifth successive Premier League game.
It could have been worse for Tottenham moments before halftime, but the offside flag came to Tottenham’s rescue as Ivan Toney mistimed his run after Yves Bissouma lost the ball in midfield.
Tottenham, who started five players who featured at the World Cup, began the second half better - in truth they could not have been worse - and had shouts for a penalty turned down just before the hour when Ben Mee and Harry Kane tangled.
Moments later, however, Brentford doubled their lead. A shinned clearance from Eric Dier under no pressure handed the bees a corner, and from that set-piece Ivan Toney snuck in at the back post to poke past Fraser Forster.
Tottenham offered very little, but a moment of magic brought them back into the game as Harry Kane fired an excellent header past David Raya to halve Brentford’s lead, and offer his side a fighting chance.
Minutes later, they were level. Dejan Kulusevski’s cutback found an unmarked Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who in turn found the top corner from 12 yards out to bring Tottenham back from the brink once more.
Antonio Conte’s side continued to threaten, with Harry Kane seeing another header rebound off the crossbar as they hunted a winner.
However, despite some desperate defending Brentford clung on to a point after it looked as though they could have handed Spurs a hammering, leaving Antonio Conte’s side to snatch another result from the jaws of defeat.
Player Ratings
Brentford
- GK: David Raya (6) - Didn’t have a great deal to do but dealt with things well. Stood no chance with either goal.
- RWB: Mads Roeslev (5) - Was good in the first half but was targetted in the second and allowed Spurs to put in some dangerous crosses.
- CB: Mathias Jorgensen (5) - Lucky VAR didn’t take a closer look at his altercation with Matt Doherty, but the defender was solid otherwise.
- CB: Ethan Pinnock (6) - Excellent both defensively and with his range of passing to help set up Brentford counterattacks.
- CB: Ben Mee (5) - Had a pretty torrid afternoon, and was perhaps lucky not to concede a penalty against Harry Kane.
- LWB: Rico Henry (6) - Offered plenty in both directions but was caught out for the second goal.
- CM: Mathias Jensen (7) - Was influential in winning the battle of the midfield in the first half. Taken off on the hour and Brentford lost all control.
- CM: Christian Norgard (7) - Energetic in the first half but faded as the game went on.
- CM: Vitaly Janelt (7) - Continued to excel in midfield for the Bees.
- ST: Ivan Toney (8) - Excellent once more at the top of the Brentford side, and capped his performance with a goal.
- ST: Bryan Mbuemo (6) - Dovetailed really well with Ivan Toney and was a menace throughout. Loses a point for an atrocious dive in the second half.
Substitutes
- Saman Ghoddos (5) - Couldn’t really get into the game when he came on.
- Yoanne Wissa (5) - Plenty of running but mostly towards his own goal and couldn’t hold the ball up as well as Mbuemo, who he replaced.
- Josh Da Silva (5) - Had no impact on the game after coming on.
Tottenham
- GK: Fraser Forster (6) - Could do nothing about either Brentford goal but didn’t inspire confidence in the early stages. Looked more reassured later on.
- RWB: Matt Doherty (6) - Looked shaky defensively but was a threat going forwards and is likely to keep his place over Emerson Royal in the future.
- CB: Japhet Tanganga (4) - Was given a torrid afternoon by the Brentford forwards in the absence of Cristian Romero. Hooked after an hour.
- CB: Eric Dier (4) - His shinned clearance led to the corner from which Brentford grabbed their second goal, and he looked shaky in the heart of the Tottenham defence.
- CB: Clement Lenglet (5)- Hung out to dry by Perisic for the opening goal, but was probably the best of the Tottenham back three.
- LWB: Ivan Perisic (5) - Offered very little going forward and left a massive gap in behind that was exploited by Brentford for their opening goal. Got better as the game went on.
- CM: Yves Bissouma (4)- Atrocious in the first half, and was lucky Brentford had a goal ruled out after his mistake in midfield. No better in the second 45.
- CM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (7) - Was a lone beacon in central midfield as Brentford largely dominated the first hour. Took his goal excellently to bring the tie level.
- RW: Dejan Kulusevski (6) - Tottenham’s brightest player in the first half, and grabbed an assist in the second
- ST: Harry Kane (6)- Hardly had a kick in the first half, but produced an excellent header to bring his side back into the game.
- LW: Heung-Min Son - (4) - Looked well off the pace and lacked his usual spark on the counter attack. Will have much better outings.
Substitutes
- Davinson Sanchez (6) - Looked much more assured than Tanganga when he came on for the English defender
- Ben Davies (N/A) - Came on in stoppage time.
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