Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur
As the Premier League returns following a six week absence – you may have been mesmerised by some other tournament going on in Qatar – this game is, in many ways, a tale of two strikers.
One who led England all the way to the World Cup quarter-finals and whose record for club and country is unquestioned, even if he will still be hurting following their quarter-final exit.
The other, someone who was touted as a possible inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad and, while missing out, has since been in the news for both positive and negative reasons.
Two days after the national squad was named, the frontman, one of the players of the season so far, put the disappointment behind him by netting twice in a shock 2-1 success at champions Manchester City.
It was a result which City boss Pep Guardiola said was deserved and opposite number, Thomas Frank, suggested was the biggest in the club’s history.
City’s reverse was a first in the Premier League at home since February, ending a 20-match run, illustrating just how special the achievement was.
Talking Points
I am, of course, talking about Harry Kane and Ivan Toney, who now has 10 league goals this term, but may not get the chance to claim many more.
That is because Toney has this week been charged with a further 30 alleged breaches of betting rules.
Last month, the Brentford striker was charged with 232 breaches, alleged to have taken place between March 2017 and February 2019.
Toney has until January 4 to respond to the charges but, should he be found guilty, Frank will need a new frontman to continue Brentford’s fine season.
While Brentford have kept busy in the past few weeks with friendly encounters against Bordeaux, Celta Vigo and Wolfsburg, Spurs have had home clashes with Motherwell and Nice to keep themselves match fit.
The latter was a match in which Matt Doherty, Pape Matar Sarr and Bryan Gil impressed and it is players like that which Conte will need to utilise from his squad if the Lilywhites are to have a successful return.
With fixtures coming thick and fast across the festive period, this Boxing Day lunchtime clash signals a return to action for Premier League highlights and, while you’d expect the team in fourth to prevail over the side placed 11th, Brentford have already shown this term that they are capable of going toe-to-toe with the giants of the English game and giving them a bloody nose.
Spurs have won 13 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other team, and they will need to display that same level of character again to emerge with the points from what should be an entertaining encounter.
History
It was in March 1902 when these teams first met in the former Southern League.
Then the Bees ran out 2-1 winners before Spurs won the return game 3-0 at White Hart Lane just six weeks later.
For the next six years, their meetings were all in the then Southern, Western or London leagues.
Aside from one FA Cup clash in 1922, the two clubs didn’t meet between 1908 and 1946, again in the FA Cup, a tie Brentford won on penalties.
After some games in the old Division Two in the late 1940s, the hiatus was then even longer as Brentford and Spurs failed to lock horns again until League Cup ties in 1992, 1998 and 2000.
When they met for the first time in the top flight last season, Spurs won 2-0 at home, courtesy of an own goal and Son Heung-Min.
They then fought out a goalless draw at Brentford in April.
Overall, Spurs have dominated this fixture with 24 victories, 14 draws and just six defeats.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds fully expect Kane to put his World Cup misery behind him and fire Spurs to three Premier League points.
Antonio Conte’s men are priced 1X2 @ 1.96 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.20.
Brentford are on offer 1X2 @ 3.60 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.33.
A re-run of last season’s goalless draw at the Brentford Community Stadium, when Christian Eriksen received a heroes welcome, is available @ 10.50 with Correct Score.
Among the other goal options are over 3.00 @ 2.38, total goal 0-1 @ 3.20, 2-3 @ 1.91 and 4-6 @ 3.30. I have been tempted by the 1X2 Draw @ 3.55 but ultimately I am edging towards Spurs First Half 1X2 @ 2.48 as a *** tip.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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