Brentford FC

Following his release from Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the 2024/25 season, Brentford B defender Maxwell McKnight said he had to be “mentally strong” as he navigated his next move.

A member of Spurs Academy from under-12s through to under-21s, McKnight knew his next step would be “different”, but it is one he has thrived in.

After a short trial period with Sam Saunders’ B team in the summer, McKnight signed a one-year deal as a free agent in September, with a club option of a further 12 months.

“I think wherever you are in life, if you get told you’re no longer needed, especially in the football industry, you’ve always got to find a way and push through it,” explained McKnight.

“You’ve always got to be mentally strong. At some point in time, you’re always going to move on, so I think when I found my feet at Brentford, it boost my confidence.

“Brentford’s different in a very good way, it's a big family club which is good, makes you feel welcome, pushes you as well, tests you and I’ve really enjoyed it since I’ve been here.

“Obviously spending a long time at Tottenham and then moving onto a new club, it’s going to be different, but the lads and the coaches have made me feel welcome and I’ve really enjoyed training and learning new things.”

His confidence boost has aided strong performance on the pitch after his return from an injury during pre-season.

McKnight has featured 12 times across the Professional Development League and Premier League Cup, helping the young Bees sit seventh in the PDL table at Christmas and qualify for the knockout stages of the PL Cup.

“I think since I’ve been at Brentford, the lads have made me feel welcome, all the coaching staff as well, it’s been really good,” said McKnight.

“The energy in the club and the chemistry throughout all the lads, it’s like one big family really, so it’s really good.

“I think off the pitch we bring that energy and the chemistry and then on the pitch we bring it as a team as well.”

Playing predominantly at right-back, McKnight has enjoyed competition for spots in the starting line-up.

The 21-year-old said this has aided his development though.

“There’s good competition throughout the group and it pushes everyone, even the coaching staff,” he said.

“I think it’s really good for your development, obviously if you’ve got multiple people in your position it’s going to bring the best out of you and others, you’re always going to be fighting for your shirt, you’re never too comfortable.”

Away from the club, gaming, journaling and reading help McKnight keep his mind off of the game.

ARC Raiders, FIFA, NBA 2K and Call of Duty are the defender’s games of choice, helping provide another element of competition between McKnight and his Brentford team-mates.

“I like my games, sometimes it keeps my mind off things. I like watching other sports, golf and basketball,” said McKnight.

“Every now and then I have my own journal where I like to reflect and write things about myself, what I can do better, what I can improve on, what I’m aiming for in the future.

“Sometimes I read books as well, which keep me ticking over as well and keep my mind off of things.”

With the second half of the 2025/26 season to come, McKnight has clear ambitions.

“I think as a team we want to finish top of the league, get as many points as we can, get as many goals as we can,” he said.

“Individually I feel like I’ve just got to keep pushing and keep putting in consistent performances, one to make it hard for the coaching staff to leave me out of the team and two, to showcase what I’m capable of and push towards the first team or improving my career more at Brentford.”

McKnight and the Bees return to PDL action on 13 January as they face west London rivals QPR at The Powerday Stadium.

Brentford began 2026 with a goalless draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Vitaly Janelt went closest for the Bees, testing Guglielmo Vicario with a powerful header during the second half, but the points were shared at Gtech Community Stadium.

Head coach Keith Andrews made one change to the side that lined up against Bournemouth on 27 December: Jordan Henderson replaced Mathias Jensen who was named among the substitutes.

Brentford had the ball in the back of the net inside the opening five minutes. Janelt swung in a corner from the right and Vicario parried Nathan Collins’ header. Kevin Schade reacted fastest and finished from close range, but the forward was offside.

The opening half an hour passed with little goalmouth action, but there was no lack of intensity on a crisp night in west London.

Richarlison knocked the ball across the penalty area for Archie Gray who headed on target, but Collins - on his 100th appearance for the Bees - had sensed the danger and made an important block.

Yehor Yarmoliuk then blazed over the crossbar from 20 yards.

In the final seconds of the half, Wilson Odobert’s effort following a Spurs corner was blocked and the Bees launched a quick counter attack.

Schade latched onto Keane Lewis-Potter’s through ball and cut in from the left but was dispossessed by Pedro Porro.

Henderson was first to the loose ball on the right and clipped a cross to the back post, but his delivery was just too high for Igor Thiago and Tottenham cleared their lines.

Five minutes after the restart, Cristian Romero had an effort blocked and Mohammed Kudus’s snapshot whistled over Caoimhín Kelleher’s crossbar.

