Brentford FC

Brentford host Tottenham Hotspur in our first Premier League game of the season on Saturday 22 August (5.30pm kick-off BST). The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.

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

The club’s updated bag policy is in effect this season. Find out more about bag restrictions and exemptions here.

Fans are reminded to be respectful of our visitors at all times before, during and after the match.

Build the matchday atmosphere with TW8 Casuals

Fan group TW8 Casuals are kicking off Brentford’s season and want as many fans as possible to be part of the noise!

Wear red and white at the match to create a sea of red and white

Join a fan walk from Kew Green (meet by the cricket club), over Kew Bridge and arrive at the Gtech in style. The fan walk starts at 4.30pm

Be in your seat at 5pm to get behind the team during the warm-up

For our fans in the west stand, wave the flags placed on your seat (please leave your flag on your seat before you leave the stadium)

At 5.05pm, Stu Wakeford will have a pre-match chat with TW8 Casuals founder Gary Levine about the group’s plans for the season

Try London Pride Lager and other new menu items

We’ve refreshed the matchday menu in the concourse areas for the new season, including introducing London Pride Lager in all areas of the ground.

See what delicious new items and returning favourites are on offer for the rest of the season in our matchday menu update.

Bike to Brentford – start cycling now to win prizes!

Bike to Brentford returns with new special offers for fans that cycle to the match.

Check your bike in with the QR code at as many games as possible this season and earn rewards, including food and drink discounts, virtual meet and greets with players and a squad signed shirt

Park your bike for free at our temporary or permanent bike parks

Get free bike repairs

Activate discounts on Forest and Voi E-bikes

Terms and conditions apply on rewards. For more information and general advice about cycling to the Gtech, visit the Bike to Brentford page.

Other matchday activity

Bees legend and founder of the Brentford Penguins Allan Cockram will be speaking with Stu Wakeford at half-time

The Brentford Penguins will be back in their yellow van selling socks and homemade candles. Find the van outside the Bees Superstore

Be in your seat from 5pm to for a chance to play our Home or Away game. Correctly guess whether the mystery fan is wearing a home or away kit and you could win vouchers to spend at the club’s Hive Superstore

Travel

Train

No planned disruption is scheduled for matchday.

You can use the TfL journey planner or Citymapper to plan your journey to and from the match, including bus routes arriving near to the stadium.

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.

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 stadium 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 11am. 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.

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, 4pm-4.30pm:

£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, 3.30pm-4pm:

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

£1.95 on all soft drinks

£2 on select food items (£4.50 for all food items in the Dugout except confectionery 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 9pm (bar close at 8.30pm).

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

Half-time: Pitchside chat with Allan Cockram

Brentford open their 2026/27 Premier League campaign against Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon (5.30pm kick-off BST, live on Sky Sports).

Keith Andrews’ side will be looking to make a winning start, as the Bees begin their second season under the head coach.

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: Brentford’s attacking threat meets De Zerbi’s possession game

Boosted by a strong pre-season and some exciting summer arrivals, Brentford will take on Roberto De Zerbi's new-look Tottenham in their Premier League opener this Saturday.

The Bees completed their preparations for the new campaign in emphatic style with a 7-0 win over Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. Spurs also enjoyed an unbeaten pre-season, recording four wins and three draws across seven games ahead of their first full campaign under De Zerbi.

A flurry of competitive debuts could be on the cards at Gtech Community Stadium. Brentford fans will be eager to see Jaidon Anthony, Callum Wilson and highly-rated Mali international Mamadou Sangaré in red and white, while Tottenham have invested heavily in reshaping a squad that has finished 17th in each of the past two Premier League campaigns.

Shortlisted for the 2025/26 Manager of the Season award in his first campaign as Brentford head coach, Keith Andrews moulded the squad he inherited from Thomas Frank into a durable, athletic outfit possessing one of the most clinical strike forces in the top flight.

Igor Thiago came of age last season with 25 goals across all competitions, spearheading a formidable attacking trident alongside Kevin Schade and quicksilver wide man Dango Ouattara.

The Bees ended the campaign with the best shot-on-target percentage of any team in the Premier League (36.3 per cent), while Thiago's shot-conversion rate (26.19 per cent) was the highest of any forward in the division.

New signings Anthony (eight) and Wilson (seven) plundered 15 league goals between them for Burnley and West Ham respectively in 2025/26, and their arrivals will add further firepower this season. The pair also offer distinct threats: Anthony scored all but one of his top-flight goals for the Clarets from open play, while Wilson netted more goals from set-pieces than any other player in the league.

Sangaré, meanwhile, scored a screamer for the Bees against Eintracht last weekend, and his potential midfield battle with Spurs’ big-money signings Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes could be one of the game's most intriguing contests, though the Portuguese is nursing a calf problem.

