Soccer

Conte left to rue misfiring attack as Spurs falter against Brentford

Goalless affair in west London as Christian Eriksen impresses against former team

Harry Kane and Tottenham couldn’t keep pace with Arsenal in the top four race after being held by Brentford. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Sat Apr 23 2022 - 19:55

Brentford 0 Tottenham 0

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte said his side needed to do better in attack after another blank day damaged their hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four on Saturday.

For the second match running Tottenham failed to register a goal attempt on target as they drew 0-0 at Brentford, following last week’s 1-0 slip at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

They went into the Brighton game favourites to grab fourth place and qualify for the Champions League but are now down to fifth, two points behind north London rivals Arsenal with both clubs having five games left to play.

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With a home game still to come against Arsenal, the cause is not lost but Conte knows the goals must start to flow again. “I think defensively we were good today. Offensively we can do much better. But we have to respect the game Brentford played as they played a very good game,” the Italian said.

“We have to continue to do what we are doing and continue to work in the same way. We have to try to do more in possession in the game and to take more responsibility.”

Brentford, with former Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen pulling the strings, had the best chances with Ivan Toney hitting the crossbar in the first half.

The hosts also had the better opportunities in the second half with Pontus Jansson and Eriksen going close and Toney again being denied by the woodwork in stoppage time.

For the second match running Tottenham, who lost to Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 at home last week, failed to muster an attempt on target although Harry Kane almost grabbed a winner at the death with an acrobatic volley.

With five games remaining, Spurs have 58 points in fifth place, with Arsenal on 60. Brentford are 11th and look almost assured of a second successive top-flight season.