Following some excellent combination play between Schade and Thiago, Yarmoliuk found Lewis-Potter in a central position inside the penalty area with a low cross from the left, but the former Hull City man scuffed his shot and Tottenham again hacked the ball away.

Referee Andrew Madley took centre stage in the 56th minute. Romero appeared to have brought down Thiago, preventing the striker from racing towards goal, but Madley allowed play to continue.

Moments later, Gray was sandwiched between Collins and Schade and went down in the Brentford area. There was a VAR check for a possible spot-kick, but Madley’s on-field decision of no penalty was upheld.

Henderson’s delivery from the right was met by Janelt, and the German’s header was brilliantly saved by Vicario who launched himself to his left to get a strong hand to the ball.

Michael Kayode won his battle with Djed Spence and cut the ball back from the byline for Thiago, but the Brazilian lifted over the crossbar and into the west stand.

Lewis-Potter flicked Kayode’s long throw towards goal and Vicario punched away on the goal line under pressure from Kristoffer Ajer.

Deep into stoppage-time, substitute Randal Kolo Muani picked out Richarlison and the Brazilian’s first-time strike was comfortably held by Kelleher.

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry; Henderson, Janelt, Yarmoliuk (Jensen 80); Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Schade (Nelson 80)

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, van den Berg, Pinnock, Damsgaard, Konak, Nunes, Donovan

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha (Tel 79), Gray; Kudus, Richarlison, Odobert (Kolo Muani 67)

Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Drăgușin, Danso, Davies, Scarlett, Olusesi

Head coach Keith Andrews has made one change to Brentford’s starting XI for this evening’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur (8pm kick-off GMT, live on Sky Sports).

The Bees have defeated Wolves and Bournemouth in their last two outings, while Thomas Frank's Spurs beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Jordan Henderson is in from the start at Gtech Community Stadium, replacing Mathias Jensen who is named among the substitutes.

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry; Henderson, Janelt, Yarmoliuk; Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Schade

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, van den Berg, Pinnock, Jensen, Nelson, Damsgaard, Konak, Nunes, Donovan

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kudus, Gray, Odobert; Richarlison

Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Drăgușin, Danso, Tel, Davies, Kolo Muani, Scarlett, Olusesi

Brentford host Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League on New Year's Day (8pm kick-off GMT), live on Sky Sports.

The Bees have defeated Wolves and Bournemouth in their last two outings, while Thomas Frank's Spurs beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Analysis, team news, match officials and more. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the game.

Pre-match Analysis

Stephen Gillett, Playmaker Stats: The stock of set-pieces has never been higher

Brentford's New Year’s Day clash with Tottenham Hotspur will bring two set-piece masters face to face.

Under former boss Thomas Frank, Brentford established themselves as one of the Premier League’s deadliest set-piece sides - while the Bees’ current head coach Keith Andrews earned his spurs as the west Londoners’ dedicated set-piece specialist.

Frank returns to the Gtech for the first time since moving to north London in the summer, now trailing his former employers by a single point in the table, and a pulsating London derby is in store.

The Dane stated in a recent interview that he regards a negative set-piece goal difference as “impossible” - and, although Tottenham remain a team in transition, he has already had a clear impact in this area.

Although they lifted the Europa League last season under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs finished a lowly 17th in the Premier League, and their numbers from last term show that they often failed to come alive when the ball went dead.

Under Frank’s Australian predecessor, Tottenham scored 10 goals from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins during the 2024/25 season - but conceded 13 from such situations, leaving them firmly in Frank’s “impossible” category with a set-piece goal difference of -3.

In contrast, last season Brentford were among the most prolific sides in the top flight with 13 set-piece goals, while the Bees shipped just two goals from dead-ball situations (excluding penalties), the fewest in the division.

Eighth in the Premier League table ahead of tomorrow’s clash, Brentford have maintained their miserly defensive numbers from set-pieces - again posting league-leading figures - while Tottenham are a team reborn in this respect.

Level with the Bees, with only two goals conceded from set-pieces this term, Tottenham are now also among the most dangerous sides in the Premier League from dead-ball situations. Only four teams - Leeds, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United - have scored more than the north Londoners’ nine goals.

Archie Gray’s matchwinner from a corner against Crystal Palace last Sunday was the latest example of Frank’s set-piece smarts rubbing off on his new club - and Brentford will need to be switched on at all times.

During his time in charge of the Bees, Frank spoke regularly about adding layers to his team’s tactics - and, in this context, he will have been impressed with Brentford’s evolution as a counter-attacking unit under his successor.

Kevin Schade’s second goal against Bournemouth - on his way to claiming the match ball - was the product of a rip-roaring raid forward, and Brentford have now plundered six goals on the break in the Premier League this term.

