Diabolical Performance Breaks Spurs' Drought 🐝
Yesterday afternoon, the Brentford Bees suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat away from home against Tottenham in a fiery London Derby. Adding extra spice to the encounter, the Bees faced off against their former manager, Thomas Frank, who had his side primed to exploit our known vulnerabilities. Despite Keith Andrews deploying a top-tier lineup after mid-week rests, the match quickly exposed deep defensive frailties that resulted in arguably the team's worst half of the season. Tottenham's goals from Richarlison and Xavi Simons were a direct result of the space and indecision given to the home side. The final score was less embarrassing than it could have been, largely thanks to a heroic effort in goal.
The Takeaways from the match:
Caoimhín Kelleher leaping to defend the Brentford goal from Tottenham’s assault.
Defensive Wide-Open Spaces: The defensive setup, particularly in the first half, was abysmal. The back four were consistently undone by simple long through balls and over-the-top passes, which led directly to the opening goal. The second goal saw Xavi Simons travel practically unchallenged from the halfway line, capitalizing on our reluctance to close down.
Kelleher the Only Bright Spot: Goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher was the sole Bee who performed at a Premier League level. His fantastic reaction save on Kolo Muani in the first half and his crucial save on Djed Spence early in the second prevented the scoreline from becoming a genuine rout.
The Thomas Frank Factor: It was evident that former manager Thomas Frank had done his homework. Tottenham repeatedly attacked the wings with the specific goal of setting up passing triangles on the top corners of the box—a known weak point in Brentford's current defensive shape. He masterfully exploited the gaping holes in our structure.
Squandered Opportunities and Discipline: The attack was virtually non-existent for long stretches, and when chances finally fell, they were squandered, most notably Igor Thiago's 88th-minute effort into the side netting. Compounding the problems, Kevin Schade's late yellow card means he will miss the next match against Leeds United, a costly loss of discipline born from frustration.
First Half Horrors
The match began wide open, with chances at both ends, but the initial minutes showed a concerning lack of stability in the Bees' defense. The dam broke in the 25th minute when a long through ball from Porro found Xavi Simons down the right, who squared it for a tap-in for Richarlison. This play highlighted a recurring issue: the defense cannot cope with simple balls over the top.
Controversy flared up when Christian Romero put in a "disgusting" scissor-motion challenge on Igor Thiago. While VAR cleared the initial yellow, the tackle looked extremely dangerous, and many felt a straight red card was warranted. Shortly after, the Bees' woes were compounded. In the 43rd minute, indecision at the back led to a loose ball, which Xavi Simons seized upon. He darted from midfield, entirely unpressured, and slotted home for Tottenham’s second. This goal was the defining moment of the half, highlighting poor decision-making and a lack of effort to close down the attacker. The halftime whistle brought a fully deserved 2-0 lead for the home side, marking what was arguably Brentford's worst 45 minutes of the season.
⏳Second Half: Too Little, Too Late
Keith Andrews immediately responded with a substitution, bringing on Rico Henry for the carded and struggling Kristoffer Ajer. However, the defensive nightmares continued, with Nathan Collins coughing up a ball to Djed Spence just after the restart, forcing Kelleher into another brave save.
The pressure from Tottenham was relentless, and the Bees struggled to maintain possession. Frustration mounted, culminating in Kevin Schade receiving his fifth yellow card of the campaign, which will result in him missing the upcoming match against Leeds. The game featured a moment of contention around the 58th minute when Igor Thiago went down in the box under a challenge from Van de Ven, but VAR opted not to review the incident.
In the final moments, Brentford finally managed to carve out opportunities, but they were ultimately squandered. Igor Thiago's remarkable chance in the 88th minute—the best chance of the match—was scuffed wide into the outside netting. A final glimpse of hope came in stoppage time, but the ball was just out of reach for Schade.
Final Result: Brentford 0 - Tottenham 2
This defeat sees Brentford's away struggles continue and proved devastating to the team's campaign. Apart from Caoimhín Kelleher, who was outstanding, it was a diabolical performance from the entire squad. To make matters worse, the Bees had the dubious honor of breaking Tottenham's home winless drought and opening Xavi Simons' Premier League goal-scoring account. We must address these defensive gaps immediately before the season slides further.
