Tottenham’s Jeckell and Hyde performances continued as three second half goals saw Brentford leave north London with three points on Saturday lunchtime, and left Spurs looking set for a season without Europa League football.
In their final home game of the campaign, a new look Tottenham XI flew out of the blocks in the first half, and deservedly took the lead when Harry Kane curled home an effort from 25 yards.
Harry Kane carrying this Spurs team with 28 goals will be so overlooked due to Haaland and Man City 😦#TOTBREpic.twitter.com/N6KHyCjH74
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) May 20, 2023
Only a goalline clearances and several excellent blocks prevented them from doubling their lead, and fans will have been wondering where this Tottenham side had been for much of a disappointing campaign.
After a first half of control, though, it all fell apart for the Lilywhites early in the second.
Some lacklustre defending allowed Bryan Mbuemo far too much space to pick his corner and level the clash, before he repeated the trick into the same corner to leave Spurs staring down the barrel of another home defeat.
Brentford level through Bryan Mbeumo 💪
A tidy finish from the Cameroon international early in the second-half… pic.twitter.com/xYlbggRRMV
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 20, 2023
The turnaround left Spurs shellshocked, and the Lilywhites hardly looked like creating another chance even as they threw more players on further up the pitch.
Yoane Wissa secures the win for Brentford 🐝
What a turnaround by The Bees! pic.twitter.com/oMEMDnV8SR
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 20, 2023
Tottenham finally seemed to wake up, but it was too little too late, with Richarlison forcing David Raya into two excellent saves in stoppage time.
However, it was another dismal defeat for the Lilywhites, and a result which leaves them just a point above the Bees and in danger of missing out on European football altogether next season.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Tottenham Hotspur FC
- GK: Fraser Forster (6) – Couldn’t really do anything about either of the goals and was rarely tested otherwise.
- RB: Emerson Royal (5) – Offered very little in the first half and was even less effective in the second.
- CB: Davinson Sanchez (5) – Should have taken more responsibility for the equaliser and continues to look well out of place in a Tottenham shirt.
- CB: Eric Dier (5) – Restored to the side again, but did little to inspire confidence as the senior defender in the Tottenham backline.
- LB: Ben Davies (4) – Both goals came down his side and he offered very little going forwards.
- CDM: Oliver Skipp (7) – Played his part in the goal well and looked bright in the first half, but like his teammates faded massively in the second and was dispossessed for the third goal.
- CDM: Yves Bissouma (7) – Ran the game in the first half in his best Tottenham performance, and showed promise for next season before he was overrun by Brentford in the second.
- RM: Dejan Kulsevski (7) – Looked bright in the first half but hardly touched the ball in the second in an alarming drop off.
- CAM: Arnaut Danjuma (5) – The loanee was handed a belated debut for the club, but failed to really impress himself on proceedings and was ignored a couple of times by teammates when well placed. Will be wondering if he made the right decision joining Spurs over Everton at this point.
- LM: Heung Min Son (5) – Preferred to run with the ball even when teammates were well placed, and his poor season continued with another blank in front of goal.
- ST: Harry Kane (8) – The key man for Tottenham as he so often is, and was a cut above the rest of the players on the pitch.
Substitutes
- Lucas Moura (5) – It felt a bit like a pity substitution following the news that he will be leaving this season, and Moura did nothing to change the game.
- Richarlison (5) – Continues to be unable to show his true form at Tottenham, and hardly touched the ball after coming on.
- Pedro Porro (N/A) – On for the final ten minutes.
- Ivan Perisic (N/A) – On for the final ten minutes.
Brentford
- GK: David Raya (8) – Made several impressive saves in the first half and commanded his penalty area in the second to good effect. Popped up with two excellent saves in stoppage time from Richarlison.
- RB: Aaron Hickey (6) – Involved in the second goal in contentious circumstances, but continues to grow into the Premier League nicely following his summer move.
- CB: Ethan Pinnock (7) – Continues to improve next to Mee and turned in another strong performance.
- CB: Ben Mee (7) – Another strong performance from Mee as he continues to prove an excellent addition to Thomas Frank’s side.
- LB: Rico Henry (7) – Made one excellent block on the line in the first half and was a threat in the Tottenham defensive third too.
- CM: Matias Jensen (5) – Couldn’t get near Bissouma before half time. Improved in the second 45 before being taken off 15 minutes from time.
- CM: Vitaly Janelt (6) – Couldn’t really get into the game in the first half, but was part of a strong rearguard action in the second.
- CM: Frank Onyeka (5) – Struggled to get into the game and was taken off at half time.
- RW: Bryan Mbeumo (8) – Couldn’t get into the game in the first half but produced two moments of brilliance in the second to turn the game in his side’s favour.
- ST: Yoanne Wissa (6) – Obviously a shadow of the player Ivan Toney is, but though he couldn’t hold the ball up he offered different qualities and grabbed an assist for the equaliser before rounding off the win with a fine finish.
- LW: Kevin Schade (5) – Did plenty of running but save for one bright moment he could have little effect on the clash.
Substitutes
- Mikkel Damsgaard (7) – Came on for an ineffective Onyeka and offered an immediate threat that the Bees had lacked in the first half.
- Shandon Baptiste (6) – His first touch being a foul signalled his intentions. Pressed well and
- Zanka (6) – Came on to try and see out the result for the final 10 minutes.
- Mads Roeslev (N/A) – On for the final five minutes.
- Josh Da Silva (N/A) – On for the final five minutes.
Expert Analysis
Mbeumo… ‘unsung hero’ of the season… or is he in that space where annoying people* say ‘no he is actually really highly rated anyway’?
*like me
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) May 20, 2023
Yet another lovely move as Kulusevski plays in Son and he cuts inside but his shot is blocked. Where has this football been all season? Yes, I know the answer, but it’s great to watch.
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) May 20, 2023
10 – Harry Kane has become just the second player to score 10 London derby goals in a single Premier League campaign, after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 2001-02. Capitalism. #TOTBRE pic.twitter.com/ub2MsGdfVn
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 20, 2023
Fan Reaction
Danjuma, Horrible unfortunately
— Ellis (@THFC_Ellis) May 20, 2023
I need to see a fit Bentancur & fit Bissouma actually get a solid consistent run of games together. I’m tryna see suttin.
— 🏴☠️ (@FuadCadani) May 20, 2023
Bissouma is HIM.
Finally I’m seeing the player I knew he was, secure with the ball, dynamic and technically gifted.
Today he’s been absolutely incredible all game, with him and Bentancur next season we’ll be very dangerous.
We already look different with only him on the pitch.
— Jaco™ (@JacoCats) May 20, 2023
Bissouma & Skipp so much more dynamic than what we’ve been used to…Bentancur to come back too. 😎
— Big Jon Bass (@TheRealJonbass) May 20, 2023
Harry Kane is going to score 30 goals in the league again and not win the golden boot pic.twitter.com/GIiR6DUsPD
— 🇸🇪 (@axelthfc) May 20, 2023
