The Premier League has resumed after its unprecedented pause, the winter interlude when the game’s most glamorous domestic competition had to bow to the importance of a World Cup.
There is concern the broken-up calendar could mean disrupted momentum. Yet anybody looking for symptoms of changed habits hardly found them in the first top-flight match, Brentford’s hosting of Tottenham Hotspur, of post-Qatar 2022.
Spurs remain the same puzzling enigma, a team whose first-half lack of momentum seems deeply ingrained. Just as they had in each of their four games before the World Cup, they conceded first. Brentford had doubled their lead before Tottenham launched one of their trademark comebacks.
“I’m happy with the reaction, and these players have shown strength and character many times,” said Antonio Conte, the Spurs manager. “But I would like my team to be more stable.”
In the last half hour, Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg answered earlier goals from Vitaly Janelt and Ivan Toney. Kane also hit the crossbar on this, his return to action following England’s World Cup elimination by France when he missed a penalty that might have taken the quarter-final to extra-time.
After enduring the sort of tame Spurs start Kane is becoming used to, he showed few signs his self-belief is weakened by a high-profile moment of failure in his national jersey.
Tottenham had 11 players in Qatar, and those who last longest at the tournament, Argentina defender Cristian Romero and France captain Hugo Lloris, were absent from Conte’s line-up.
Lloris, a silver medallist at the Lusail stadium at the end of the gripping final eight days earlier, was on the bench, giving Fraser Forster a rare start in goal. An assessment of the readiness of Romero, who joined his celebrating compatriots in South America after their triumph, will be made ahead of Sunday’s fixture against Aston Villa.
Brentford v Tottenham player ratings
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BRENTFORD PLAYER RATINGS: David Raya – 6. On his 139th Brentford game, the Spaniard was called into action in the second half. He made a number of good saves, but there wasn’t much he could do to stop Spurs’ goals. Getty -
Mathias Jorgensen – 6. The Danish centre-back operated well at the back, blocking Kane’s free-kick and making several good tackles. Getty -
Ethan Pinnock – 6. The 29-year-old made several commanding headers away from his defensive third, but was lucky after he gave away a chance to Kulusevksi who fumbled the opportunity. AFP -
Ben Mee – 5. The veteran defender saw Kulusevski’s shot deflect off him, allowing Hojberg to score. He made up for it with some good moments as he cut out a number of chances. Reuters -
Mads Roerslev – 6. The 23-year-old provided some nice plays down the line, even occasionally with a skilful flick. He played well defensively and stopped several crosses. AFP -
Mathias Jensen – 6. The midfielder had a mixed game before coming off. He had a good shot, which was deflected allowing for Janelt to score, however his passing wasn’t always accurate. AP -
Christian Norgaard – 7. Brentford’s captain worked hard in the middle as he made some good tackles to deny Spurs’ on the counter. He also flicked a header to the back post for Toney to score the second goal. Reuters -
Vitaly Janelt – 7. The German midfielder opened the scoring after a Spurs defensive mistake, and he impressed in the midfield, cutting out several attacking moves from the away side. AFP -
Rico Henry – 7. Brentford’s quick left-back made several attacking runs as his side looked to score. His pressing ability was effective, and he used his pace to cut out Spurs’ attacks down the wing. AP -
Bryan Mbeumo – 7. The forward played well in the first half, his energy helping to drive his side forward. He whipped in a brilliant cross before the first goal and nearly scored himself but fired over. Reuters -
Ivan Toney – 8. Scoring his 11th goal of the season, the striker used his body well to win fouls and keep defenders at bay. He nearly scored several more but either missed the ball or fired over the bar. AP -
SUBS: Saman Ghoddos (Jensen 67') - 6. Replacing Jensen in the second half, his energy hassled Spurs, and he put in a number of tackles. Reuters -
Josh Da Silva (Norgaard 82') – N/A. Coming on late in the game, his attacking presence was needed in the middle. Getty -
Yohan Wissa (Mbuemo 82') – N/A. After replacing Mbeumo, he didn’t have many chances but contributed a couple of tackles. PA -