With Frank already adding layers to his new club, and Andrews doing the same since his graduation to the Bees’ dugout, a fascinating clash awaits, with both managers eager to outwit one another and start the New Year on the front foot.

Scout Report

Dan Long, Sky Sports: Frank calls for patience following Spurs’ rollercoaster 2024/25 season

How best to sum up Tottenham Hotspur's 2024/25 season? Strange? Bittersweet? A rollercoaster? One thing is for sure - it was historic, for both positive and negative reasons.

Firstly, it was littered with defeats. There were 26 in all competitions, 22 of which came in the Premier League. The last time they lost that many league games was when they were relegated from the First Division in 1934/35.

It meant they finished just one place above the relegation zone in 17th, which also marked their lowest-ever Premier League finish and lowest in the top flight since 1976/77, when they finished 22nd in the First Division.

The only saving grace was that Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton won only 12 games between them and slipped back into the Championship without much of a fight.

Ange Postecoglou was under pressure for the whole campaign, with a statement he made after the north London derby defeat to Arsenal on 15 September 2024 following him around. “I usually win things in my second season,” he said.

In the league, Spurs faltered, but in the Carabao Cup and Europa League, it was a different story. Those competitions brought a much-needed release. In the former, they reached the semi-finals for the fourth time in seven seasons and in the latter, they beat Manchester United in the final in Bilbao.

Postecoglou no doubt revelled in the ultimate mic-drop, delivering Spurs’ first trophy since 2008. The disastrous league form was forgotten about.

But 16 days after that glorious night in Spain, Postecoglou was sacked. “Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph,” said the club’s statement.

Within a fortnight, the Australian had been replaced by Thomas Frank, who was tempted away from Brentford by a three-year deal in north London. “The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford,” he wrote in a letter to the Bees fans.

It has not been plain sailing for the Dane, though. In his first competitive game, Spurs lost to Paris Saint-German on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup and, despite three wins from his first four in the league, they sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

They are out of the Carabao Cup, too, but in the Champions League, their chances of a top-eight finish in the league phase – and thus direct qualification for the round of 16 – are looking reasonably rosy.

External pressure is mounting, and has been for some time. Internally, though, the club seem to still be sure they have the right man at the helm and, as Standard Sport reporter Matt Verri told us this week, Frank has made it clear he cannot turn fortunes around overnight.

The January fixture schedule could certainly have looked more daunting than it does; next up are Sunderland, Bournemouth, West Ham and Burnley. Spurs should, in theory, come through with a healthy points total.

If they do, a push for European qualification will receive a much-needed shot in the arm.

In the Dugout

Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank was coaching youth players in his native Denmark from his early 20s. He spent time at his hometown club Frederiksvaerk, then Hvidovre, but his career might have ended before he took a job at Copenhagen-based B93.

His future would have lay in teaching, when he agreed with his wife to stop coaching due to money concerns. He was also doing his masters in psychology, working as a coach educator, studying for his A-Licence and bringing up two children, as he told The Telegraph in 2020.

Fortunately, he accepted the B93 role, then moved on to Lyngby and , later, the Danish international set-up where, in 2008, he took on the role of managing both Denmark’s Under-16s and U17s. He took the latter - with a squad that included Christian Nørgaard, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Yussuf Poulsen - to the U17 Euros in May 2011, where they reached the semi-finals, and the U17 World Cup the following month.

Frank moved on to the U19s in 2012, then took his first senior job in June 2013 at Brøndby. He took charge of over 100 games before resigning in March 2016. Nine months later, he joined Brentford as an assistant to head coach Dean Smith, before being promoted to head coach in October 2018, when Smith left west London to take over at Aston Villa.

Though he won just one of his first 10 games, over the next seven years, Frank would become one of the club’s most successful managers in history. He took the Bees to the Championship play-off final in his first full season, then delivered promotion to the Premier League in his second. In 2022/23, he guided the club to ninth - their highest top-flight finish since they finished sixth under Harry Curtis in 1937/38.

In June, after over 300 games in charge at Brentford, he signed a three-year deal to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.

The Gameplan

With Matt Verri, Standard Sport

Matt Verri, sports reporter at Standard Sport, has explained how he expects Thomas Frank to set up his Tottenham side at Gtech Community Stadium.

"More so in recent weeks, Frank has started to settle more on a formation and approach," Verri told us earlier this week.

"This has mainly been 4-2-3-1, with Archie Gray establishing himself in the side as one of those two in front of the defence, which rotates between João Paulinha and Rodrigo Bentancur.

"It had been Xavi Simons as the key creative player, but that is going to have to change now. I would imagine it will still be a similar shape, maybe Lucas Bergvall as the no.10, then Odobert on the left.

