Tottenham Hotspur will endeavour to keep their ever slimming hopes of European football alive in the early kick off this Saturday as Brentford visit North London. The Bees have had a fantastic season themselves and while the hosts have six wins in their previous eight games at home, Brentford have struggled playing away. Three of their last four games have ended in defeat away from home without reply.
Spurs haven’t won on the road themselves in seven games. Aston Villa made light work of caretaker boss Ryan Mason’s side last weekend in a 2-1 defeat. The score line reflected kindly on Spurs, who without Harry Kane’s 27 league goals this season would have been propping up the top half of the league table. Tottenham cannot climb any higher than sixth this term. It is a dizzying come down from August when many pundits tipped them as outside runners for the league title under then boss Antonio Conte. On a beautiful spring day in London, a fresh start in August cannot come soon enough for manager less Spurs.
Spurs conceded twice to Brentford in the 2-2 reverse fixture on Boxing Day. The defensive line has been a weak point for Tottenham all season long. Sections of the fan base have shown dissatisfaction at centre half Eric Dier being linked with a new three year deal at the club. There is a frustration amongst many of the fan base that Spurs continue to entertain mediocre standards. To limp to a sixth placed finish would represent some light relief for a club that feels disjointed at the moment.
Thomas Frank and Brentford are the antithesis of everything wrong at Spurs. The club are locked in to secure a top ten finish in the EPL for the first time in their history. Ivan Toney’s recent eight month suspension by the F.A for breaking betting laws is a blow, however he wasn’t missed last weekend in another London derby as West Ham were easily brushed aside 2-0. Toney is an outstanding forward and will be sorely missed by Frank and his side. Regardless, there is a belief that Brentford can cope as a unit regardless of whether their top forward and star man is firing or not. How Spurs can only wish they could say the same. In what many fans believe may be one of living legend Harry Kane’s final games for the club, the fans will be hoping he can produce some drama down at the Lane one final time.
The Bees are undefeated in their last eight EPL London derbies and still look a good bet to secure European football themselves. Victory today will take them a point behind Spurs. Historically Spurs have the upper hand. Brentford have won only one of their last nine encounters against Tottenham and that was back in 1948 in the second tier. Both clubs have come a long way since then, but there is a feeling the sun is shining on Frank’s Bees right now whilst clouds continue to linger over Tottenham and the direction of their future. Kane’s magic feet will save face once again for the boys at White Hart Lane this afternoon.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-2 Brentford