Brentford 0-0 Tottenham
by Layth Yousif
at Brentford Community stadium

SPURS hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were damaged after they were held to a goalless draw by Brentford on Saturday evening.

In a match notable for Christian Eriksen starring for the Bees against his former club, the 30-year-old Dane was hailed by both sets of fans throughout an absorbing 90 minutes.

Although the west Londoners were unable to continue their run of winning every game the Denmark midfielder has started since he joined in January, Thomas Frank’s side were simply outstanding in their work ethic and intense commitment from first until last against misfiring Spurs, who have only taken one point from the last six, to slip below bitter rivals Arsenal in the race for Champions League football.

With talk of the talented Eriksen heading back to north London in the summer after making a full recovery from his heart problem, Frank insisted after the match: “I am very positive and very hopeful that he will stay but it will be a decision at the end of the season.”

Mathias Jensen, Saman Ghoddos, Mads Bech Sorensen and Mads Roerslev started as boss Frank made four changes from the win at Watford.

Spurs boss Antonio Conte made a single change from the side beaten by Brighton last weekend, with full-back Sergio Reguilon dropping to the bench in favour of Ryan Sessegnon, as the Italian opted for a flat back five.

The busy Bees, buoyed by four victories in their last five matches, with three on the bounce, started on the front foot.

Bryan Mbeumo forced Spurs captain and keeper Hugo Lloris into a save low down to his left early on. The shot came after former Lilywhite Eriksen was afforded an ovation from all sides of the ground, including the visitors’ section, when he took an early corner.

The impressive Ivan Toney thudded the bar with an emphatic header in a crowded box on 17 minutes. Shortly afterwards Toney then fired past the post as Frank’s side sought to break the deadlock, In a first half full of endeavour and energy.

With Arsenal beating Manchester United 3-1 earlier in the day, the pressure was on Spurs to earn three points to leapfrog their rivals. However, in a keenly competitive second half played in a raucous atmosphere it was Brentford who could so easily have ran away with three points.

Harry Kane cleared off the line from Pontus Jansson’s header prior to Eriksen having his low shot saved by Lloris.

While Spurs offered attacking intent they were disjointed and failed to break through a resolute Bees backline in a performance Frank hailed afterwards as “almost spotless.”

As the clock ticked down Toney nodded the ball onto the post from Eriksen’s pinpoint cross. There was still time for Kane to athletically angle an acrobatic overhead kick narrowly past the post, as Spurs had to settle for a point, while making it two consecutive games without a single shot on target.

“We are in this race and we want to try to stay in it, but we know it is very difficult,” Conte said afterwards. "The opponent tries to pay more attention when they play against you. 

“We have to live with this situation. Today is a good draw. Brentford played with a good intensity and they were very dangerous from set-pieces.

“It was a very difficult game. They are a physical team and tried to exploit the dangerous areas. I think defensively we were good but at the same time I think we can do much better with the ball to create more chances. But when you cannot win it is important to take one point.”