TOTTENHAM PLAYER RATINGS: Fraser Forster – 6. The 34-year-old was unlucky to have conceded first, after a deflection diverted the ball. He still managed to make some good stops, his best to deny Jorgensen from close range. Reuters -
Japhet Tanganga – 5. Tottenham’s academy graduate had a mixed game, making some good stops to cut out attacks but also prone to giving away too many unnecessary fouls. AFP -
Eric Dier – 5. The Spurs stalwart drove forward to start attacks when he could, but he also miscontrolled the ball in the second half, leading to Brentford’s second goal. AFP -
Clement Lenglet – 6. The French defender was caught by a deflection from Jensen’s shot, making it hard for Forster and allowing Brentford to score. However, he did deliver a quality cross which Kane met to score. Getty -
Matt Doherty – 7. The Irishman had a busy game, having to deal with the energetic Mbeumo along the wing. He made several attacking runs forward, helping Kulusevksi with overlapping plays in the final third. Getty -
Yves Bissouma – 6. Acting as the middle man for Spurs, he showed some quick clean passing, especially with Doherty along the right. However, he was sometimes wasteful, and gave away the ball too easily. AFP -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 6. The 27-year-old had a mixed game. He did the basics well, got some good tackles in, and scored the equaliser, but he also gave away some cheap fouls, allowing Brentford to attack. AP -
Ivan Perisic – 6. Returning from the World Cup semi-final, the Croatian made some good runs and crosses into the area, but this was one of his quieter displays. Reuters -
Dejan Kulusevski –7. Making his 10th league appearance this season, the Swede displayed bursts of talent. His best chance was a good attacking run, darting between two defenders, before he later assisted Hojberg. AFP -
Harry Kane – 8. His best chances came later in the game. He tucked away a brilliant header into the top corner before nearly adding another, although it rebounded off the bar. PA -
Son Heung-min – 7. The South Korean was Spurs’ brightest spark, showcasing his electric darting runs in attack and creating several chances for his side as they looked to equalise. He also used his skill to win several free-kicks. Getty -
SUBS: Davison Sanchez (Tanganga 67') – 6. Replacing Tanganga, he didn’t have a lot to do as the game changed direction. He did have a thumping volley from far out saved late on though. Getty -
Ben Davies (Lenglet 90') – N/A. With a minute to go there was nothing Davies could add to the game. PA
On the evidence of Tottenham’s first hour of a bright, mild afternoon in west London, Romero’s presence, as soon as possible, will be welcomed. Neither of the Brentford goals painted Spurs in a flattering light.
For the opener, they were stretched apart by the quick thinking of Toney and Bryan Mbeumo, whose cross was met on the volley by Mathias Jensen. The effort struck Clement Lenglet, Forster reacted to parry the deflection. Janelt, following up, steered the loose ball past the Spurs goalkeeper.
Brentford’s second, nine minutes after half-time, will prey on the thoughts of Eric Dier. His workload over the past six weeks as an occasional England substitute has been relatively light. Yet he looked momentarily distracted as he attempted to launch a clearance under no close pressure. Dier miscued, the ball spearing off his shin for a Brentford corner. Christian Norgaard met it at the near post, Toney pouncing to finish.
Brentford had kept Tottenham largely in check until then, alarmed only by Dejan Kulusevski’s lively work down the Tottenham right flank. Kane had a free-kick bounce off the defensive wall and behind. Son Heung-Min managed a lone threatening run. Ivan Perisic, whose excellence at set-pieces was helping Croatia win the bronze-medal match in Qatar 10 days ago, delivered a corner poorly - a very rare event for him.
But this is Spurs, who under Conte have developed a special knack of underwhelming then responding forcefully to setback. They had trailed 2-0 for just over 10 minutes when Kane halved the deficit by heading in Lenglet’s deep cross.
Kane would head against the frame of Brentford’s goal later in a lively conclusion to the contest. By then Spurs had equalised, Kulusevski the creator, with a skilful run that finished with a cutback to Hojbjerg.
His firm drive keeps Conte’s team in the top four at least until New Year’s Eve and once again tantalises Spurs supporters with the thought that, if they could only start matches as they end them, their ambitions might extend beyond just clinging to a top-four spot.