The 24-year-old Mali international won the Marc-Vivien Foé Award, presented annually to the best African player in Ligue 1, and his ability to break up play and distribute intelligently was showcased by a raft of league-leading stats in France last term.

Andrews and De Zerbi will look to bed in their new faces and implement the tactical tweaks they have been fine-tuning during pre-season, and an intriguing battle lies in store.

He was renowned for the possession-based game he implemented at Brighton, and with technicians such as Tonali, Fernandes and James Maddison in the middle of the park, Tottenham are likely to favour a more controlled approach than was on show as they battled for Premier League survival at the end of last season.

In De Zerbi's final season with the Seagulls in 2023/24, Brighton averaged over 60 per cent possession and recorded a pass-completion rate of 89 per cent, bettered only by Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side (91 per cent).

It will be fascinating to see how Andrews and his Italian counterpart on Saturday deploy their new personnel and freshen up their tactics as both sides look to start the 2026/27 campaign on a positive note.

Scout report

Dan Long, Sky Sports: New-look Spurs aim to move on from season of turmoil

Tottenham were 12th in the Premier League table after the goalless draw with Brentford on New Year’s Day.

Their results had been consistently inconsistent, yet there were no alarm bells and they were just four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea.

But that was to be the first in a run of 15 league games without a win. From there, they dropped like a stone, despite beating Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt to finish fourth in the Champions League league phase.

Thomas Frank lasted only seven more league games. An injury nightmare played a significant role, with Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso sidelined in January alone. Spurs fans called for Frank’s dismissal after the 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle on 10 February, and their wish was granted the following day.

Igor Tudor was appointed as his successor on a deal until the end of the season. The club made no secret of the fact he was brought in as a firefighter, after similar recent roles at Juventus and Lazio. “His mandate is straightforward - bring organisation, intensity and competitive edge to the squad at a decisive stage of the campaign,” read a statement.

If anything, he added further fuel to the fire. In his first game, Spurs lost 4-1 to Arsenal in the north London derby and they had taken only one point from five league games by the March international break. He left by mutual consent on 29 March, just 44 days after his arrival. They were only one point above the relegation zone at that point.

The third man to lead the club was former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi. He signed a five-year deal. It was a show of faith that they believed he was the man who could finally get them out of the mire. And they were right.

Despite slipping into the bottom three after a 1-0 defeat away at Sunderland in his first game, Spurs picked up 11 points from the last 18 available. They survived by the skin of their teeth, finishing 17th for the second season in a row, and just two points ahead of West Ham.

Those at the top knew the club could not get into a similar situation again, and the owners, the Lewis family, injected £100 million in June, reportedly as “working capital”, not just for use in the transfer market. They had already put in another £100m within the nine months prior, and the investment into the playing squad this summer has reflected their commitment.

At the time of writing, Spurs have signed six first-team players - including Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke. Further additions are said to be being targeted.

As Sam Tabuteau alluded to in Hot off the Press, they are showing the ambition of a top-six club. Now they need to prove they can be just that for the first time since 2023/24.

In the dugout

Roberto De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi turned professional at AC Milan in 1998 and forged a nomadic career as an attacking midfielder in the lower reaches of the Italian football pyramid.

After six loan spells away from the San Siro, he left for Foggia, then played for Arezzo, Catania and Napoli, before further loans at Brescia, Avellino and Romanian outfit CFR Cluj, whom he joined permanently in 2010 and spent two years with. He retired in 2013 aged 34 after a short spell back in his homeland with Trento.

Almost immediately, De Zerbi took his first job in management with Darfo Boario. He returned to Foggia in 2014 and spent another two years at Stadio Pino Zaccheria, guiding the Rossoneri to the Coppa Italia Serie C in 2015/16, his second season in charge. He was then fast-tracked to Serie A when Palermo came calling. However, that stint will not be remembered fondly by either party, as he lasted just 13 games, only one of which his side were victorious in.

After time at Benevento, it was at Sassuolo that he really settled. He spent just shy of three years in charge and oversaw top-eight finishes in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. In May 2021, he was announced as the new Shakhtar Donetsk manager but, after 10 months, one Ukrainian Super Cup and 20 wins from his 30 games in charge, he departed as a result of the Russian invasion and, two months after that, was installed as Graham Potter’s successor at Brighton in September 2022.

De Zerbi took the Seagulls into Europe for the first time in 2023/24 and guided them to the last-16 of the Europa League, before leaving by mutual consent in June 2024. He quickly returned to management with Marseille, whom he guided to second in Ligue 1 in his only full season in charge.

He left in February 2026 and signed a five-year deal at Tottenham a matter of weeks later, helping keep them in the Premier League last term.