"It will be the same sort of approach in terms of a lot of crosses, fairly direct, and a lot of that does still come down the right with Pedro Porro and Kudus."

Last Premier League starting XI v Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Gray; Kudus, Bergvall, Kolo Muani; Richarlison

Team News

Andrews provides Thiago update before Tottenham clash

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews provided an update on top goalscorer Igor Thiago ahead of the Bees’ Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur.

Thiago has scored 11 goals in 18 Premier League appearances this season, and Andrews praised the forward for playing through some pain in recent weeks.

“He had a bit of an issue, but nothing to do with his injury last season at all,” said Andrews.

“This time of year takes its toll, and we need to be careful with some players at times.

“There’s nothing too much to worry about. He’s shown a lot of courage and put the team before himself going into the last couple of games.”

Defender Sepp van den Berg will be assessed having missed Brentford’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth due to a knock.

Josh Dasilva (knee ligament) remains sidelined, while Fábio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo will both miss the rest of the campaign due to ACL injuries.

Frank Onyeka and Dango Ouattara are also unavailable due to their involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria and Burkina Faso, respectively.

Match Officials

Madley to referee second Bees game of campaign

Referee: Andrew Madley

Assistants: Lee Betts and Simon Bennett

Fourth official: Simon Hooper

VAR: Alex Chilowicz

Andrew Madley will referee the New Year's Day meeting with Tottenham Hotspur, exactly 12 years after first taking charge of a Brentford game, when the Bees won 3-1 at Peterborough United in League One.

It will be his second fixture involving the west Londoners this term, having previously officiated the 2-0 win against West Ham United at London Stadium in October.

The Huddersfield-born referee has dished out 34 yellow cards and two reds in the 11 games he has had the whistle for in 2025/26.

Memorable Meeting

Brentford 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2, (Premier League, 13 August 2023)

Brentford and Tottenham played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Gtech Community Stadium in the opening game of the 2023/24 season.

Cristian Romero headed in a James Maddison free-kick to put Spurs in front, before Bryan Mbeumo levelled from the penalty spot.

Rico Henry teed up Yoane Wissa to turn the game on its head, only for Emerson Royal to equalise in first-half stoppage-time.

There was still time for Mbeumo to blaze a huge chance over the top late in a frenetic first half, but neither side could find a winner in west London.

Brentford host Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium in our next Premier League fixture on New Year’s Day (8pm kick-off GMT). The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Use this guide to get ready for your arrival at the Gtech and find out how to take part in our matchday activity.

Fans are reminded that any form of discrimination will not be tolerated at the Gtech and to show respect to visiting players and fans before, during and after the match.

Digital ticketing – download your ticket in advance and arrive early to avoid queues

Tickets for home fans are fully digital and accessible on any smartphone.

To help you get into the ground smoothly, we advise all fans to:

Download your ticket onto your phone before you arrive, so it’s ready at the turnstile without the need for internet connection

Arrive early to avoid queues and get discounts on food and drink (see deals below)

For any questions on the day, the box office opens at 10am. For guidance and FAQs on how to download your digital ticket, use the resources on our website.

Join our free stadium wi-fi

Use our free stadium wi-fi to access your digital tickets, get live match updates, or enjoy exclusive content through the Brentford FC app. Connecting is simple and quick, just input your name, date of birth and email address.

Travel – reduced SWR and TfL services, Waterloo station closed

Train

A reduced timetable on matchday will impact SWR services to Kew Bridge and TfL services to all stations near to the Gtech. Stations will be busy. Please prepare for queues after full-time.

Waterloo station is closed on matchday. SWR services from the city centre will only run from Clapham Junction before and after the match.

TfL services on the Mildmay line will be closed between Camden Road and Richmond.

Use the TfL journey planner or Citymapper to plan your journey.

Parking

We advise you to take public transport to the match where possible.

You can pre-book parking through our website for secure parking on matchday. No reserved parking is available to supporters unless a space has been pre-booked.

Cycling

Use our permanent bike racks outside Gtech Community Stadium to park your bike on matchday, located next to the staircase on Lionel Road South, outside the west stand.

Cycle parking is on a first come, first served basis and you must bring your own bike lock. For general information about cycling to the Gtech, including cycle highways in our area, visit our Bike to Brentford page.

Matchday presentation – enjoy our pre-match light show

Take your seat to get involved with our matchday activity!

Pre-match

Play the World Cup of Red and White! Vote for your all-time favourite red and white striped Brentford home shirt, with a winner crowned at the end of the season. This matchday it’s our 1992/95 shirt against our 2020/21 shirt.

