Tottenham find the extra gear to inflict rare away defeat on misfiring Brentford

Tottenham (1) 2 Canos OG 12, Son 65

Brentford (0) 0

Spurs put their Slovenian blues behind them by repeating January’s 2-0 League semi-final victory over Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They were always on top against a side they have not lost to since 1948 and they made good on their determination to pep up their campaign again after that lame defeat to NS Mura which has placed their European Conference League campaign in some peril.

The Bees have been a revelation on their travels this season, their only defeat so far coming at Burnley, while previous London derbies ended in a draw at Palace and win at West Ham.

This time, however, they only occasionally threatened to make life uncomfortable for Antonio Conte’s men, who largely dictated proceedings and looked to carry the extra motivation. This win has renewed faith in the top-six project, at least.

Early signs of life from the home side initially brought out the best in some of the Brentford defenders, with Alvaro Fernandez sprightly at his near-post to turn aside a Lucas Moura drive from inside the box and Charlie Goode robbing Harry Kane of the ball before launching an attack.

But no sooner had Thomas Frank’s side settled into their surroundings than they found themselves a goal down when, from Heung-Min Son’s cross from the left, Ben Davies’ header flew into the net via the head of a close-marking Sergi Canos.

That added an extra adrenaline-shot to Spurs’ confidence and they went in search of more bounty. Son went on a run and let fly. His low left-foot strike was true and needed Fernandez to get down sharpish.

Bryan Mbeumo’s speculative volley from outside the box did not miss by much and was a reminder that the puncher’s chance was still very much available as long as the game stayed at 1-0. Goode’s long throws were also as good as free-kicks.

Oliver Skipp’s excellent carry and pass carved up the Bees at the start of the second half and Kane, who you’d normally expect to score in such circumstances, was thwarted by the outstanding Fernandez, dashing out to smother.

Skipp and Kane then combined to set up a far-post chance for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, which the midfielder crashed into the side-netting.

But the threat did not go away and the second goal finally arrived in the shape of a dazzling breakaway.

Kane, picking up in the centre circle, spun and whipped a fine ball out wide to the galloping Sergio Reguilon and the Spaniard’s perfectly-weighted ball low from the left was swept in by Son. Even then, with 25 to go, it felt pretty much like game, set and match.

Spurs: (3-4-2-1) Lloris – Sanchez, Dier, Davies – Emerson Royal (Tanganga 83), Hojbjerg, Skipp, Rguilon – Lucas Moura (Winks 77), Son (Bergwijn 87) – Kane. Subs not used: Doherty, Gil, R Sessegnon, Alli, Gollini, Ndombele

Bees: (3-5-2) Fernandez – Goode, Jansson, Pinnock – Canos (Wissa 70), Onyeka (Baptiste 56), Norgaard, Janelt (Jensen 70), Henry – Toney, Mbeumo. Subs not used: Forss, Ghoddos, Roerslev, Maghoma, Stevens, Cox

Attendance: 54,202