Brentford play our first home Premier League game in more than eight weeks when Spurs are the visitors on Boxing Day.
With the vagaries of the fixture list giving us back-to-back away matches in November, the last time Bees fans watched the team chasing points in the Premier League at New Griffin Park was way back on 29 October in the frustrating 1-1 draw with Wolves.
Just like when we played the first match of the last Premier League season, against Arsenal, the Bees have the honour of kicking off the opening game of the second half of this campaign.
Spurs are currently fourth in the table, despite a mixed run of results going into the World Cup break.
They have a much better home than away record this season with 18 points from their eight matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and 11 from their seven games on the road.
Their away wins have come at Nottingham Forest (2-0), Brighton (1-0) and Bournemouth (3-2), while they have drawn at Chelsea (2-2) and West Ham (1-1) and lost at Arsenal (3-1) and Manchester United (2-0).
Forest gained revenge to knock them out of the Carabao Cup 2-0 in the third round, but Spurs are safely through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, after winning their group on a dramatic final night in which, at one point, they were heading out of the competition.
In the last 16, they have been drawn against AC Milan, with the first leg in Italy in mid-February.
WHO’S IN CHARGE
Antonio Conte took charge of Spurs in November last year.
It is his second spell in the Premier League after previously being in charge of Chelsea – winning the title in his first season of 2016/17 and the FA Cup in his second.
He led Inter Milan to their first Serie A title for 11 years in 2020/21, before leaving the club in the summer.
Antonio also managed the Italian national team, as well as club sides Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta, Siena and Juventus in his homeland.
As a player, he represented Lecce and Juventus, while winning 20 caps for Italy.
WE’VE MET BEFORE
This is only the fifth season in which we have been in the same division as Spurs.
The first three were from 1947 to 1950 when both of us were in Division Two (now the Championship) and then of course last season in the Premier League.
Our past league results (Brentford score first) are:
1947/48 – (H) W 2-0 (A) L 0-4
1948/49 – (H) D 1-1 (A) L 0-2
1949/50 – (H) L 1-4 (A) D 1-1
2021/22 – (H) 0-0 (A) L 0-2
Our first top flight meeting took place at the start of December when we lost 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Son Heung-min was involved in both goals – his cross deflected off Sergi Canos for a 12th-minute own goal, before he tapped home the second in the 65th minute after a quick counter-attack.
In the return game towards the end of April, we had the better of a goalless draw in which Ivan Toney twice hit the woodwork from set-pieces taken by ex-Spurs midfielder Christian Eriksen, and Pontus Jansson had an effort cleared off the line by Harry Kane.
We have actually met Spurs more times in cup competitions than in league matches, especially in recent years.
We were first drawn against each other in the 1921/22 FA Cup when we lost 2-0 at home to them in the first round proper, and then we met again in the two-legged third round proper in 1945/46 when we went through 4-2 on aggregate, after a 2-2 draw away and a 2-0 home win.
In the past 30 years, we have been paired together three times in the second round of the League Cup and also met in last season’s semi-finals.
1992/93
The first of our League Cup ties, in September 1992, came just after we had won promotion to the second tier. Teddy Sheringham put Spurs ahead at White Hart Lane, but Gary Blissett memorably equalised before Kevin Watson and Gordon Durie wrapped up a 3-1 win for the hosts.
The second leg appeared a formality and so it proved, as Spurs won 4-2 at Griffin Park for a 7-3 aggregate success.
Early goals from Darren Anderton, with a penalty, and Teddy Sheringham, killed off any chance of a shock. Gary Blissett replied before Andy Turner and Sheringham, with his second, made it 4-1 on the night. Keith Millen scored a late consolation for the Bees.
1998/99
Things were much closer when we met seven years later, despite Brentford being a fourth tier club, with each match finishing 3-2 to Spurs – even though we took the lead in each leg.