Enjoy a pre-match light show before kick-off, starting at 7.50pm

Half-time

Play along in our Home or Away game to see if our fans can win a voucher to spend with club partner Aosom’s online store

Watch the darts in the Dugout

Fans in the Dugout bar can arrive early and watch live coverage of the World Darts Championship quarter-finals, starting at 7pm.

Arrive between 6.30pm and 7pm to take advantage of early bird offers, including £4.50 on all alcoholic drinks.

Early bird offers and post-match deals on food, alcoholic and soft drinks

A reduced-price early bird offer is available on food and drink.

Concourse offers are available 30 minutes after turnstiles open, 6.30pm-7.30pm:

£4.50 on all alcoholic drinks

£1.95 on all soft drinks

£4.50 on all food items (excluding guest caterers)

Premium area offers are available for one hour after turnstiles open, 5.30pm-6.30pm:

£4.50 on alcoholic drinks (excluding cocktails, wines or spirits)

£1.95 on all soft drinks

£2 off select food items (£4.50 for all food items in the Dugout except confectionary and doughnuts.

After the match, The Dugout bar in the south stand will be open to Bees fans to enjoy, with 20 per cent off all food and drink until 11pm (bar close at 10.30pm).

BeeOrder

Use BeeOrder to skip the pre-match queues and request food items from other menus across the stadium.

Access BeeOrder on the Brentford app to pre-order food and drink 72 hours before matchday.

Items ordered on BeeOrder can only be collected pre-match, but you can beat the queues with access to our dedicated BeeOrder collection points.

Our self-service screens remain available to fans pre-ordering food for collection at any time.

Download the Brentford app for iOS or Android here.

Countdown to kick-off - the timings you need to know

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews has demanded an improvement from his side when Tottenham Hotspur come to Gtech Community Stadium on New Year's Day (8pm kick-off GMT, live on Sky Sports), after a disappointing defeat in the reverse fixture in north London.

The Bees were beaten 2-0 by Thomas Frank's side at the start of December, and Andrews is insistent that the west Londoners "have to perform better" this time around.

"The close proximity of the two games means it's a nice opportunity to face them again and, more importantly, perform better," said Andrews.

"In that game, we didn't hit the heights that we had previously done in the majority of our other games.

"They're a difficult opponent, clearly. They have very talented individuals with really good attributes that can nullify certain strengths that teams have.

"We need to perform individually and collectively better than we did on that day; I've spoken about it publicly and privately. We need to own that and take absolute responsibility for it.

"We know what type of game it will be against Spurs, it will be very difficult. So we'll have to perform better."

Andrews also praised Kevin Schade - after his hat-trick against Bournemouth in the last game - and Mathias Jensen, who have both been in good form of late, ahead of the clash on 1 January.

On Schade, first, the Bees boss said: "He's crucial to this team. He's grown since he's been at the club.

"We saw it last season, when he got into the flow and rhythm of his game, he relished the consistency of his selection, and his confidence grew from there.

"The attributes that he has, along with the calmness he showed for that perfect hat-trick, show what he's about.

"It was a brilliant performance from him."

Discussing Jensen, Andrews added: "I've been impressed with him ever since I came to the club. I've been quick to recognise his attributes, on and off the pitch.

"It's not just his experience of the Premier League and this football club - what it means to play here and how it ticks.

"But I've always been keen to praise Mathi and recognise what goes on behind the scenes, which not everyone is privy to.

"And his performance levels have been very, very good. He made an impact off the bench before this run of starts, and I tend to think that if you do that consistently then you'll get your reward, and he's got just that."

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews provided an update on top goalscorer Igor Thiago ahead of the Bees’ Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on New Year’s Day (8pm kick-off GMT, live on Sky Sports).

Thiago has scored 11 goals in 18 Premier League appearances this season, and Andrews praised the forward for playing through some pain in recent weeks.

“Thiago had a bit of an issue, but nothing to do with his injury last season at all,” said Andrews.

"This time of year takes its toll, and we need to be careful with some players at times.

“He showed a lot of bravery and courage to play against Wolves and gave us that platform.

“He played really, really well against Wolves and gave us that base to win the game. Players fed off him: Keane Lewis-Potter with his goals and Kev [Schade] was looking dangerous that day.

“There’s nothing too much to worry about. He’s shown a lot of courage and put the team before himself going into the last couple of games.”

Andrews added: “Again, this time of year, naturally you pick up little bits and bobs. The games are coming quite frequently.

“We’re still a couple of days out so we’ll see how everyone is tomorrow and make decisions about the team.”

