Premier League

TOTTENHAM 2 (Richarlison 25, Simons 43) 
BRENTFORD 0 

IT was November, 2014, and the Tottenham fans were getting restless.

Mauricio Pochettino had been in the hot seat since May and it was not going well.

Poch was under pressure – he had won just three of his first nine league games and as Spurs trailed Aston Villa by a goal at home with six-minutes to go, the notoriously impatient Daniel Levy was glowering in the stands and the fans were moaning and groaning.

Nacer Chadli snatched an equaliser and a certain Harry Kane came off the bench to grab a last-minute winner.

Poch and his young side did not look back.

Today’s 2-0 win over Brentford, via goals for Richarlison and Xavi Simons, has echoes of that turning point: Tottenham had not won at home since the opening day, and in the past four outings had failed to register a single shot on goal in the first 45 minutes.

There was a feeling that if Thomas Frank’s former side Brentford had done a number on them, it might well have been curtains. Such is the fickle nature of Premier League football.

But after snatching a last-gasp point away at Newcastle on Tuesday night, Spurs came out with a verve and solidity not seen before on their patch. And two first-half goals combined with an across the board performance from all of Frank’s charges suggests this could be the turning point for the under pressure boss, just like Kane’s goal proved to be for Poch.

Speaking after the game, Frank said: “I’m happy with so many things. I think it was a very good – a complete performance. Offensively, we looked like a big threat – we were more dynamic, producing good chances.

“Defensively we kept them down to four shots throughout.”

And he praised the home crowd, who have been quick to voice their displeasure this season. Today’s outstanding showing – the two goals flattered Brentford, who were lucky not to suffer a real pasting – was roundly celebrated.

He said: “I think the fans were amazing from the offset – a very good tone and atmosphere. The players were thriving off them, I loved that.”

Spurs began with plenty of attacking intent, peppering the Brentford box with crosses in the opening period. On 23 minutes, Randal Kolo Muani nearly got on the end of a delightful over the top ball from Rodrigo Bentancur.

It was a warning of what was to come: the next move saw Spurs storm down the right; a deep ball from Pedro Porro found Simons. He got round the back and laid it on a plate for Richarlison to thump home from close range.

Simons, who has not started a league game for a month, was everywhere – and his creativity saw him register his first goal for the club on 43. The pint-sized playmaker got the ball to his feet centrally but a poor first touch saw him lose possession: no matter – he fought and won it back before setting off on a run from just inside his own half with Brentford players trailing in his wake. The pass either side was on but he was having none of it, he kept motoring and slid a well-placed low effort home. It was all a buccaneering first half deserved.

Tottenham created plenty going forward in the second period and never looked in trouble at the back. The excellent Djed Spence broke in on 50 and Bees’ keeper Caoimhin Kelleher saved well with his feet, and then Simons found himself in space but could not get his chipped effort quite right.

It was all Spurs. The half-time break did not see Brentford re-group or conjure up an answer. Instead, Tottenham were flowing and carving chances every time they progressed over the halfway line.

Mohammed Kudus had a couple of decent chances when he cut inside from the flank and took pot shots, while Spence was a constant danger with lung-busting runs down his flank.

This was the best home performance not only this season, but for some time. Whisper it – perhaps this is the start of the Frank era.

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero (Danso, 79), Van de Ven, Spence, Gray, Bentancur (Palhinha, 64), Simons, Kudus (Sarr, 79), Richarlison, Kolo Muani (Odobert, 73)
Substitutes not used: Kinsky, Tel, Bergvall, Johnson, Davies

Brentford: Kelleher, van den Berg, Henderson, Schade, Thiago, Yarmoliuk (Janelt, 76), Ouattara (Lewis-Potter, 87), Ajer (Henry, HT), Collins, Damsgaard (Jensen, 61) Kayode (Hickey, 76)
Substitutes not used: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Onyeka, Donovan.