Spurs are still 'hurting', but they have found defensive strength and spirit
2025-02-03
Category: sports

The ability to grind out a win while showing defensive strength has not been a regular part of Tottenham's season so far.But, in a week that could define their campaign and the future of boss Ange Postecoglou, Spurs showed spirit and character to win 2-0 at Brentford and bring their four-game losing league run to a halt.Under-pressure Postecoglou could not have been happier."We defended as well as we have all season and we still had the quality to hurt them the other way. It was an outstanding effort by the players," said Postecoglou.He had every reason to be delighted because Brentford, who have scored the most goals at home of any team in the Premier League this season, were routinely frustrated as Spurs kept their first clean sheet in the league in 2025."It's a difficult place to come and to win and difficult to keep them out," added Postecoglou."They throw it into the box and at set pieces, but I thought the lads handled that awfully well and we knew we would have to do that to nullify their threats. The lads were brilliant."
Postecoglou was full of praise for the returning Djed Spence and 18-year-old Archie Gray, who was booed by the home fans after he opted to move to Tottenham instead of Brentford when leaving Leeds last summer."We're still a bit thin defensively," said Postecoglou on a day when Tottenham bolstered their defensive ranks by signing 26-year-old Austria international Kevin Danso on loan from Ligue 1 side Lens with a commitment to buy in the summer."The job Archie Gray is doing is remarkable. Eighteen years old, never played centre back, and he is playing in Europe and playing every week. He's a fantastic player and we're very fortunate to have him."Gray himself was pleased with the side's defensive efforts, adding: "At times this season, we have lost concentration just for five minutes. As soon as that [first] goal went in, we knew we couldn't make the same mistakes and we had to keep disciplined for the second half."It's credit to Ben [Davies] and Djed and Pedro [Porro] as well. We were shouting at each other the whole game. It was a really good clean sheet and hopefully we can keep it going."
'Tottenham have shown they can defend'
For Tottenham, so often criticised for being weak defensively, this was the sort of performance Postecoglou would have gained a great deal of satisfaction from as he continues to battle a lengthy injury list that saw him without nine key players.Tottenham had only picked up one point from seven league matches before this trip to the Gtech Community Stadium and were in danger of losing five successive top-flight games for the first time since 2004.Spurs took a fortunate lead when Son Heung-min's superb inswinging corner bounced off the back of Brentford's Vitaly Janelt and into his own net, before the hosts piled on the pressure in the second half.But Pape Matar Sarr sealed the win late on, running on to Son's through ball and flicking it into the net.Former Tottenham defender Stephen Kelly, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, described it as "a huge win"."Brentford will be bitterly disappointed with the amount of possession they had, final third entries, and they didn't make it count," he said."But Tottenham have been resilient, shown they can defend, not been gung-ho and not leaving themselves open. This is exactly what Ange Postecoglou needs and it eases a little bit of pressure on them."Brentford boss Thomas Frank had praise for Tottenham's defensive performance, too. "The way they defended their box was some of the best I've seen all season," he said. "They were very clever and very good."
'The supporters and players are hurting'
The three points took Spurs from 16th to 14th, with the supporters chanting "we are staying up", mocking those critics who suggested the club were in danger of being relegated."It's great for the supporters and the players," added Postecoglou. "They are all hurting, the players are hurting as well. It's not where we want to be and we have to rectify that."We're not in the league position we want, nowhere near it, but the players are giving everything and I'm super pleased they could share that with the supporters."It has been a tough campaign for Tottenham, but one that could still end in glory.Postecoglou is only two games away from becoming the first Spurs manager to win silverware since the club won the Carling Cup in 2008.On Thursday, they will travel to Liverpool, holding a slim 1-0 advantage after the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.If they are to have any chance of getting to Wembley, Tottenham will need to replicate this performance and find a similar display of strength and character at Anfield.