Defender Sepp van den Berg will be assessed having missed Brentford’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth due to a knock.

Josh Dasilva (knee ligament) remains sidelined, while Fábio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo will both miss the rest of the campaign due to ACL injuries.

Matt Verri, sports reporter at Standard Sport, has explained how head coach Thomas Frank is likely to set up his Tottenham Hotspur side on his first visit to Gtech Community Stadium since departing Brentford in June.

Frank has started to settle on a formation and approach in recent weeks, adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation with Archie Gray establishing himself in the side as one of the two players in front of the defence.

How would you summarise how things have gone for Tottenham Hotspur over the last few weeks since the meeting with Brentford?

It has been another mixed bag for Tottenham. It feels like every time you think they have turned a corner, they then take a few steps back. That win over Brentford was a good one, then they beat Slavia Prague a few days later.

They were attacking well and had won two matches in a row - then they went to Nottingham Forest and produced one of their worst performances of the season so far, so that was a major step back for Thomas Frank and put the pressure back on him.

Then there was the chaos of the Liverpool match, which they lost 2-1. They are just so difficult to predict.

With hindsight now, it feels like those wins over Brentford and Slavia Prague were as much to do with the way those teams approached the match as Tottenham did because, as soon as they then face sides who are a bit more physical and do not sit back as much, they do seem to really struggle.

Has the sentiment towards Frank changed at all over the past few weeks?

I think it is more of the same. In general, a lot of Tottenham fans are probably still unconvinced.

There has just not been enough of a consistent run of the team playing in an attacking manner, in terms of patterns of play coming out.

They have lost a lot at home this season and in the calendar year, but I would say the loss to Liverpool was probably one the fans were not as angry with as they have been recently.

There was a lot of effort from the players, they were down to nine men and they were still giving Liverpool problems.

So, it is a similar situation before that first Brentford match in that some fans are convinced, some are still on the fence and some have probably already made their minds up that he's not the man.

Until they find a consistent run of results and performances, I think Frank is still going to be in this limbo situation.

He keeps saying it is not going to be a quick fix at Tottenham and that any manager would need time to turn this around. Fans accept that it will take time for him to get a style of play across but, along the way, they want to see a bit more evidence that they are on the right path.

He is a very level-headed guy; even when they lose, in his press conferences, he has generally been pretty calm and continues to insist it is about adding layers and slowly building towards the future.

Obviously, the question is how patient Tottenham are going to be with that if results do not improve.

The January transfer window is coming up. What do you think Spurs need to do in the market, if anything?

In the summer, they were very keen on signing a left winger. Savinho at Man City was their big target and they were definitely willing to spend big on him if he became available, but City were insistent he was not for sale.

As the season has gone on, you can see a signing on the left would be key as they have fluctuated between Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson, with none of them particularly convincing.

I think a left winger is probably top of the priority list in January. They have been linked with Antoine Semenyo, but a lot of clubs are going to be interested in him, so I am not sure how realistic that is.

Longer term, I am sure they would like to strengthen in goal, and probably add another midfielder, too.

Before the previous game, you said Mohammed Kudus was the one to watch. Is that still the case, or is there another player Brentford fans should be keeping an eye on?

Simons is suspended for this game, so there is going to have be a bit of reshuffle. I would imagine it could be a chance for Lucas Bergvall to get some more minutes, potentially as the no.10.

Mohammed Kudus’ form has dropped off in the last few weeks, so I would say Randal Kolo Muani has probably been Tottenham's best player in attack. He had a couple of bad injuries when he first joined; a dead leg that went on for about a month, then he fractured his jaw.

But I think that match against PSG, when Kolo Muani scored twice, proved a bit of a turning point and he has been really bright.

He looks probably the most clinical of Tottenham's players at the moment. He works really hard, he is direct and powerful up front. It depends on how Frank rotates over Christmas as Richarlison always seems to get goals.

What should Keith Andrews’ side expect in terms of shape and style?

More so in recent weeks, Frank has started to settle more on a formation and approach.

This has mainly been 4-2-3-1, with Archie Gray establishing himself in the side as one of those two in front of the defence, which rotates between João Paulinha and Rodrigo Bentancur.

It had been Xavi Simons as the key creative player, but that is going to have to change now. I would imagine it will still be a similar shape, maybe Lucas Bergvall as the no.10, then Odobert on the left.

It will be the same sort of approach in terms of a lot of crosses, fairly direct, and a lot of that does still come down the right with Pedro Porro and Kudus.

What's your prediction for this one?

The reverse fixture was one of the few matches where Brentford's levels dropped in general; they have been more impressive than they were then.

