Frank rues Tottenham´s lack of clinical edge again in Brentford return

Thomas Frank cited an absence of creativity inside his Tottenham aspect as the important thing to their goalless draw with Brentford on his return to Gtech Group Stadium on Thursday.

Frank watched on as his workforce struggled to breach the Bees’ stern defensive rearguard, with Richarlison’s tame effort within the closing levels their finest likelihood of the match.

Brentford thought that they had taken the lead contained in the opening 10 minutes when Kevin Schade scored within the fifth minute, however his objective was dominated out for offside.

Additional probabilities fell to Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt and Igor Thiago, but it surely was an encounter that didn’t whet the urge for food of these in attendance.

Certainly, this was simply the fourth Premier League recreation this season to not see a single large likelihood created, after Liverpool versus Arsenal (August), Bournemouth in opposition to Newcastle United (September) and Bournemouth in opposition to Nottingham Forest (October).

And although Frank was thrilled with the reception he obtained on his return to his former membership, he was left wanting extra from his gamers, notably within the ultimate third.

“It was very good and really particular in lots of, some ways. Very proud of that,” Frank mentioned of his return to Brentford.

“It was good to be again and good to acknowledge issues each methods, after which the whistle goes, and it’s enterprise, and also you need to win the sport.

“Nevertheless, we don’t create sufficient. I believe we handled half of the problem right here as a result of they’re very robust at dwelling.

“They solely gave seven photographs away in the entire recreation, so we had been very proud of that, however we didn’t create sufficient. The quantity of unforced errors right now was too large.”

One participant who might have helped resolve that downside was Brennan Johnson, however the Wales worldwide was not concerned in Spurs’ matchday squad.

That’s as a result of he’s reportedly closing in on a swap to London rivals Crystal Palace, with Johnson set to hyperlink up with Oliver Glasner’s workforce in a deal value round £35m.

Johnson made 107 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham, netting 27 objectives, together with the winner of their Europa League ultimate success, in addition to 14 assists.

“Clearly, there’s in all probability one thing shut, however that’s it,” Frank mentioned about how the deal was materialising.

Brentford, in the meantime, had been pressured to share the spoils, although Keith Andrew’s workforce had been capable of prolong their unbeaten league run to 4 matches.

The Bees did, nonetheless, play out their twelfth goalless draw within the top-flight, with solely Palace (17), Everton (14) and Brighton (13) having extra since they joined the division in 2021.

Brentford have additionally now failed to attain of their earlier 4 Premier League London derbies (D1 L3), profitable simply one among their final 10 (D4 L5), a 2-0 win at West Ham final October.

It was a match of few alternatives for the hosts, who registered an anticipated objectives (xG) complete of 0.83 from their seven photographs, although solely two of these examined Guglielmo Vicario.

However Brentford boss Andrews believed his aspect had been worthy of all three factors, a outcome that, if it had transpired, would have seen them go inside some extent of fifth-placed Chelsea.

“Beautiful to see Thomas [Frank]as at all times. [He’s] any person who I respect vastly. I loved working with him final season,” Andrews mentioned.

“I assumed we edged it, and if anyone was going to win the sport, it was in all probability us. They beat us twice final season; they deserved to beat us 26 days in the past at Spurs.

“In the present day was a totally completely different efficiency. We needed it fast within the tempo within the second half, and so they tried to sluggish it down.

“Thomas may be very conscious of what this dwelling crowd can do and the way harmful we could be. Their goalkeeper bought booked for time-wasting, which just about says all of it.”