The alternative would have been unthinkable for Thomas Frank, and so as the home crowd raised themselves to sing over the closing stages and his former club Brentford were vanquished it was disaster averted for the embattled Tottenham Hotspur manager.
A first Spurs goal for Xavi Simons, and also an assist for the big-ticket summer signing, raised the mood further, although these remain just baby steps for the club in N17. At least the disconnect between fans and players appeared to be healing somewhat with a generous applause for the team as they came off en masse at half-time two goals up.
Richarlison had scored the first against a Brentford team who have been largely ineffective away from home this season with just a win at West Ham, a draw at Chelsea and eight defeats. Keith Andrews’ side never rose to the occasion despite Spurs’ terrible home record. This was only Spurs fourth home win in 2025 in 17 Premier League home games during the year. This was the first home win in the Premier League this season since the opener on August 16.
There was a match-winning performance from Simons and Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were reunited to great effect at the back. This was just Spurs’ first win in six straight Premier League games.
Simons assisted the first and scored the second, and he seemed to find the space that has been closed to him at other times. He got down the right side in the 25th minute with a ball pinged down the line by Pedro Porro that eluded the full-back Kristoffer Ajer and gave Simons a run in which he could pick out Richarlison. Ajer had previously been treated for a head injury and would be substituted at half-time.
Simons’ goal came when he lost the ball and won it back so suddenly that the Brentford players in the area had already sprung forward. They were in the wrong position when play went in the other direction. Yehor Yarmoliuk tried to get a grip of Simons as he sprinted away but there was never the commitment to the foul and Simons tucked in his shot once he was within range.
In the second half, Caoimhin Kelleher made a couple of excellent saves from Djed Spence and then when the full-back teed up substitute Pape Matar Sarr for a chance he really should have buried.