Tottenham v Brentford: Premier League – live | Premier League
Key events
Pontus Jansson, outgoing Brentford captain – he leaves the club after next week – spoke to BT Sport, and on the subject of Ivan Toney.
For me, as his captain and teammate, the most important thing is to remember there is a person behind all of this. Of course he was emotional and sad. He took it hard.
“The most important thing is to be there, as a person, and us as a club. I’m sure he will come back stronger but at the moment we have to support him and give him love. He is one of the main players in the team. We have a togetherness in the club and everyone will help Ivan.
Ivan Toney has had an “emotional” reaction to his ban, according to Thomas Frank, from whom more in a bit.
Forgotten man Yves Bissouma starts for Tottenham, while Arnaut Danjuma makes a first start, in for Pedro Porro. Dejan Kulusevski is in for the sadly disappointing Richarlison. One change for Brentford, Mikkel Damsgaard replaced by Frank Onyeka. with Mbeumo, Schade and Wissa up front as an attacking trio. Thomas Frank looks to be going for it.
The teams
Tottenham Hotspur: Forster, Emerson, Sanchez, Lenglet, Danjuma, Skipp, Bissouma, Davies, Kulusevski, Kane, Son. Subs: Richarlison, Perisic, Dier, Porro, Tanganga, Lucas Moura, Sarr, Austin, Craig.
Brentford: Raya, Hickey, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Onyeka, Janelt, Jensen, Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade. Subs: Dasilva, Jorgensen, Ghoddos, Ajer, Strakosha, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Roerslev, Trevitt.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia)
Preamble
That these two London teams kick off four points apart – seventh and ninth.- speaks to how good a season each club has had. Without Harry Kane, Spurs would surely be below Brentford in the table and there is the possibility that this is the final home league game the great man plays for the club. This is one for the body language experts, let’s see how he waves off at the end. But before that, Tottenham take on a Brentford team who will be without Ivan Toney, banned until January for those betting breaches. For Thomas Frank, a name linked with the managerial vacancy at Tottenham, there’s the chance to see what life will be like without Toney and perhaps what may be on off at Spurs. Spurs could do a lot worse than taking on Frank, though it feels like the summer could be a typical odyssey in finding a new manager. Ryan Mason is still the man in charge for now.
Kick-off is 12.30pm Haringey time. Join me.