Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
After both coming from behind to eliminate lower-league opposition in the EFL Cup, London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford lock horns in Saturday’s Premier League London derby.
Ange Postecoglou‘s men made life incredibly difficult for themselves against Coventry City but eventually got the job done by two goals to one, while the Bees were 3-1 victors over Leyton Orient.
Match preview
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A day on from doubling down on his claim that he “always” wins trophies in his second year in a job – a factually correct statement for the time being – Spurs boss Postecoglou was a few minutes away from seeing Tottenham’s hopes of EFL Cup stardom crash and burn in Coventry.
The lacklustre Lilywhites could have had few complaints if Brandon Thomas-Asante‘s strike proved to be the winner, but Postecoglou’s embarrassment was spared by a pair of inspired substitutes right at the death, as Djed Spence and the recently-vilified Brennan Johnson completed a striking turnaround.
As abysmal as Tottenham’s attacking display was, the manner of the Lilywhites’ dramatic success offers a sliver of hope that Wednesday’s victory could be the catalyst for a change in fortunes, as Spurs have been a shadow of their former selves from 12 months ago.
Indeed, Tottenham could not even beat a weakened Arsenal team on their own patch last weekend, where set-piece weaknesses reared their ugly heads once more as Gabriel Magalhaes headed home a second-half corner, the 25th Premier League goal that Saturday’s hosts have conceded from dead-ball situations since the start of last term.
Residing in an unlucky 13th place in the standings on account of their underwhelming start, Spurs now endeavour to avoid losing three of their first five games of a new season for the first time since 2008, when Juande Ramos left his post after just eight games of that campaign.
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While Brentford were also made to do it the hard way in their EFL Cup third-round tie with Leyton Orient, who took a shock lead at the Gtech Community Stadium via an 11th-minute Brandon Cooper effort, the Bees faithful did not have to wait until minute 88 for their side to come good in the final third.
Just six minutes after Cooper’s opener, ex-Liverpool starlet Fabio Carvalho got Brentford back to square one with a phenomenal overhead kick, before Mikkel Damsgaard‘s header and a crisp Christian Norgaard strike saw Thomas Frank‘s men avoid an almighty upset.
The Bees’ 3-1 success saw them prolong their 100% record at the Gtech Community Stadium this term, having also overcome Crystal Palace and Southampton on familiar turf, but Frank’s men are now facing a third straight away fixture against one of the so-called ‘Big Six’.
Brentford are one of three teams without an away point after two matches this season, but they have been forced to pit their wits against Liverpool at Anfield and Manchester City at the Etihad, giving the champions a massive scare last week only to succumb to an Erling Haaland double.
Each of the visitors’ last four away North London derbies last season also ended in defeat, and January’s trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw Frank’s crop go down 3-2. Entertainment should be a guarantee on Saturday afternoon, though; the last four meetings between the London rivals have seen a staggering 17 goals.
Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:
Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):
Brentford Premier League form:
Brentford form (all competitions):
Team News
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Tottenham’s offensive ranks could be depleted by two fresh attacking absences this weekend, as Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner were both forced off in the victory over Coventry; Postecoglou has admitted that the former’s issue looks serious.
The severity of Werner’s knock has not yet been ascertained, but the German put in an atrocious display on Wednesday and would have surely dropped out either way; Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski are primed and ready for attacking recalls.
Yves Bissouma (groin) and Richarlison (unspecified) are also in the Tottenham treatment room, although Postecoglou is optimistic that the former’s issue will settle down in time for him to make an appearance on Saturday.
Brentford came through their midweek success without any fresh injury concerns, but early Etihad goalscorer Yoane Wissa is confirmed to be facing a couple of months on the sidelines with the ankle issue he sustained against the champions last week – a devastating blow to the Ivan Toney-less visitors.
Wissa joins Josh Dasilva (knee), Gustavo Nunes (back), Mathias Jensen (calf), Igor Thiago (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh) and Rico Henry (muscle) on the sidelines; the latter was on the verge of returning from a long-term knee injury before picking up a fresh muscle issue.
With Wissa in the infirmary, Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade could act as Brentford’s front two for the next several weeks, although Carvalho’s acrobatics on Wednesday may have given Frank food for thought up front.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Carvalho; Mbeumo, Schade
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Brentford
In spite of Tottenham’s lackadaisical attacking displays so far this season, they should not be short of chances to carve Brentford open; Mark Flekken has already been forced into a league-high 22 saves so far this season.
Postecoglou’s men should therefore find their way through at least once, and a first-choice defence can then keep a depleted Bees frontline at bay.
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