Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur
As 2025 draws to a close, it is worth just pausing to reflect on why Thomas Frank deserves a rapturous reception in West London on New Year’s Day in the Premier League.
For even the most ardent Brentford fan would surely not begrudge the returning Dane for taking the opportunity to move to one of the giants of the English game this summer.
All this after almost seven years at seemingly unfashionable Brentford who he not only guided to the top flight for the first time in 74 years but then kept them there and claimed the scalp of virtually every other big hitter in the English game along the way.
Now as he goes back for the first time since departing for Spurs and should receive a hero’s welcome – perhaps helped by the fact that his former charges are one point above his new charges in the standings.
Talking Points
That is no mean feat. As a Brentford podcaster remarked this week: after losing Thomas Frank, a raft of key backroom staff, two strikers with 40 goals between them, their captain and first choice goalkeeper – to be where they are is remarkable. Indeed, it is the Bees’ best mid-season record since being promoted to the top flight in 2021 with the highest number of points (26) and wins (eight), eclipsing the period under Frank who had the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa firing on all cylinders.
Their 4-1 home win over Bournemouth at the weekend was as comfortable as the scoreline suggests as rookie manager Keith Andrews continues to defy the doubters, exceeding all expectations on a shoestring, upsetting some of the big boys and generally being a tough nut to crack with limited resources.
Premier League 2025 highlights have been harder to come by for Frank who is acutely aware of the size of the challenge at Spurs, yet is fortified when he remembers how he drove improvement at Brøndby, his first job as a club manager which he began in 2013, and then Brentford.
Indeed, he is convinced the story from his previous clubs will repeat itself with unconvincing starts giving way to consistent results and achievement.
I have seen signs that if he is given time, he will be able to build something tangible – signs I spotted from his first competitive game in charge – even though it was a match they ultimately lost.
Spurs certainly go into the contest in a brighter mood after ending a run of four consecutive defeats at exhausted Crystal Palace on Sunday, a victory which moved them up to 11th in the table.
The upshot, though, is that Spurs have fallen into a cycle of disappointment of late and will begin the new year as they began 2025, positioned in the bottom half of the Premier League as Frank attempts to put his stamp on his new team.
After the hero’s welcome, there will be no room for sentiment once the final whistle sounds.
History
Brentford won the club’s first ever meeting, a 1902 clash in the then Southern League.
They met a number of times in those early years in both that division, the London League and the Western League.
FA Cup meetings in 1922 and 1946 aside, they didn’t actually lock horns in the football league until November 1947 in Division Two, a game at White Hart Lane which the hosts won 4-0, thanks to a hat-trick from Len Duquemin and one from Eddie Baily.
They then met for three successive seasons but then, apart from League Cup clashes, didn’t meet again in the league until four years ago which was their first ever top flight clash.
Spurs won that 2-0 on home soil which was followed by a goalless draw at the Brentford Community Stadium four months later.
Overall, Brentford have seven successes and there have been 16 draws but Spurs have 28 triumphs, including their last four meetings.
Earlier this month, Richarlison and Xavi Simons were on target in a 2-0 win.
It was the same scoreline in the corresponding fixture last season when an own goal and a late Pape Matar Sarr strike won the day for Spurs, then managed by Ange Postegoglou.
Betting Tip
Brentford are actually slight favourites with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds and that speaks volumes for what they are achieving since Frank’s departure.
If you fancy a re-run of the game last term, then Correct Score 0-2 will pay out @ 17.50.
A second successive away win in the space of five days for Spurs is on offer for both 1X2 @ 2.97 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.35.
The Bees, meanwhile, are priced 1X2 @ 2.23 and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.23.
These are all attractive odds, as is total goals 0-1 @ 3.13. For a few more goals, you can do worse than look at total goals 2-3 @ 1.98, 4-6 @ 3.33 and over 2.75 @ 2.19.
I do think there will be a few goals and I do also think it will be honours even.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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