Brentford began their Premier League campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, with goals from Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt and Michael Kayode exposing deep flaws in a Spurs side that had spent heavily in the summer transfer window.
The defeat was a stark wake-up call for Roberto De Zerbi's team, who looked like relegation candidates rather than contenders for European football. Despite an outlay that will soon surpass £300m, Tottenham showed no patterns of play, were timid in possession and chaotic at the back, crumbling under relentless pressing from Brentford.
Brentford's cohesive display
Brentford, in their second season under Keith Andrews, blended power, speed and skill to dominate the match. They could have scored more, with Igor Thiago missing a penalty, but the result was a joyous start to their campaign. Mamadou Sangaré, signed from Lens for £39m, delivered a sparkling debut in midfield, providing energy and quality while creating the opening goal with a clever one-two with Thiago before pulling the ball back for Lewis-Potter to score from close range in the 12th minute.
Sangaré worked in tandem with Janelt and Mathias Jensen in a cohesive unit. Brentford have enjoyed a calm transfer window and are well drilled by Andrews. "There's real trust in what we've built," the Brentford manager said.
Spurs' fragmented performance
In contrast, Tottenham were fragmented and undercooked. They started with four debutants and have players to return from injury, but De Zerbi admitted his side did not win a single second ball. Three new faces in the back four – Andy Robertson at left-back, with Jan Paul van Hecke partnering Marcos Senesi in the middle – found wide open spaces from the start, with Brentford creating havoc from deliveries on the wings.
Brentford were rampant, with Thiago bullying the centre-backs and Kevin Schade running at captain Archie Gray. It was not until Brentford were 3-0 up in the second half that Spurs created a chance of note. Lucas Bergvall was at fault for the second goal, losing a 50-50 with Jensen, and Kinsky failed to push Jensen's shot to safety, leaving Janelt to convert the rebound.
Set-piece goal seals victory
Bergvall and Conor Gallagher were removed at half-time, but Brentford soon stamped out any hope of a fightback by scoring from a corner. Nathan Collins nodded down at the far post, Sangaré shot, Kinsky saved and Kayode rammed the loose ball into the roof of the net, leaving Spurs humiliated and De Zerbi with much to ponder.
De Zerbi was honest in his assessment, admitting the performance was bereft of soul and emblematic of a team of individuals. Spurs have moved quickly in their first summer since Daniel Levy stepped aside as chair, but this result showed that winning the transfer window is not the same as winning on the pitch.
