Tottenham Hotspur returned to the Premier League's top four with a thrilling and at times chaotic victory at home to Brentford.
Neal Maupay's scrambled goal gave the visitors the lead at half-time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, Tottenham gave the Bees three goals in the eight minutes after the interval, with goals from Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Richarlison.
Ivan Toni pulled one back after a terrifying back pass from Udogi.
But Spurs continued to win, returning to the top four for the first time in 2024 after Ange Postecoglou's side fell out of the Champions League places with a 4-2 defeat at Brighton on December 28.
Spurs started the game in the lead but were caught up by their high defensive line when Toney was played through. His shot was saved by Gigi Vicario, but Maupay pounced on the rebound.
The Frenchman kicked the ball onto his standing foot, but the ball deflected into the corner, giving Maupay his fourth goal in consecutive matches.
However, Spurs came out strong after half-time, scoring three goals in eight minutes. First, Udogi darted forward from left-back, exchanging passes with Timo Werner and, although his first shot was blocked, he scored with his second goal.
Seventy-three seconds later, Werner was the provider again with a low cross from the left, which Johnson converted from close range with just his second touch after coming on as a half-time substitute. Richarlison then followed up to complete the goal rush. Madison's shot missed.
Richarlison has scored seven goals in his last seven league appearances, one more than he has scored in his previous 47 top-flight appearances.
Spurs allowed Brentford to return in farcical circumstances with Udogi playing a straight backpass to Toney, who calmly slotted the ball past Vicario to earn his return from an eight-month suspension for gambling offences. He scored his second goal in the game since.
However, Brentford were unable to find an equalizer and remained in 15th place, just four points above the relegation zone.
Spurs secure 3 points with Maddison's return
Much of the pre-match attention was focused on James Maddison, who was making his first start since November 6, when he returned from injury and came off the bench against Manchester City.
Maddison played a key role in Spurs' strong start to the season, with his last start before injury coming at home to Chelsea, which resulted in their first league defeat of the season.
Spurs fans will be hoping the England midfielder will take the team back into the top four, and his nimble run through the defense before crowding into the area after 10 minutes showed he could be the difference-maker in attack. It gave me hope that it could be done.
However, Spurs' return after the break came as Maddison was moved into a deeper role and Johnson was introduced at half-time in place of Oliver Skipp as part of a double substitution.
Maddison inadvertently assisted Spurs' third goal inside the area, but the change in form allowed Werner and Johnson to play wide.
A quick start to the second half extended his club record of scoring in 34 consecutive league games.
Spurs still have obvious deficiencies, especially defensively, as shown by Vicario's acrobatic tip-over volley in stoppage time, allowing Chandon Baptiste space in the box. Despite his flaws, Spurs are certainly stronger with Maddison in the side, whatever his role. .
Brentford take the lead again
Brentford played perfectly against Tottenham in the first half in terms of utilizing the high line. Mads Roersleb made a clever move minutes before Maupay's opener, only for Matthias Jensen to be flagged offside in the build-up. He was also perfect at getting inside someone's head.
Maupay was a key figure in attacking Tottenham players, summed up by his reenactment of Maddison's dart-throwing celebration after the opening goal.
His celebration made some of the home supporters and Maddison himself uncomfortable, and he later exchanged unfriendly words with Maupay and patted him on the head.
This clearly infuriated Maddison's teammates, with Johnson and Richarlison calling off their darts celebration after the goal.
The Bees have dropped a league-high 23 points from the table this season and have lost five league games this season after scoring the opener, more than any other team in the division, ahead of Tottenham. exceeds by one.
lineup
tottenham
formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Vicario
- twenty threepolo
- 17Romero
- 37van de ven
- 38Udogi
- FourskipReplacementHojbjergin 45 minutesminutes
- 30BentancourtReplacementjohnsonin 45 minutesminutes
- twenty oneKulusevskyBooked for 43 minutes
- TenmadisonReplacementDragushinin 88 minutesminutes
- 16wernerReplacementDonleyin 90+2'minutesI made a reservation in 90 minutes.
- 9Richarlison
substitute
- FiveHojbjerg
- 6Dragushin
- 11Gil
- 12emerson royal
- 20forster
- twenty twojohnson
- 33davis
- 44scarlet
- 63Donley
brentford
formation 3-5-2
- 1flecken
- twenty twocollinsReplacementAgelin 78 minutesminutes
- FivePinnock
- 16Me
- 30low revReplacementdasilvain 78 minutesminutes
- 8jensenReplacementYarmoliukin 57 minutesminutesI made a reservation in 90 minutes.
- 6noah guardI made a reservation for 17 minutes.
- 27JanertReplacementBaptistein 88 minutesminutes
- twenty threelewis potterReplacementDamsgardin 88 minutesminutes
- 7MaupayBooked for 43 minutes
- 17tony
substitute
- Tendasilva
- 13M. Jorgensen
- 20Agel
- twenty oneStrakosha
- twenty fourDamsgard
- 26Baptiste
- 33Yarmoliuk
- 38brierley
- 43fredrick
- Referee:
- david coote
- Attendance:
- 61,210
live text
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Game over, Tottenham 3 points, Brentford 2 points.
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End of the second half, Tottenham Hotspur 3, Brentford 2.
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Brentford corner. Destiny Udogie concedes.
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Jamie Donley (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in defence.
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Foul by Mikel Damsgaard (Brentford).
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Jamie Donley (Tottenham Hotspur) was shown a yellow card for a serious foul.
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Foul by Jamie Donley (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Neal Maupay (Brentford) wins a free kick in defence.
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Brentford corner. Guglielmo Vicario conceded a goal.
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Attempt saved. Chandon Baptiste (Brentford) took a right-footed shot from the center of the box, but it was saved over the center of the goal. Supported by Josh DaSilva.
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Attempt saved. Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur) took a left-footed shot from the left of the box, but it was saved in the center of the goal.
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Substitute, Tottenham Hotspur. Jamie Donley replaces Timo Werner.
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Yehor Yarmoliuk (Brentford) was shown a yellow card for a serious foul.
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Destiny Udogi (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick inside the defence.
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Foul by Yehor Yamoliuk (Brentford).
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Substitute, Brentford. Chandon Baptiste replaces Vitaly Janelt.
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Substitute, Brentford. Mikkel Damsgaard replaces Keane Lewis-Potter.
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I'm late. They are ready to continue.
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Substitute, Tottenham Hotspur. Radu Dragusin replaced James Maddison due to injury.
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James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur) was late to the game due to injury.
player of match
johnsonbrennan johnson
brentford
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squad number20player nameAgel
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squad number1player nameflecken
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squad numberTenplayer namedasilva
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squad number33player nameYarmoliuk
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squad numbertwenty threeplayer namelewis potter
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squad number30player namelow rev
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squad numbertwenty fourplayer nameDamsgard
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squad number16player nameMe
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squad numbertwenty twoplayer namecollins
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squad numberFiveplayer namePinnock
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squad number8player namejensen
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squad number26player nameBaptiste
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squad number27player nameJanert
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squad number6player namenoah guard
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squad number17player nametony
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squad number7player nameMaupay