I think Tottenham could struggle without Simons. Without him a month ago when he was not in the team, they struggled to create.

I am going to go 2-1 to Brentford.

Matt Verri, sports reporter at Standard Sport, has explained how head coach Thomas Frank is likely to set up his Tottenham Hotspur side on his first visit to Gtech Community Stadium since departing Brentford in June.

Frank has started to settle on a formation and approach in recent weeks, adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation with Archie Gray establishing himself in the side as one of the two players in front of the defence.

How would you summarise how things have gone for Tottenham Hotspur over the last few weeks since the meeting with Brentford?

It has been another mixed bag for Tottenham. It feels like every time you think they have turned a corner, they then take a few steps back. That win over Brentford was a good one, then they beat Slavia Prague a few days later.

They were attacking well and had won two matches in a row - then they went to Nottingham Forest and produced one of their worst performances of the season so far, so that was a major step back for Thomas Frank and put the pressure back on him.

Then there was the chaos of the Liverpool match, which they lost 2-1. They are just so difficult to predict.

With hindsight now, it feels like those wins over Brentford and Slavia Prague were as much to do with the way those teams approached the match as Tottenham did because, as soon as they then face sides who are a bit more physical and do not sit back as much, they do seem to really struggle.

Has the sentiment towards Frank changed at all over the past few weeks?

I think it is more of the same. In general, a lot of Tottenham fans are probably still unconvinced.

There has just not been enough of a consistent run of the team playing in an attacking manner, in terms of patterns of play coming out.

They have lost a lot at home this season and in the calendar year, but I would say the loss to Liverpool was probably one the fans were not as angry with as they have been recently.

There was a lot of effort from the players, they were down to nine men and they were still giving Liverpool problems.

So, it is a similar situation before that first Brentford match in that some fans are convinced, some are still on the fence and some have probably already made their minds up that he's not the man.

Until they find a consistent run of results and performances, I think Frank is still going to be in this limbo situation.

He keeps saying it is not going to be a quick fix at Tottenham and that any manager would need time to turn this around. Fans accept that it will take time for him to get a style of play across but, along the way, they want to see a bit more evidence that they are on the right path.

He is a very level-headed guy; even when they lose, in his press conferences, he has generally been pretty calm and continues to insist it is about adding layers and slowly building towards the future.

Obviously, the question is how patient Tottenham are going to be with that if results do not improve.

The January transfer window is coming up. What do you think Spurs need to do in the market, if anything?

In the summer, they were very keen on signing a left winger. Savinho at Man City was their big target and they were definitely willing to spend big on him if he became available, but City were insistent he was not for sale.

As the season has gone on, you can see a signing on the left would be key as they have fluctuated between Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson, with none of them particularly convincing.

I think a left winger is probably top of the priority list in January. They have been linked with Antoine Semenyo, but a lot of clubs are going to be interested in him, so I am not sure how realistic that is.

Longer term, I am sure they would like to strengthen in goal, and probably add another midfielder, too.

Before the previous game, you said Mohammed Kudus was the one to watch. Is that still the case, or is there another player Brentford fans should be keeping an eye on?

Simons is suspended for this game, so there is going to have be a bit of reshuffle. I would imagine it could be a chance for Lucas Bergvall to get some more minutes, potentially as the no.10.

Mohammed Kudus’ form has dropped off in the last few weeks, so I would say Randal Kolo Muani has probably been Tottenham's best player in attack. He had a couple of bad injuries when he first joined; a dead leg that went on for about a month, then he fractured his jaw.

But I think that match against PSG, when Kolo Muani scored twice, proved a bit of a turning point and he has been really bright.

He looks probably the most clinical of Tottenham's players at the moment. He works really hard, he is direct and powerful up front. It depends on how Frank rotates over Christmas as Richarlison always seems to get goals.

What should Keith Andrews’ side expect in terms of shape and style?

More so in recent weeks, Frank has started to settle more on a formation and approach.

This has mainly been 4-2-3-1, with Archie Gray establishing himself in the side as one of those two in front of the defence, which rotates between João Paulinha and Rodrigo Bentancur.

It had been Xavi Simons as the key creative player, but that is going to have to change now. I would imagine it will still be a similar shape, maybe Lucas Bergvall as the no.10, then Odobert on the left.

It will be the same sort of approach in terms of a lot of crosses, fairly direct, and a lot of that does still come down the right with Pedro Porro and Kudus.

What's your prediction for this one?

The reverse fixture was one of the few matches where Brentford's levels dropped in general; they have been more impressive than they were then.

I think Tottenham could struggle without Simons. Without him a month ago when he was not in the team, they struggled to create.

I am going to go 2-1 to Brentford.

