Match Preview: Brentford 0 Spurs 0 (another opportunity waisted).

 

Match Preview: Brentford 0 Spurs 0 (another opportunity waisted).

Yes, after our "Spursy" performance against Brighton, I/ we thought that Spurs would get back on track and reclaim the fourth spot from Woolwich, but no such luck. Granted, we didn't lose against Brentford, but by Woolwich beating hapless United, they leapfrogged us back into fourth.

The game's highlight on Saturday was seeing Christian Erikson and the love he got from both sets of fans.

Yes, Christian Eriksen's received an outpouring of emotion against our game at Brentford as he faced his former club for the first time. He was given a euphoric reception from all four sides of the ground before, during and after the game. We mustn't forget that he spent six and a half years with us (helping us reach the Champions League final in 2019).

Before kick-off, you could see him embracing some of our players (his former teammates), including Harry Kane and Eric Dier.

I, like all away Spurs supporters, were near the corner flag, and when Brentford got an early corner, instead of jeering and whistling as one does when the opposition takes a corner, we all cheered and applauded him (a standing ovation, no less… which is quite a feat, as we were standing already!!).

Anyway, before the game, Mel picked me up, and we had a nearly two-hour journey to Brentford, where we parked at a friend's place of work. As we pulled up, Stefania also arrived (from our Spurs WhatsApp group) as we were meeting Terry for a foursome meal.

To cut a long story short, we had a four-course meal in an Italian restaurant with plenty of wine thrown in. Then we got a taxi to the ground, which was about half an hour away.

As I said in my "match preview", this was the first time I had been to their new stadium (I had been to their old ground years ago).

Once settled down in my seat, I texted Mel to say that loads of seats near me were empty, so he came over. So much for being told that this game had sold out for away supporters. Not only that, but most people around me had never been to a Spurs game at our new stadium. Because of the points system, Spurs seasons ticket holders purchase them for the points and either give them away or sell them at face value if they can't go to the match.

To the match…

Our hopes of qualifying for the Champions League suffered a setback as we were held to a goalless draw by Brentford. And to add insult to injury, the most impressive player out on the pitch was Christian Eriksen. He was central to much of Brentford's attacking play, particularly from set-pieces, and they were inches from a dramatic late winner when his free-kick was headed onto a post by Ivan Toney. Another Eriksen corner in the first half was also headed onto an upright by Toney, while Pontus Jansson's header was cleared off the line by Harry Kane in the second half.

We failed to have a shot on target for the second successive game as our limp attacking play was repelled by Brentford defenders. Granted, Kane went closest to snatching the points for us when his scissor-kick flew just wide.

Thoughts…

We are now two points behind Woolwich in fifth after they beat crumbling United in Saturday's early kick-off to move them into the final place of the Champions League qualification position. As for Brentford, the draw moved them above Brighton, into 11th and onto 40 points, with them now looking confident of Premier League football for next season.

A lot of our chat before the game was about whether Eriksen will return to us in the summer transfer window.

The Bees revival owes a lot to the arrival of Eriksen, with no Brentford player creating more chances than him since his debut for the club in February. He had been on the winning side in all five of the games he had previously started for Thomas Frank's side. Yes, their winning run ended against us, but it is still a valuable point for them that all but guarantees a second season in the Premier League.

Eriksen's short-term contract will expire at the end of the season, and I believe that Conte/ Levy are looking closely to bringing him back to Spurs.

As for our previous goal-fest - 25 goals in seven Premier League games - we failed to register a shot on target in a match for the fourth spot, twice as many as any other side, as we conceded the initiative to Woolwich. We didn't attempt a shot of any note until the 27th minute - a wild Rodrigo Bentancur effort that went way over the bar.

We attempted to raise the tempo after the break but struggled to break down a determined Brentford backline, with Jansson, Rico Henry and Mads Bech Sorensen all making decisive blocks.

We now face tough matches against Leicester City and Liverpool before what looks likely to be a decisive north London derby at home to Woolwich on 12 May.

After the game, Eriksen took time to come over to us, applaud us, and sign one of our fan's shirts, which had his name on the back.

No Taxi for us, so Stefania, Mel and I walked back to the car, with me giving up halfway because of my arthritis. Mel came back for me in his car. I always say that if I was a horse, they would have shot me by now…  but an operation will wait for me at the end of the football season (how about that for good timing?).

We arrived back at Janette's around 10.30pm.

It was a long and exhausting weekend… But I am alive to tell the tale.

Next up is Leicester City at the Tottenham stadium. This time around, Janette will be joining us as we've got a restaurant booked for that game at the ground. This will be the day after her birthday party; where we will have to leave early as the doors open at 11 am. It is about a two and a half-hour drive from Mel's house (I will pick him up there).

COYS!

Glenn