Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Brentford: Spurs come from behind to fourth place in the Premier League

Brennan Johnson (left) scored with his second touch after coming on as a half-time substitute

Tottenham Hotspur returned to the top four of the Premier League with a thrilling and at times chaotic home win over Brentford.

The visitors led at half-time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thanks to a botched finish from Neal Maupay.

But Tottenham overhauled the Bees with three goals in eight minutes after the break from Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Richarlison.

Ivan Toney pulled the ball back after a terrible Udogie back pass.

But Spurs held on to win and moved back into the top four for the first time in 2024 after Ange Postecoglou's side fell out of the Champions League places following a 4-2 defeat to Brighton on December 28.

Spurs were ahead early in the game but were caught off guard by their high defensive line when Toney was played through. His shot was parried by Gigi Vicario, but Maupay pounced on the rebound.

Although the Frenchman shot the ball against his foot, it was deflected into the corner, giving Maupay his fourth goal in a row.

But Spurs came out with a bang after half-time, scoring three goals in eight minutes. First, Udogie stormed forward from the left side of defense and exchanged passes with Timo Werner before finishing on the second pass after his first shot was blocked.

73 seconds later, Werner was once again the provider with a low cross from the left, which Johnson fended off from close range with his second touch of the ball after coming on at half-time – before Richarlison completed the scoring with the follow-up shot. Maddison's shot was deflected in.

Richarlison has now scored seven goals in his last seven league games, one more than in his previous 47 top-flight games.

Spurs allowed Brentford back into the game in absurd circumstances when Udogie played a back pass straight to Toney, who calmly slotted the ball past Vicario, scoring his second goal in as many games since returning from his eight-month ban for betting offences .

But Brentford were unable to equalize and remained in 15th place, just four points above the relegation zone.

Neal Maupay's opening goal for Brentford was the 100th goal of his professional career

Spurs take three points on Maddison's return

Much of the focus before the game was on James Maddison, who made his first start since November 6 after returning from the bench against Manchester City.

Maddison was crucial to Spurs' outstanding form at the start of the season and his final appearance before his injury came at home to Chelsea – their first league defeat of the season.

Spurs fans were hoping the England midfielder could take them back into the top four, and a frantic run through the defense after ten minutes – before he was edged out in the penalty area – gave hope he could make the difference in attack.

But Spurs' comeback after the break came when Maddison was moved into a deeper role and Johnson came on in place of Oliver Skipp as part of a half-time double substitution.

While Maddison was in the penalty area to inadvertently assist Spurs' third pass, the change in shape allowed Werner and Johnson to develop out wide.

Their quick start to the second half extends the club's record streak of 34 consecutive league games.

Although Spurs still have clear weaknesses – particularly in defense, as shown in second-half stoppage time when they gave Shandon Baptiste space in the box for a volley that Vicario acrobatically tipped over – they are with Maddison in the team certainly stronger, regardless of his role.

Brentford spurn another lead

Brentford played perfectly against Tottenham in the first half, both in exploiting the high line – Mads Roerslev completed a clever move a few minutes before Maupay's opening goal, only for Mathias Jensen to be offside beforehand – and in playing into their own heads.

Maupay played a central role in overpowering the Tottenham players, which was evident by imitating Maddison's dart-throwing celebration after the opening goal.

His celebration angered some of the home fans and Maddison himself, who subsequently exchanged rude words and pats on the head with Maupay.

It obviously upset Maddison's team-mates too, with both Johnson and Richarlison breaking up the darts celebrations after their goals.

The Bees have now dropped 23 points from winning positions across the league this season and have lost five league games this season after scoring the opening goal, more than any other team in the division – and once more than Tottenham.

Lineups

Tottenham

formation 4-2-3-1

13Pastor

23Further17Romero37van de Ven38Udogie

4Skip30Bentancur

21Kulusevski10Madison16Werner

9Richarlison

• 13Pastor
• 23Further
• 17Romero
• 37van de Ven
• 38Udogie
• 4SkipReplaced byHojbjergat 45'protocol
• 30BentancurReplaced byJohnsonat 45'protocol
• 21KulusevskiBooked for 43 minutes
• 10MadisonReplaced byDrăguşinat 88'protocol
• 16WernerReplaced byDonleyat 90+2'protocolBooked for 90 minutes
• 9Richarlison

Substitute

• 5Hojbjerg
• 6Drăguşin
• 11Gil
• 12Emerson Royal
• 20ranger
• 22Johnson
• 33Davies
• 44Scarlett
• 63Donley

Brentford

formation 3-5-2

1The spot

22Collins5Pinnock16Mee

30Roerslev8thJensen6Norgaard27Janet23Lewis Potter

7Maupay17Toney

• 1The spot
• 22CollinsReplaced byAjerat 78'protocol
• 5Pinnock
• 16Mee
• 30RoerslevReplaced byDasilvaat 78'protocol
• 8thJensenReplaced byYarmoliukat 57'protocolBooked for 90 minutes
• 6NorgaardBooked at 17 minutes
• 27JanetReplaced byBaptisteat 88'protocol
• 23Lewis PotterReplaced byDamsgaardat 88'protocol
• 7MaupayBooked for 43 minutes
• 17Toney

Substitute

• 10Dasilva
• 13M Jorgensen
• 20Ajer
• 21Strakosha
• 24Damsgaard
• 26Baptiste
• 33Yarmoliuk
• 38Brierley
• 43Frederick

Referee: David Coote

Number of visitors: 61,210

Live text

1. The game ends: Tottenham Hotspur 3, Brentford 2.

2. The second half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, Brentford 2.

3. Corner, Brentford. Granted by Destiny Udogie.

4. Jamie Donley (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5. Foul by Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford).

6. Jamie Donley (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a serious foul.

7. Foul by Jamie Donley (Tottenham Hotspur).

8. Neal Maupay (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9. Corner, Brentford. Indebted to Guglielmo Vicario.

10. Attempt saved. Shandon Baptiste (Brentford)'s right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area is saved at the top center of the goal. Assisted by Josh Dasilva.

11. Attempt saved. Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the penalty area is saved by the goalkeeper in the center of the goal.

12. Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Jamie Donley replaces Timo Werner.

13. Yehor Yarmoliuk (Brentford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

14. Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

15. Foul by Yehor Yarmoliuk (Brentford).

16. Substitution Brentford. Shandon Baptiste replaces Vitaly Janelt.

17. Substitution Brentford. Mikkel Damsgaard replaces Keane Lewis-Potter.

18. Delay over. You are ready to move on.

19. Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Radu Dragusin replaces James Maddison due to injury.

20. Game delayed due to injury to James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur).

Player of the game

JohnsonBrennan Johnson

Brentford

1. Squad number20Player nameAjer

2. Squad number1Player nameThe spot

3. Squad number10Player nameDasilva

4. Squad number33Player nameYarmoliuk

5. Squad number23Player nameLewis Potter

6. Squad number30Player nameRoerslev

7. Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard

8. Squad number16Player nameMee

9. Squad number22Player nameCollins

10. Squad number5Player namePinnock

11. Squad number8thPlayer nameJensen

12. Squad number26Player nameBaptiste

13. Squad number27Player nameJanet

14. Squad number6Player nameNorgaard

15. Squad number17Player nameToney

16. Squad number7Player nameMaupay