This time the first leg was at Griffin Park, and Andy Scott put us ahead in the 28th minute, only for Stephen Carr to level in the 44th minute. Substitute Jose Dominguez gave Spurs the lead for the first time early in the second half, before Darren Freeman equalised, only for Ramon Vega to snatch a priceless third away goal late on.
In the return just over a week later, Andy Scott levelled the tie on aggregate after giving us a first-minute lead at White Hart Lane. But Allan Nielsen, Sol Campbell and Chris Armstrong all scored to put Spurs in control, before substitute Lloyd Owusu made the scoreline more respectable in the 74th minute. However, Spurs went through 6-4 on aggregate.
First leg highlights at 9:35 in this video, with second leg highlights at 12:38.
Spurs went on to win the competition – beating Leicester 1-0 in the final with a last-gasp goal from Allan Nielsen.
2000/01
In 2000/01, Spurs survived a first leg at Griffin Park which they finished with 10 men, before sealing victory back in north London.
In TW8, goalkeeper Neil Sullivan was sent off on the hour mark for bringing down Paul Evans, who was clean through, while centre-half Sol Campbell was forced off in the 35th minute with a shoulder injury.
Even though Spurs fielded new £11m signing Sergei Rebrov up front, Oli Gottskalksson kept him at bay as we earned a 0-0 draw.
In the return leg a week later, Scott Partridge missed a great chance to put us ahead early in the second half before Oyvind Leonhardsen and Steffen Iversen scored to take Spurs through 2-0 on the night and also on aggregate.
2020/21
The Bees reached the semi-final of the competition for the first time in our history – but once again ended up on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline.
Moussa Sissoko gave Spurs a 12th-minute lead, before on the hour mark we had our first-ever encounter with VAR when an Ivan Toney effort was ruled out.
Son Heung-min doubled the lead in the 70th minute, before Josh Dasilva was sent off late on.
OPPOSITION VIEW
BBC Radio London commentator and presenter Phil Parry looks at Spurs’ season so far, discusses how Harry Kane could have been affected by events at the World Cup and discusses what business they may do in the transfer window.
Q – How do you think Spurs will have been affected by the long World Cup break?
A – As with many teams, Spurs will have had a decent number of players away at the World Cup, so Antonio Conte will have only been able to work with some of the squad. The one area we’ve talked about a lot that they may have wanted to work on is their start to games.
The Lilywhites had found themselves going behind with regularity in the portion of the season leading up to the hiatus. They have shown great fortitude to battle back in most of those games, but I am sure that Conte will have been looking at the conundrum.
The form had slipped in the month or so before the break, so perhaps having an opportunity to review the season so far, and what might be needed to move forward, was an opportune one.
For every team this break has provided some unusual circumstances, but the last couple of years have challenged us all to adapt in different ways, and professional football has not been immune to this. So how much the enforced break has had an effect will only be seen when we get going again.
Q – What impact do you think Harry Kane’s penalty miss will have on him as he returns to Premier League action?
A – Obviously he would have been immensely disappointed with the miss and its impacts, but Harry Kane is a consummate professional who will be fully aware that penalties are not always scored. No doubt he has input from sport physiology and will have processed the events in his own way and be ready for the restart.
I would imagine that he would be keen to get among the goals as quickly as possible, so that may be a danger sign for the Bees, and he will be one of the top marksmen in the Premier League.
No doubt there will be opposition banter directed towards him, but on the whole people are understanding of the situation and will appreciate what he has done for his national side and will therefore be sympathetic.
Q – How would you assess Spurs’s season so far?
A – Spurs have made a very solid start to the season, progressing to the knock-out phase of the Champions League as well as being fourth in the Premier League when the season stopped for the World Cup.
There have been questions asked about the way that the side have been playing and suggestions in some quarters that they are a little conservative. But others say that the results and the progress made shows that they are on the right track.
The run to the World Cup break saw them secure just three wins in eight games in all competitions and, as I said earlier, there were worrying signs of starting games slowly. They have lost three of the last five in the League and as a result have come under pressure for that position in the top four, so will be keen to restart the season well.
Q – What business do you expect the club to do in the January transfer window?
