Tottenham secured their first league victory since mid-December with a hard-fought win over Brentford. The breakthrough came in fortunate fashion as Vitaly Janelt inadvertently turned the ball into his own net following a corner. Brentford’s goalkeeper, Hákon Valdimarsson, making his first top-flight start, struggled to deal with the delivery, allowing the ball to deflect in off Janelt.
Despite their depleted squad, Spurs defended resolutely, with young Archie Gray standing out in an improvised backline. Brentford applied pressure early on, with Morten Damsgaard and Kevin Schade testing the defense. A shaky moment for Tottenham came when Antonin Kinsky’s misjudged backpass gifted Schade possession, though the forward could not capitalize. Yoane Wissa twice came close with headers, while Bryan Mbeumo’s deliveries looked dangerous.
Spurs, however, began to exploit space on the counterattack. Dejan Kulusevski nearly found Richarlison with a cross-shot before their opening goal arrived. Yves Bissouma’s deflected shot led to a corner, which Son Heung-min swung in. Valdimarsson, under pressure from Bissouma, failed to clear effectively, and the ball struck Janelt before crossing the line.
Brentford responded with urgency. Christian Norgaard forced a sharp save, while Kulusevski went close at the other end after a slick turn. Before the break, Mbeumo’s volley struck Richarlison in the face, but Spurs held on to their lead.
At halftime, Lucas Bergvall replaced Mikey Moore, who struggled to make an impact. Brentford began the second half with intent, Kristoffer Ajer driving forward before Kinsky denied Nørgaard’s cross. A golden opportunity was missed when Schade flicked on a ball to Wissa, who fired over from close range.
Tottenham nearly doubled their lead through Kulusevski and Bergvall, who both sent shots narrowly wide. Brentford relied on set pieces but found Spurs’ defense surprisingly resilient. As the game progressed, the visitors managed the clock well, frustrating their opponents.
A late chance for Brentford came when Djed Spence cleared an overhead kick from substitute Fabio Carvalho off the line. Moments later, Spurs sealed the victory. Rodrigo Bentancur’s powerful run opened space for Pape Sarr, who slotted home confidently.
It was a much-needed win, lifting spirits and easing concerns over their recent slump.
