Tottenham 2-0 Brentford: Player ratings as Spurs down Bees
By Sean Walsh
From Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - Spurs continued their push for a top four place under Antonio Conte with a 2-0 win at home to Brentford on Thursday.
Conte's men struggled to impose themselves after taking an early lead, but improved in the second half. The first chance fell Spurs' way after five minutes with Harry Kane releasing Lucas Moura, and his near-post shot was pushed behind by Alvaro Fernandez.
Tottenham had the lead soon after though through an own goal. Son Heung-min played a corner short to Sergio Reguilon, who returned it for the South Korean to cross from a new angle and Pontus Jansson headed it onto Sergi Canos and into the roof of the Brentford net.
The Bees' first real effort came when Bryan Mbeumo volleyed just over when Spurs failed to clear a corner, before Reguilon headed wide at the other end.
Fernandez was tested again by Son's curling effort, while Brentford's best method of causing mayhem was though set pieces, but the Bees went into half time a goal down.
Spurs nearly doubled their lead just after the break when Oliver Skipp played in Kane, but Fernandez easily kept him out.
The hosts nearly scrambled one over the line moments later, before Kane's low cross was somehow put wide by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Brentford were slowly dragging themselves back into the tie once they started playing more direct, with Vitaly Janelt teeing up Ivan Toney, only for the striker's shot to be held by Lloris.
But just as Thomas Frank's side were finding some joy, Spurs found a second through Son. Kane picked out Reguilon on the wing and the Spaniard played it across goal for the forward to tap in.
Toney's near-post run nearly caught Tottenham out but Lloris just about stood his ground to deny him, but that was as close as Brentford came to pulling one back as Spurs weathered the storm.
Here are your player ratings from north London...
Tottenham player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Hugo Lloris (GK) - 7/10 - Brentford unable to expose his sub-par kicking ability. Looked a bit ropey from crosses that weren't straight down his throat.
Davinson Sanchez (CB) - 3/10 - Crumbled under any sort of pressure and was fortunate not to have been targeted more.
Eric Dier (CB) - 7/10 - Played a couple of nice long passes but was also caught in possession.
Ben Davies (CB) - 7/10 - Forced the own goal out of Canos and was handy with his underlapping runs.
2. Midfielders
Emerson Royal (RM) - 5/10 - Usually either very good or very bad for Spurs but went down the middle this time around.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM) - 7/10 - Excellent sweeping up and was very vocal in commanding his teammates.
Oliver Skipp (CM) - 7/10 - Similarly good defensively but he and Hojbjerg just aren't compatible together when trying to play a possession game.
Sergio Reguilon (LM) - 8/10 - Played like a real touchline winger and eventually found the quality to hurt Brentford.
3. Forwards
Lucas Moura (RW) - 4/10 - Another game running down dead ends.
Harry Kane (CF) - 7/10 - Best work came dropping deep to release Lucas and Son. Rarely threatened himself, however.
Son Heung-min (LW) - 8/10 - Again the best of the front three and grabbed a deserved goal for his efforts.
4. Substitutes
Harry Winks (CM) - 5/10
Japhet Tanganga (RB) - N/A
Steven Bergwijn (CF) - N/A
Brentford player ratings
5. Goalkeeper & defenders
Alvaro Fernandez (GK) - 7/10 - Made several good stops to keep Brentford in the game.
Charlie Goode (CB) - 5/10 - Was spun by Son early on but was steady from there on in. Guilty of a foul throw.
Pontus Jansson (CB) - 4/10 - Should have got more elevation on his clearance for Spurs' opener.
Ethan Pinnock (CB) - 5/10 - Rarely troubled by Lucas and Emerson but was a liability in possession when pressed.
6. Midfielders
Sergi Canos (RM) - 4/10 - Not much he could do about the own goal. Wasn't threatening on the ball and lost the run of compatriot Reguilon on occasion.
Frank Onyeka (CM) - 3/10 - Wasn't able to have an impact as he so often does with his physicality.
Christian Norgaard (CM) - 7/10 - Brentford's best outfielder, winning the ball back and recycling it effectively.
Vitaly Janelt (CM) - 4/10 - Failed at the basics.
Rico Henry (LM) - 4/10 - Like Canos was unable to help the Bees in the final third.
7. Forwards
Bryan Mbeumo (CF) - 2/10 - Final ball was way off. Moved to wing back after Wissa's introduction.
Ivan Toney (CF) - 5/10 - Was isolated and not helped by the lack of quality around him.
8. Substitutes
Shandon Baptiste (CM) - 6/10 - Brought the energy that Onyeka lacked.
Yoane Wissa (CF) - 4/10
Mathias Jensen (CM) - 5/10
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