A – It has been suggested that there is a bit of a war chest available for Antonio Conte, and last year he said that the squad would need a number of transfer windows to get to a state that he was happy with. There is a sense that it’s a group that needs the age balance altered, with some key players now either in or heading towards their 30s.
Last January saw the arrival of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, two excellent acquisitions, so more of the same would be good in the upcoming mid- season window.
January is a notoriously difficult transfer period, but the break for the World Cup may have given the recruitment team a better and calmer opportunity to assess their business plan.
The creative midfield area has been talked about by many as one that Spurs may need to address, with a suggestion that the club have yet to replace Christian Eriksen. But finding a player that can provide that spark in January who is both of the quality required and available is tough.
Antonio Conte will also no doubt be looking at his defensive options over the coming windows and may look to do more business in that area too.
Q – What do you remember of last season’s two games between the sides?
A – The away game in north London seeing the Bees lose 2-0 was a fair outcome as the Lilywhites were the more potent and tested Fernando Alvarez more than Brentford asked questions at the other end. It was during the period of the season when the first flush of being in the top flight had dissipated and reality was biting a little harder. Conte had not long been in charge, but it was obvious that he was already making an impact and his team were proving a tough nut to crack.
The return match was a different situation and of course a lot of the focus in the build-up was on Eriksen. The Bees of course by this point were enjoying the springtime and could have grabbed another big win had it not been for the woodwork.
Q – Assuming Hugo Lloris, who is ever-present so far, and Christian Romero miss out because they played in the World Cup final, what do you think the Spurs line-up and formation will be?
Forster/Lloris
Sanchez Dier Davies
Doherty Sessegnon
Hjobjerg. Bentancur
Moura Kane Son
HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME IF YOU CAN’T BE THERE
If you can’t get to the Gtech Community Stadium for Monday’s sold-out 12.30pm kick-off, and want Brentford commentary, audio coverage is available via the new Buzz Box, currently on a free trial.
Coverage starts half an hour before kick-off and is advert-free, with Mark Burridge and Karleigh Osborne.
There is also live commentary on TalkSport.
The match is being shown live on Amazon Prime, with coverage starting at 12.00pm.
IAN WESTBROOK
@ianwestbrook
PUBS IN BRENTFORD AND TRAVEL NEWS
For Spurs fans coming to the Gtech Community Stadium, there are plenty of pub options pre and post-match and all are most welcoming and away-fan-friendly (as it should be).
The pub areas are split into two zones. There is the area around Brentford’s old Griffin Park stadium. The pubs there are still very busy on match day frequented by Bees locals before heading down the road to the stadium at Kew Bridge which is only 15 minutes walk.
Then there is the area in and around the stadium in Kew Bridge.
It is possible, if you have a good early start, to savour a few pubs in and around Griffin Park and Brentford zone before heading off to the pubs in the Kew zone or even vice versa if you so fancy.
Pubs in Griffin Park/Brentford zone (still very lively but easier to get a pint)
When at Griffin Park, Brentford was well known for its four pubs – one on each corner of the ground. Three are still operating.
The Griffin is closest to the old away end and has always been very popular with both home and away fans and has its regulars who still make the journey down to the new stadium from there on matchday. The New Inn is on the other side which used to also be popular with away fans before the move. The Brook pub is the other option if you want to savour a pub in and around what is left of our old home. Worth a peep if you want to reminisce about old Brentford.
About five minutes’ walk away from the old ground are two pubs which are enormously popular. The Globe (Windmill Rd) is a “lively but comfortable” pub on matchday. Incredibly friendly and cosy, it has always been popular with a selection of away fans who fancied having a beer a few minutes further walk away from the ground without having to queue six persons deep. After the move to the new ground, The Globe has retained many of lot its regulars from the Griffin Park days and with screens throughout the pub and in its sheltered beer garden, it shows both Premier League and EFL football before and after each match.
