Brutal honesty as Keith Andrews acknowledged his side came up short in a controlled 2–0 loss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Brentford arrived in north London desperate to respond after defeat to Arsenal in midweek, but Spurs — without a home league win for nearly three months — dominated from start to finish.
First-half goals from Richarlison and Xavi Simons decided the contest, but the gulf in performance levels was far wider. Tottenham produced 2.15 expected goals, 15 shots and four big chances, while restricting Brentford to just four shots overall and only one effort on target. Andrews did not hide from that reality.
Andrews: “We have to own the fact we didn’t play particularly well”
The Brentford head coach was firm in his assessment.
“Today, we have to own the fact that we didn’t play particularly well. In the first half, we didn’t hit the levels we have been doing. We came up against a team that upped their levels.” — Keith Andrews
He added that Brentford fell below the physical and tactical demands required in Spurs’ most assertive home performance of the season.
“If you don’t nail certain parts of the game and you don’t perform to a certain level, you’ll become unstuck. I think that’s what happened in the first half.” — Keith Andrews
Stats Snapshot: Tottenham 2–0 Brentford
| Stat | Tottenham | Brentford |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 53% | 47% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.15 | 0.29 |
| Big Chances | 4 | 1 |
| Total Shots | 15 | 4 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 1 | 5 |
| Corners | 7 | 6 |
source: Sofascore — 6 December 2025
The underlying numbers confirm a decisive tactical imbalance: Tottenham generated pressure across all zones, while Brentford rarely progressed play into dangerous areas.
Andrews: “Not a reality check — but we didn’t hit the levels”
Despite back-to-back defeats, Andrews insisted the losses do not alter his belief in the squad’s trajectory.
“I think the reality is we go to these clubs and go toe to toe. We did that on Wednesday at Arsenal. We tried to do it today. We didn’t hit the levels.” — Keith Andrews
His message remained consistent: Brentford will continue to embrace challenges, but when performance dips, so will results.
“When you don’t hit the levels, you need to own it and accept you weren’t the team today that deserved something from the game.” — Keith Andrews
Brentford’s fatigue and tactical gaps exposed
Having followed Brentford closely this season, the biggest takeaway is not the defeat itself, but the manner of it. In our view, Brentford appeared mentally and physically jaded after pushing Arsenal midweek. Tottenham exploited that with early aggression and direct running from Simons, Son and Richarlison.
Although some supporters may feel concerned by the drop-off, it’s worth questioning whether Brentford’s squad depth is being stretched too thin for consecutive high-intensity away fixtures. Andrews’ commitment to front-foot football can expose tired legs — especially against technically superior teams.
Why this defeat isn’t alarming — yet
Brentford’s identity under Andrews is clear: proactive, brave, ambitious. Even in defeat, that philosophy didn’t waver. The pressing structure was simply a half-second too slow, the duels slightly off, and transitions lacked spark. These are fixable issues, not structural flaws.
With Leeds United visiting next Sunday, this match may serve more as an energy-management wake-up call than a tactical setback.
Key Insights
- Andrews Brentford Spurs reaction: coach admits team “didn’t play particularly well”.
- Spurs outperformed Brentford in xG (2.15 to 0.29) and total shots (15 to 4).
- Andrews says Brentford “didn’t hit the levels” required to compete.
- Back-to-back defeats not seen as a “reality check” by the manager.
- Bees prepare to respond at home to Leeds on 14 December.
What’s Next
Brentford return to the Gtech Community Stadium for a winnable but dangerous clash with Leeds United. Andrews will demand higher intensity and sharper decision-making after a flat performance in north London.
👉 Brentford fans — was this simply fatigue, or a worrying sign against stronger opponents?
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