Brentford 0-0 Tottenham: Unimaginative Spurs hand Arsenal the advantage in top-four race

London, April 24: Tottenham stuttered to a 0-0 draw at Brentford on Saturday (April 23), handing bitter rivals Arsenal the advantage in the race for fourth in the Premier League.

Arsenal defeated Manchester United 3-1 earlier in the day to open a three-point lead over Antonio Conte's men, and Spurs' inability to follow suit prevented them from going ahead of the Gunners on goal difference.

Spurs offered little attacking threat during a first-half that Brentford enjoyed the better of, with their set-piece prowess causing the visitors problems and bringing about a great chance as Ivan Toney hit the woodwork.

The contest was more open in general after the interval but still, the best opportunities fell the way of Brentford, who again hit the frame of the goal through Toney and only failed to clinch a deserved win due to lacking the finishing touch.

Thomas Frank's side looked fired up from the off and nearly took an early lead when Vitaly Janelt robbed Ryan Sessegnon before teeing up Bryan Mbeumo, whose shot was deflected agonisingly wide.

It was from corners where Brentford posed a more consistent threat, however, with Toney's runs to the back post a regular nuisance.

But their best opportunity arrived when Toney waited centrally for a corner delivery, rising highest and heading against the crossbar.

A brief Spurs improvement after half-time did not amount to much as Brentford were soon in the ascendancy again, Christian Eriksen seeing a 20-yard effort deflect just wide.

From the resulting corner, Pontus Jansson had a header cleared off the line and Eriksen – facing his former club for the first time since returning to the Premier League – was denied by Hugo Lloris.

Spurs had another fortunate escape right at the end, as Toney crashed a header against the upright.

A touching moment as Christian Eriksen receives a round of applause from Spurs fans in the away end pic.twitter.com/mavb7c4hfM

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 23, 2022