The game plan

With Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau

The London reporter explains how Roberto De Zerbi's side are likely to approach Saturday's Brentford clash.

"They tend to line up in a 4-2-3-1," he told brentfordfc.com.

"Depending on fitness, it should be Fernandes and Tonali in the pivot, and they will be hoping to have James Maddison fit to play the no.10 role, though he has not played a single minute in pre-season at the time of speaking, so it is a little bit touch-and-go with him as he finds his way back to full fitness.

"Then there will be the two wingers and probably Solanke up top. How the defence shapes up will be interesting, as there has been quite a lot of change there.

"Cristian Romero and Djed Spence have left, Pedro Porro has had an extended break since the World Cup so will not be fully sharp, and Destiny Udogie is struggling with fitness.

"There are quite a few potential changes in the backline."

Match officials

Oliver to referee first Premier League game of the season

Referee: Michael Oliver

Assistants: James Mainwaring and Blake Antrobus

Fourth official: Sam Barrott

VAR: John Brooks

Michael Oliver will take charge of Brentford's first game of the season, when he has the whistle for Saturday's Premier League clash against Tottenham.

The 41-year-old was the man in the middle for just one Brentford game last season: the Bees' 3-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage, when he dished out five yellow cards.

Last term, he showed 176 yellow cards and three reds in 48 games in all competitions.

Last meeting

Brentford 0 Tottenham 0 (Premier League, 1 January 2026)

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.

Brentford welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off BST), with Roberto De Zerbi’s new-look side aiming to make a significant improvement on last season.

After a busy summer of recruitment, Spurs are targeting a return to European football, with a top-six challenge among their ambitions for the 2026/27 campaign.

Ahead of the Premier League meeting, which is live on Sky Sports, Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau discusses Tottenham’s summer rebuild, their transfer business, the potential threat posed by Sandro Tonali, and what Keith Andrews’ side can expect from De Zerbi’s team.

After Tottenham retained their place in the Premier League by a margin of just two points last season, there seems to be a lot of positivity going into 2026/27. How would you sum up their summer?

It has been a good summer. There was a really positive, and quite remarkable, start, not only with the amount of money they were spending, but the number of players they were bringing in and how they were staying true to their word.

They said at the end of last season that there needed to be a complete overhaul and they have gone out, done their business early and brought in some really impressive talent.

The main issue they will find now is that they are still short, certainly in attack, so their business is definitely not done; Roberto De Zerbi has said they have probably only done about 60 per cent of it.

It was a very positive, very quick, very surprising start to the window, but they need to follow that up by bringing in those last few players to build out the squad because it is not quite there.

On that, the club have spent well over £200 million and recouped over £70m so far in the transfer window. What have you made of the business they have done so far?

The signings of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali are good. The fees were potentially a little bit inflated but, ultimately, Tottenham had to show a willingness to go out and spend that money and bring in players of that calibre, and the role of De Zerbi in all of these signings should give supporters a lot of hope that he has a plan.

These are players he has identified because he has roles for them in the squad. You can certainly see that with Fernandes and Tonali, with the way they dovetail in terms of what they bring in and out of possession and how they might work alongside each other, but also Jan Paul van Hecke is someone he worked with extensively at Brighton and van Hecke credits him with being a massive influence in his career.

There appears to be a reason behind each addition. They are definitely looking for a winger, which is pretty evident, and Savinho has been heavily linked. That is a deal they would like to get done, but one that appears as though it might drag on until the final days of the window. Another area they might potentially like to strengthen, though it might be dependent on outgoings, is up front.

If you look at their options, you cannot really trust Dominic Solanke’s fitness and there is probably a conversation to be had about just how good Richarlison is. Were they to get a reasonable offer for the latter, who I know has interest from elsewhere, they might look to move on a striker as well.

So, attacking additions, whatever form that may come in, then potentially another defensive player because De Zerbi has said he would ideally want two or three more players.

No Europe means fewer games to contend with, which is probably somewhat welcome after last term. Taking that into consideration, what do you think is a realistic aim for Spurs?

It is a difficult one to gauge because they come into this season off the back of successive 17th-place finishes, but with the way they have gone about their business this summer, they are acting like a club that aspires to finish inside the top six.

I do not think supporters would be getting ahead of themselves to perhaps expect them to challenge for a top-six position. That would be the aim, rather than the expectation.

Ultimately, after the last two seasons, supporters err on the side of caution. A top-half finish would be real progress, but no Spurs supporter would be happy with that, and I am not sure that would constitute success.

Success for the club is getting back into European football, and they have the squad and the manager to challenge for that.

Which player should Brentford be keeping an eye out for on Saturday?

Tonali is the big one. There is the potential for him to come in on his competitive debut for the club and really run the show.

He is definitely the one to keep an eye on.

