- By Yann Tear at Brentford Community Stadium
All square in the Christian Eriksen derby as Brentford make Champions League-chasers Spurs sweat
Brentford (0) 0
Tottenham (0) 0
Spurs were comfortably held as they missed the opportunity to reclaim fourth spot from Arsenal.
The north London rivals are locked in a struggle for local supremacy and that all-important final Champions League slot, but Antonio Conte’s men could not respond to the Gunners beating Man United earlier in the day.
The Bees, who went into this one on the back of five wins in six, were way too solid at the back to succumb to a below-par Tottenham, who were denied the usual channels of excellence which allow Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son to prevail.
The hosts looked like they might find joy from set pieces and they hit the bar in the first half and the post late on – Ivan Toney nodding a Christian Eriksen free-kick against the base of a post.
If Eriksen did not score against his old club, it was not for the want of trying. He smashed one free-kick into the wall and pinged a left footer just wide before stabbing a low shot to Hugo Lloris’ near post – the keeper getting down well to save.
If this was an audition designed to lure him back to his old stamping ground, he passed it with flying colours. Kane, for his part, tried a spectacular scissors kick at the death which whistled just wide.
But there was not so much in the way of goalmouth action until the final knockings.
Brentford almost stole a march in the first half when Toney’s header from a Eriksen corner came back off the crossbar but that was virtually the only incident of note in a very humdrum 45 minutes.
The Bees upped a gear at the start of the second half, and Rico Henry’s driven cross was turned over the bar my Bryan Mbeumo at the far post.
Spurs responded by causing a bit of panic through the overlapping Emerson Royal. His cross reached Kane but a shot on the turn was smothered – as were follow-up attempts by lurking purple Tottenham shirts.
Kane was seen as much in defence as attack and he headed off the line from a Pontus Jansson header in the seconds before Eriksen’s low shot attempt.
But these were relatively slim pickings. Another good point for the Bees then, who are looking more and more comfortable in this company.
Bees: (4-3-3) Raya – Roerslev, Jansson, Bech Sorensen, Henry – Janelt, Jensen (Dasilva 78), Eriksen – Mbeumo, Toney, Ghoddos (Wissa 78). Subs not used: Lossl, Jeanvier, Fosu-Henry, Peart-Harris, Baptiste, Stevens, Young-Coombes
Spurs: (3-4-3) Lloris – Romero, Dier, Davies – Emerson Royal (Moura 86), Bentancur, Hojbjerg, R Sessegnon (Sanchez 74) – Kulusevski, Kane, Son. Subs not used: Gollini, Reguilon, Winks, Rodon, Bergwijn, Moura, White, Scarlett
