Tottenham returned to winning ways at home with a result that offered relief to Thomas Frank and his side, who are now three points off the top four.
Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Tottenham 2-0 Brentford in the Premier League:
Tottenham finally end home drought with much-needed victory
Tottenham Hotspur’s poor home record is no secret, with the Lilywhites’ dismal form spanning from last season.
In fact, at some point during their poor home run, Spurs managed just three wins from their last twenty games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League across last season and this season combined.
A home game is no guarantee that Tottenham will win, but today was an exception as Spurs secured a 2-0 win over Brentford.
It was the sort of performance you would expect from any top side, with Spurs starting this game with a lot of intent.
Their front-footed play was rewarded, and it also ended a run of three months without a home win, with the last victory at their at their own turf coming against Burnley back in August.
A welcome change, but consistency is what really matters from here on.
Xavi Simons breaks through with goal and assist in standout display
Simons has had a difficult start to life in a Tottenham shirt, with the midfielder failing to score a single goal since his summer move.
His poor displays had seen him miss the last four Tottenham games, but today Frank opted to include the Dutchman from the off.
The 22-year-old played like a man on a mission, showing bite and forward thinking, something the Spurs have lacked in midfield of late.
His display was capped off with a goal and an assist, with his first goal in a Tottenham shirt coming from a solo effort after he showed fight in midfield, winning the ball.
He is slowly adapting and getting used to the Premier League, and if this is a glimpse of what is to come, then the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium may have a star on its hands.
Thomas Frank avoids unwanted narrative with key win over Brentford
Yes, Tottenham needed a win given their poor run of no victories in their last five league outings, but Thomas Frank needed this victory more to avoid the headlines.
Coming into this fixture, Brentford were level on points with Spurs, and had they secured a win on Frank’s home turf, they would have leapfrogged Tottenham into the top half of the table.
After having taken the majority of the Brentford coaching staff, a defeat at home against them would have been a bad look.
Questions would have followed about whether Spurs took the right man from the Bees, but that matters little as the Dane managed to get a well-deserved victory over his former side.
Archie Gray excels as midfield balance returns for Spurs
The pivot of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha has slowly been fading of late, with a once stubborn Frank now searching for more attacking thrust from midfield.
The Portuguese and the Uruguayan did not start together today, nor did they do so in midweek. However, Palhinha’s replacement, Archie Gray, looked very solid and was fantastic in that pivot role.
He offered balance to Tottenham’s play, kept attacks ticking, and was not afraid to make underlapping runs, while the defensive side of his performance was top-notch as well.
A start in the Champions League during the week will be welcomed by fans.
Left-wing competition remains wide open despite improved attacking display
Coming into the game, Frank opened up on how the left wing spot is still there for the taking and how he has to rotate his options.
Today, we saw Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani deployed together, with both players often rotating and taking turns out wide and centrally.
Richarlison impressed with a goal, while Kolo Muani brought plenty to Spurs’ attacking phase even without scoring, but there is still a slot open on the left for a winger who is willing to step up.
Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel now need to stake a claim for that spot, especially given how incredible Mohammed Kudus is on the right, where he looks nailed on when fit.
- READ MORE: Tottenham player ratings from 2-0 against Brentford – 7/10 for midfielder who grew into the game