(Football news) Tottenham Hotspurs will now look to win their first league game of 2024 after losing to Manchester City at home last time out, when the Bees were enjoying their midseason holiday. Tottenham Hotspurs had won all five of their previous meetings with their opponents at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and they were prepared to give up that record and accept an FA Cup replay last week. However, Man City ultimately prevailed in the teams’ fourth-round match.
Between now and the conclusion of the season, Ange Postecoglou’s team just needs to focus on the Premier League thanks to Nathan Ake’s hotly contested late goal that ended the game in the holders’ favor.
A 16-year silverware drought goes on, so Spurs now turn their attention to staying in touch with the top four – and holding off challengers from behind, such as Manchester United, who held them to a 2-2 draw earlier this month.
On that occasion, Tottenham trailed twice but bounced back each time with goals from Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur, and their last league win now dates back to New Year’s Eve.
Although City shut them out last Friday, Spurs have scored in each of their last 33 top-flight matches, which represents the club’s longest streak throughout their whole league history – and the fourth-best run by any side in the Premier League era.
They have also lost just one of their last nine league games against Brentford ahead of this week’s home contest, though that defeat did come in the equivalent fixture last season.
Having been beaten in their first Premier League meeting with Spurs in late 2021, Brentford have since gone undefeated through the last four – including that 3-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May.
Like their midweek hosts, the Bees were recently knocked out of the FA Cup, with their brief journey coming to an end in a replay against Wolverhampton Wanderers after the sides had drawn 1-1 in London the first time around.
Then, to much fanfare, talisman Ivan Toney returned from his long ban to captain the team that took on fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest last time out in the league, when victory ended a five-game losing streak.
After six losses from seven overall, Brentford finally got back to winning ways with help from Toney’s opening goal, for which the England striker employed a dose of dark arts, and further strikes from Ben Mee and Neal Maupay during the second half.
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