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From Gtech Community Stadium – Tottenham came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Brentford on Boxing Day.
The Premier League returned with a feisty and well-contested London derby, with Antonio Conte’s men making life difficult for themselves before rescuing a point.
Brentford took a 15th-minute lead when Bryan Mbeumo’s cross picked out Mathias Jensen, and his strike was tamely tipped by Fraser Forster and into the path of Vitaly Janelt for a simple tap in as Spurs fell behind for a ninth straight match.
Tottenham’s first half-sight of goal came when Dejan Kulusevski wriggled his way in off the right channel, rounding Ben Mee and firing a shot into the clutches of David Raya.
Son Heung-min forced Raya into more of a stretching save from 25 yards soon after, while Forster produced a stop with his leg to keep out Mathias Jorgensen’s half-volley.
Brentford thought they’d added a second when Jensen robbed Yves Bissouma and set Ivan Toney racing away, rounding Forster and slotting into an empty net, but the offside flag was raised.
Tottenham, as per, raised their intensity levels at the start of the second half and nearly carved the Bees open, with Mee recovering to clear a low cross from Ivan Perisic that looked certain to be tapped in by Kulusevski.
Harry Kane was incensed that he was not awarded a penalty when he was hauled to the ground by Mee with another cross from Perisic waiting to be met in the minutes that followed.
But Brentford doubled their lead after Eric Dier’s sliced pass trickled behind him for a corner, and Christian Norgaard’s flick on from Bryan Mbeumo’s delivery was tapped in by Toney.
Spurs pulled one back when a deep cross from Clement Lenglet was met by a rising Kane, who got above Mee and headed past Raya.
The hosts nearly added a third when a mix-up in the area allowed Mbeumo to find some space and reach Rico Henry’s cutback, but the Cameroonian leant back and fired over.
The scores were level again with 20 minutes left on the clock when Kulusevski’s low cross was deflected back into the path of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who swept the ball into the top left corner.
While at one end Matt Doherty was spared a booking for what Brentford felt was an egregious dive, referee David Coote showed a yellow card to Mbeumo when he tried to buy a penalty off Forster.
Substitute Davinson Sanchez nearly completed the comeback with a scorching volley from distance, though it was held by a grateful Raya. Kane beat the Spaniard to a cross soon after but saw his header come back off the bar.
At the other end, a header from Mads Roerslev was guided back into the path of Toney, but he could only poke a volley over the top.
Son had a curling strike denied by Raya deep into stoppage time as Brentford held on to take a point.
GK: David Raya – 6/10 – Claimed every cross and commanded his area well. Distribution was usually spot on.
CB: Mathias Jorgensen – 8/10 – Showed his composure and experience in another big game for Brentford.
CB: Ethan Pinnock – 6/10 – Pocketed Kane in the first half but found it harder dealing with him when he dropped deep more in the second.
CB: Ben Mee – 4/10 – So often a calming influence this season, Mee was all over the place today and was fortunate not to have conceded a penalty.
RM: Mads Roerslev – 6/10 – Provided little going forward but was very assured defensively.
CM: Mathias Jensen – 7/10 – Helped Brentford build whether in control or on the counter. Technical levels noticeably dipped when he was subbed.
CM: Christian Norgaard – 8/10 – A one-man show in midfield at times. Every time the Bees won back the ball, Norgaard was usually at the heart of their efforts.
CM: Vitaly Janelt – 7/10 – Roamed forward well and was able to find the net in another big game.
LM: Rico Henry – 6/10 – His pace was a handy asset in his duels with the slower Doherty and Kulusevski.
CF: Bryan Mbeumo – 6/10 – Set piece delivery was excellent, but squandered several good chances to score, not least when he dived to try and win a penalty instead of shooting.
CF: Ivan Toney – 8/10 – Manhandled by Spurs defenders in their failed attempts to keep him down. Brentford’s talisman once again.
Substitutes
Saman Ghoddos (67′ for Jensen) – 5/10
Josh Dasilva (81′ for Norgaard) – 5/10
Yoane Wissa (81′ for Mbeumo) – 5/10
Manager
Thomas Frank – 7/10 – Set his team up well and they fought hard, but could not stave off Spurs’ dogged fightback.
GK: Fraser Forster – 4/10 – The tallest man on the pitch often played like the shortest, failing to claim high balls. Gifted Brentford their opener.
CB: Japhet Tanganga – 4/10 – Out of his depth. Continually lost duels and played without cunningness and intelligence.
CB: Eric Dier – 3/10 – The glass ceiling of how far Spurs can go with Dier as their senior defender was on display again. Uncomfortable on the ball and a liability off it.
CB: Clement Lenglet – 6/10 – The best defender of a pretty bad bunch. Spurs needed his technical abilities in order to play from the back.
RM: Matt Doherty – 5/10 – Didn’t bring the off-ball runs he’s in the team for until the final stages. Lack of pace made it harder to build down his side.
CM: Yves Bissouma – 3/10 – Lucky not to have gifted Toney a goal in the first half. Wasteful and woeful in possession.
CM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 8/10 – Tried his hardest and fought for every inch, eventually earning himself a goal.
LM: Ivan Perisic – 6/10 – Troubled Brentford with his crossing, but plays as if he’s still got searing pace when he clearly doesn’t.
RF: Dejan Kulusevski – 8/10 – The creator of Spurs’ best moments, even if there were few and far between until late in the second half.
LF: Son Heung-min – 5/10 – Showed a desire to beat his man and take people on, but not within the vicinity of the box.
CF: Harry Kane – 8/10 – Started slowly but grew into the game, dropping deep to free Kulusevski and Son before pulling one back himself.
Substitutes
Davinson Sanchez (67′ for Tanganga) – 6/10
Ben Davies (90′ for Lenglet) – N/A
Manager
Antonio Conte – 6/10 – Spurs made life difficult themselves again but their series of rehearsed moves and ultimate top-end quality helped them back into the contest.