Meanwhile around the corner, The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd) is another incredibly friendly and cosy away-friendly pubs about one minute walk from The Globe. Again with a TV screen for live sports and a lovely beer garden, this is another pub frequented by “away fans in the know”.
The other pub worth checking out in the Griffin Park region is The Black Dog Beer House, formerly The Albany, on Albany Road, if you like your real ales.
There are plenty of other pubs in and around Brentford High Street including real ale pub Magpie and Crown (Brentford High Street) and the cosy Brewery Tap (Catherine Wheel Road) near the river.
For a Griffin Park area pub crawl before heading over to Kew we recommend the following: Take the Piccadilly line to Northfields station. Turn left and walk for 2 mins and you will come to The Plough (Northfields Ave). Then walk to The Lord Nelson (10 min walk from The Plough) & then The Globe (1 min walk from The Nelson) en-route before hitting The Griffin (8 min walk from The Globe) and then The Black Dog (2 mins from The Griffin). You can also try and do the other three pubs on the corner whilst down here if you fancy.
Then you can then either walk (15 minutes from The Globe/The Nelson and The Griffin/Black Dog ) or take a train from Brentford station (which is five minutes walk away from both The Globe/The Nelson and The Griffin/Black Dog) or a bus (237/267) to Kew Bridge.
Trains run at 24 and 54 minutes past the hour to Kew Bridge from Brentford and take two minutes.
Pubs in the Kew Bridge zone (very busy on match days)
Right next to Kew Bridge station, you will find the Express Tavern – an ale pub with a retro feel. The pub has been refurbished in readiness for the new football season and needless to say, is popular before the match due to its close proximity to the stadium.
Across the road by the river is One Over the Ait – a spacious boozer right next to Kew Bridge. This pub is situated on the location of the now-demolished Oxford & Cambridge pub where Brentford Football Club was founded in 1889.
Across Kew Bridge and the River Thames, there are two pubs on Kew Green – the Cricketers and the Greyhound – very close to the pier where Brentford fans have embarked on their away journeys by water to F*lham, Orient, Charlton, West Ham and even Southend.
North of the river along hoity-toity Strand on the Green, you will find The Steam Packet, in an old Cafe Rouge, and The Bell and Crown. A bit further down are The City Barge and the Bulls Head – two pubs side-by-side in which you would often see Ant and Dec hanging out.
There is also The Pilot which you can get to coming out of the BACK entrance of Gunnersbury station and we believe the old John Bull pub at the front of the station has been refurbed as The Gunnersbury but we have never been there so can’t give it a rating.
Transport to Brentford and Kew Bridge
The simplest on paper to get to Brentford FC from town is to get the tube to Waterloo (Northern, Jubilee lines) or Vauxhall (Victoria Line) and then take the Overground train to Kew Bridge, which is right by the stadium. Brentford is one stop further on if you are on an ‘Original Griffin Park Pub’ mission.
With trains from Waterloo being only twice an hour (22 and 52) and taking 28 minutes, we normally recommend people jump on the tube from King’s Cross or Euston and head to Northfields or South Ealing on the Piccadilly Line as it is quicker (including the time getting across London and waiting at Waterloo) and trains are more frequent.
It is only 40 minutes max station by tube to station meaning you could be in a Brentford pub within an hour of embarking your train at Kings Cross, Euston or Liverpool Street.
The other station option is Gunnersbury. You can walk to the stadium from Gunnersbury tube station (District line) in 25 minutes or take a bus (H91, 237, 267, 110), but note that it is closed for entry for one hour after the match.
For the Brentford/Griffin Park pubs you can get the Piccadilly line tube to Northfields station from King’s Cross or Euston (35 minutes) then walk down to The Plough, The Globe, The Lord Nelson and The Griffin and other pubs from there.
The new stadium is around 25 minutes’ walk from South Ealing station – if you don’t fancy Gunnersbury – or you can get on the 65 bus from across the road which will drop you almost outside in 15 minutes.
You can also pick up the 65 bus from Ealing Broadway (district and central line) which will take you to the new stadium in 25 minutes.
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