Brentford beat Tottenham with control, not just goals

Brentford did not just beat Tottenham 3-0 in Brentford vs Tottenham. They did it with the kind of control that makes an opening-day result look more like a warning than a one-off. Brentford generated 4.0 expected goals and held Spurs to 0.47 xGA, then kept the game on their terms after going 2-0 up inside 33 minutes.

Brentford's control in midfield and wide areas

The midfield balance was a big part of it. Vitaly Janelt matched Brentford's best rating at 7.9, and his work in the centre helped keep Tottenham from building any rhythm. Keith Andrews also got strong contributions from Keane Lewis-Potter, whose 7.9 rating reflected the way he combined end product with constant pressure, and Michael Kayode, who added the third goal shortly after half-time.

That was the main football story here. Tottenham were already two down before the match had settled, with goals from Lewis-Potter and Janelt arriving before the break and forcing Roberto De Zerbi's side into a chase they never handled well.

Sangare's debut and the scale of the win

The most eye-catching individual piece was Mamadou Sangare. Brentford's new club record signing made what looked like a complete debut against Spurs, and his 7.2 rating backed up the impression that he fitted quickly into the structure around him. The opening performance also fed the growing view that Brentford can sit in the dark-horse conversation this season, as NBC Sports put it: "There’s no reason Brentford cannot be the dark horse of this season. And on evidence on Week 1, they’re on their way."

Sam Tabuteau of the Evening Standard was just as blunt about the team display, saying: "Brentford were the better team from start to finish, their intensity overwhelming Spurs from the outset, and they got the goals their performance deserved."

Tottenham's four competitive debuts did not bring the cohesion they needed, and the opening 3-0 defeat leaves them with work to do after a flat start. Brentford, though, have already shown the kind of control and balance that can carry them into the next league match with real momentum.