Two first-half goals saw Tottenham Hotspur beat Brentford 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.

In Thomas Frank's first game managing against the Bees, Xavi Simons put the ball on a plate for Richarlison for the opener, before the midfielder netted his first goal in a Spurs shirt from outside the area shortly after.

Nathan Collins, Jordan Henderson, Mikkel Damsgaard and Igor Thiago returned to the starting XI, with Ethan Pinnock, Rico Henry, Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen dropping to the bench.

Tottenham asserted their dominance inside the opening 15 minutes: Micky van de Ven had a header go over the bar, Richarlison had a half-volley blocked by his own team-mate inside the area, and Xavi shot over the bar from distance in a positive start for the north Londoners.

The Bees' first chance came from some great play by Collins. The centre-back robbed Richarlison of the ball and drove into the final third, before playing a ball into space for Thiago. The centre-forward fired a shot at goal from a relatively tight angle, which Guglielmo Vicario palmed away for a corner.

On 25 minutes, the hosts took the lead. A ball was played over the top towards Xavi in a wide area, and the attacking midfielder squared to Richarlison, who had the simple task of tapping in from close range at the far post.

Caoimhín Kelleher made a great save to prevent another Spurs goal. A Pedro Porro corner was headed back across goal by Cristian Romero and, just inside the six-yard box, Randal Kolo Muani's header was clawed away by the Bees keeper and cleared.

Xavi did make it 2-0 for the hosts on 43 minutes. The Dutchman did really well to win the ball back on the halfway line, before driving into the penalty area and firing a low effort into the bottom corner.

The Tottenham supporters were left wondering how they weren't 3-0 up five minutes after half-time. Collins lost possession of the ball inside the penalty area, and Djed Spence looked destined to score. He was one-on-one with Kelleher, but the Republic of Ireland international made another good stop to keep the west Londoners ahead.

Mohammed Kudus picked up a loose ball in midfield and tried his luck from the edge of the box shortly after but Kelleher, once again, got down well and held his effort.

After some Tottenham pressure, Kelleher gave the ball away and Richarlison was the recipient, with the goalkeeper out of his goal. The Spurs striker gave it to Xavi, who was in a more central position, but Kelleher did enough to get back into position and stop his shot.

Thiago had two separate opportunities later in the second half, when he received the ball inside the box, but a couple of brilliant tackles from Van de Ven and Romero thwarted the striker.

Frank's side thought they had another with 12 minutes to play, when the ball dropped to Kudus and, from the tightest of angles, he somehow squeezed the ball into the back of the net, but Xavi was offside in the build-up.

Another brilliant Kelleher save kept the score down when Wilson Odobert found himself unmarked inside the area and, after having some time to pick his spot, the keeper came out and smothered the ball to keep it at 2-0.

Thiago had one more effort with the clock ticking into stoppage-time, as he picked up the ball after a series of headers inside the area, but he lashed his shot into the side netting.

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode (Hickey 76), Collins, van den Berg, Ajer (Henry HT); Henderson, Yarmoliuk (Janelt 76), Damsgaard (Jensen 61); Ouattara (Lewis-Potter 88), Thiago, Schade

Unused subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Onyeka, Donovan

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Van de Ven, Romero (Danso 80), Spence; Bentancur (Palhinha 65), Gray; Kudus (Sarr 80), Xavi, Kolo Muani (Odobert 74); Richarlison

Unused subs: Kinsky, Tel, Bergvall, Johnson, Davies

Attendance: 60,759

Andrews 'disappointed' by Tottenham defeat

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews admits that his side "didn't hit the levels" in the 2-0 loss to Tottenham.

"I'm disappointed, clearly. It's a game we came into feeling we could absolutely compete and get a result from - the players' confidence levels were pretty high," said Andrews.

"The reality is that we didn't perform in the first half, and we have to own that. We'll search for the reasons as to why that was.

"The league is so demanding - the individuals that you come up against, what you do with and without the ball, etc. - you have to be at a certain level to compete in this league and we weren't quite there.

"Our lads have been immense all season, our performance levels have been consistent as we look to grow this team and take a new step. Today, we didn't hit the levels that we've become consistent with."

Damsgaard: We needed to play with more intensity and energy

On his 100th Premier League appearance, Brentford midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard reflected on the defeat to Spurs.

"It was very disappointing," he said. "We made a lot of bad mistakes; I thought we could have played a lot better.

"There's a lot to think about."

He added: "We needed to be a lot better, we need to play with a lot more intensity and energy.

"It felt like they wanted it more than us. That's disappointing because normally we are a team that is good at fighting but, today, we didn't."