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

They tend to line up in a 4-2-3-1. Depending on fitness, it should be Fernandes and Tonali in the pivot, and they will be hoping to have James Maddison fit to play the no.10 role, though he has not played a single minute in pre-season at the time of speaking, so it is a little bit touch-and-go with him as he finds his way back to full fitness.

Then there will be the two wingers and probably Solanke up top. How the defence shapes up will be interesting, as there has been quite a lot of change there.

Cristian Romero and Djed Spence have left, Pedro Porro has had an extended break since the World Cup so will not be fully sharp, and Destiny Udogie is struggling with fitness.

There are quite a few potential changes in the backline.

What’s your score prediction?

I am going to go for a 2-2 draw. I think Tottenham will start brightly and there will be talk of a new era, but Brentford, as they tend to do, will stick in there and show their willingness and get the point.

Opening day, derby dates, festive football and the final run-in - Brentford’s 2026/27 Premier League fixtures are confirmed.

The Bees begin the season at home to Tottenham Hotspur and end the campaign with a trip to Chelsea.

Take a look at some of the standout dates from the season ahead.

Add Brentford's 2026/27 fixtures to your calendar

First game of the season

Saturday 22 August – Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Tottenham Hotspur are the visitors to Gtech Community Stadium on the opening day. This game ended in a goalless draw last term.

West London derbies

Saturday 19 September – Chelsea (H)

Saturday 12 December – Fulham (A)

Saturday 24 April – Fulham (H)

Sunday 30 May – Chelsea (A)

Bees fans won’t have to wait long for the first west London derby, as Keith Andrews’ side take on Chelsea at the Gtech on Saturday 19 September.

A late equaliser from Fábio Carvalho secured a point for Brentford in a 2-2 draw in the corresponding fixture last season.

The Bees’ first meeting with Fulham comes at Craven Cottage on Saturday 12 December.

Festive fixtures

Saturday 19 December – Newcastle United (H)

Saturday 26 December – Ipswich Town (A)

Wednesday 30 December – Coventry City (A)

Saturday 2 January – Crystal Palace (H)

Brentford face newly promoted Ipswich Town on Boxing Day.

Kevin Schade headed in the only goal of the game to earn the Bees a victory on their last visit to Portman Road in May 2025.

The first fixture of 2027 sees the Bees host Crystal Palace.

Final game of the season

Sunday 30 May – Chelsea (A)

Brentford end their 2026/27 Premier League campaign with a short trip to Chelsea.

A happy hunting ground in recent seasons, the Bees have won three of their last five fixtures at Stamford Bridge.

Brentford’s fixtures for the 2026/27 Premier League season have been confirmed.

The Bees welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Gtech Community Stadium on the opening weekend and end the campaign with a trip to Chelsea.

Fixture dates and kick-off times remain subject to change. Broadcast selections will be confirmed in due course.

Add Brentford's 2026/27 fixtures to your calendar

Brentford’s 2026/27 Premier League fixture list

August

Saturday 22 August – Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Saturday 29 August – Leeds United (A)

September

Saturday 5 September – Sunderland (H)

Saturday 12 September – Bournemouth (A)

Saturday 19 September – Chelsea (H)

October

Saturday 10 October – Aston Villa (A)

Saturday 17 October – Liverpool (H)

Saturday 24 October – Hull City (A)

Saturday 31 October – Nottingham Forest (H)

November

Saturday 7 November - Brighton and Hove Albion (A)

Saturday 21 November – Everton (H)

Saturday 28 November – Manchester United (A)

December

Wednesday 2 December – Arsenal (H)

Saturday 5 December – Manchester City (H)

Saturday 12 December – Fulham (A)

Saturday 19 December – Newcastle United (H)

Saturday 26 December – Ipswich Town (A)

Wednesday 30 December – Coventry City (A)

January

Saturday 2 January – Crystal Palace (H)

Wednesday 6 January – Arsenal (A)

Saturday 16 January – Brighton and Hove Albion (H)

Saturday 23 January – Everton (A)

Saturday 30 January – Manchester United (H)

February

Saturday 6 February – Nottingham Forest (A)

Wednesday 10 February – Crystal Palace (A)

Saturday 20 February – Coventry City (H)

Saturday 27 February – Newcastle United (A)

March

Wednesday 3 March – Ipswich Town (H)

Saturday 13 March – Sunderland (A)

Saturday 20 March – Bournemouth (H)

April

Saturday 10 April – Tottenham Hotspur (A)

Saturday 17 April – Leeds United (H)

Saturday 24 April – Fulham (H)

May

Saturday 1 May – Manchester City (A)

Saturday 8 May – Aston Villa (H)

Saturday 15 May – Liverpool (A)

Sunday 23 May – Hull City (H)

Sunday 30 May – Chelsea (A)

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