Match Report Brentford & Qarabağ & Match Preview Man United.
Match Report Brentford & Qarabağ & Match Preview Man United.
In last night’s match (Qarabag, Europa League), I asked why eleven men should be used when ten could have done the job efficiently (which they did).
A lot of luck goes into games. Last night, we had it; after 7 minutes, we had a player sent off, their goal was disallowed (off-side), and they (Qarabag) shot a penalty they were given wide. And, of course, our opponents were poor.
Any club needs a dose of luck if they want to win things, yes, even City (however, they have lots of money, a good manager and Arabs backing them… apart from that… it is down to luck!!). It would be nice to say we’ve turned a corner, but we’ve turned so many corners since Daniel has been guiding the club to riches (just not the team) that it would be unfair to say that we are not that far off being a roundabout (Spursy, as some have said).
But let us not get ahead of ourselves… first up… as it says on the tin…
Brentford…
Yes, Spurs 3, Brentford 1, which I predicted before the match (who’s a clever little – or big – bastard!!!!).
As is inevitable, they scored first. But the good news is that Dominic Solanke scored his first goal for us as we came from behind to beat Brentford in an entertaining game at our Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
After going behind inside 30 seconds, we hit back to win convincingly and ease any impending unrest after back-to-back Premier League defeats.
After they scored, we were level on eight minutes when Ethan Pinnock’s pass was cut out on the edge of the box by James Maddison, and after his shot was saved, Solanke coolly tucked in the rebound.
It was Solanke’s first goal since his £65m move from Bournemouth in the summer.
We continued to dominate after a bad pass by our opponents led to Brennan Johnson firing a neat finish past their goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
At half time, we were buoyant.
Maddison made sure of the points after running onto Son’s pass and scoring.
Brentford felt they should have been afforded a way back into the game just before the hour when Vicario appeared to handle outside of his box.
We were back on track after our two defeats by Newcastle and Arsenic. On the way home, we were in a joyous, joviality mood…
… next up, the boys from Azerbaijan…
Spurs 3 Qarabağ 0
We began our Europa League campaign with an impressive victory over Qarabag despite being reduced to 10 men in the seventh minute.
After a 35-minute delay to kick-off because of storms, also somebody jumping in front of a train, etc., the match kicked off. But we didn’t have to wait too long for the drama to start. Radu Dragusin was shown a straight red card for bringing down Juninho in a one-on-one as the Brazilian raced through on goal. What I and others expected to be, a massive win for us (5-0 or more), we suddenly thought the gates would come crashing down. Despite that, Brennan Johnson had the ball in the back of the net five minutes later when Qarabag were caught playing out from the back, and Dominic Solanke placed it into the path of the 23-year-old to slot into the bottom corner. This was Johnson’s third goal in as many games.
Pape Sarr doubled our lead in the 52nd minute, controlling the loose ball at the far post before smashing home.
Then Qarabag were awarded a penalty three minutes later when Yves Bissouma brought Elvin Cafarquliyev down, but Toral Bayramov’s spot-kick was poor and went flying over the crossbar.
To be fair to the Azerbaijan Premier League champions, they created an abundance of chances, with Guglielmo Vicario making some fine saves, but ultimately, Qarabag lacked the cutting edge that our side showed at the other end.
Solanke wrapped up victory in the 68th minute after goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski pushed Son’s strike from distance into his path, and he produced a brilliant finish.
Thoughts…
Postecoglou said before the match the expanding football schedule is reaching a “dangerous level” and, therefore, used it as an opportunity to shuffle his pack, making six changes from the side that beat Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.
He handed 18-year-olds Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray their second starts but, following Dragusin’s dismissal, midfielder Bergvall was sacrificed as defender Destiny Udogie came on.
Qarabag must have wondered what else they needed to do to find the net. The careless Juninho had a goal ruled out for offside, Bayramov went close several times, and Vicario produced a brilliant save to deny Cafarquliyev’s long-range strike.
The sight of Son hobbling off in the second half is a concern as we face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday before a trip to Hungary to face Ferencvaros next week (a game we are going to).
Janette was at the game with me. The three of us (Mel included) drove down to Tottenham through heavy rain, storms, strong winds, closed roads, etc. But we got there and back in one safe swoop!
Manchester United v Spurs
Having made differing starts to their Europa League journeys, Manchester United and Spurs will now prepare to clash in Sunday’s Premier League epic at Old Trafford.
The pressure continues to pile on Erik ten Hag’s shoulders following the hosts’ 1-1 draw with FC Twente, while 10-man Spurs put three past Qarabag without reply on Thursday evening. To be honest, that isn’t going to mean fuck all on the night.
Manchester United Premier League form:
WLLWD
Manchester United form (all competitions):
LLWWDD
Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:
DWLLW
Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):
WLLWWW
Team News…
We suffered an alarming scare during Thursday night’s win over Qarabag, with Son being taken off because of a suspected injury, although Ange stressed after the game that he does not believe he is nursing a serious problem.
No player has created more chances from open play than Son (13) in the 2024-25 Premier League season, and he should be given the all-clear to face Man United, whom he also boasts four goals and one assist against from his last seven appearances.
Dragusin’s red card and subsequent suspension only apply to European games, too, so Wilson Odobert (thigh) and Richarlison (calf) are our only two guaranteed absentees for the trip to Manchester.
My possible lineup
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son
As always, I am going for us to win this game… the question is, by how much?
Prediction: 1-2 to us
While we only have three away wins in the Premier League over the past 10 months, Tottenham have won a staggering 28 points from losing positions since the start of last season, second only to Manchester City’s 31.
Even if Ten Hag’s inconsistent players can draw first blood, they will surely be pegged back in a similar vein to midweek, leaving us – hopefully – walking away with the spoils.
Up the Spurs!!
Glenn