Brentford began 2026 with a goalless draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Vitaly Janelt went closest for the Bees, testing Guglielmo Vicario with a powerful header during the second half, but the points were shared at Gtech Community Stadium.
Head coach Keith Andrews made one change to the side that lined up against Bournemouth on 27 December: Jordan Henderson replaced Mathias Jensen who was named among the substitutes.
Brentford had the ball in the back of the net inside the opening five minutes. Janelt swung in a corner from the right and Vicario parried Nathan Collins’ header. Kevin Schade reacted fastest and finished from close range, but the forward was offside.
The opening half an hour passed with little goalmouth action, but there was no lack of intensity on a crisp night in west London.
Richarlison knocked the ball across the penalty area for Archie Gray who headed on target, but Collins - on his 100th appearance for the Bees - had sensed the danger and made an important block.
Yehor Yarmoliuk then blazed over the crossbar from 20 yards.
In the final seconds of the half, Wilson Odobert’s effort following a Spurs corner was blocked and the Bees launched a quick counter attack.
Schade latched onto Keane Lewis-Potter’s through ball and cut in from the left but was dispossessed by Pedro Porro.
Henderson was first to the loose ball on the right and clipped a cross to the back post, but his delivery was just too high for Igor Thiago and Tottenham cleared their lines.
Five minutes after the restart, Cristian Romero had an effort blocked and Mohammed Kudus’s snapshot whistled over Caoimhín Kelleher’s crossbar.
Following some excellent combination play between Schade and Thiago, Yarmoliuk found Lewis-Potter in a central position inside the penalty area with a low cross from the left, but the former Hull City man scuffed his shot and Tottenham again hacked the ball away.
Referee Andrew Madley took centre stage in the 56th minute. Romero appeared to have brought down Thiago, preventing the striker from racing towards goal, but Madley allowed play to continue.
Moments later, Gray was sandwiched between Collins and Schade and went down in the Brentford area. There was a VAR check for a possible spot-kick, but Madley’s on-field decision of no penalty was upheld.
Henderson’s delivery from the right was met by Janelt, and the German’s header was brilliantly saved by Vicario who launched himself to his left to get a strong hand to the ball.
Michael Kayode won his battle with Djed Spence and cut the ball back from the byline for Thiago, but the Brazilian lifted over the crossbar and into the west stand.
Lewis-Potter flicked Kayode’s long throw towards goal and Vicario punched away on the goal line under pressure from Kristoffer Ajer.
Deep into stoppage-time, substitute Randal Kolo Muani picked out Richarlison and the Brazilian’s first-time strike was comfortably held by Kelleher.
Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry; Henderson, Janelt, Yarmoliuk (Jensen 80); Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Schade (Nelson 80)
Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, van den Berg, Pinnock, Damsgaard, Konak, Nunes, Donovan
Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha (Tel 79), Gray; Kudus, Richarlison, Odobert (Kolo Muani 67)
Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Drăgușin, Danso, Davies, Scarlett, Olusesi
Attendance: 17,141
Andrews: We created some good opportunities
Reaction: Keith Andrews post-Spurs
Head coach Keith Andrews felt Brentford were the better team at Gtech Community Stadium.
“It says everything when you come into the dressing room and the players are disappointed that we haven’t beaten a side who are playing in the Champions League,” he reflected.
“It shows where we’ve set the bar and what we’ve done at home.
“The second half we were the better team. We created some good opportunities but unfortunately couldn’t take them.”
Andrews added: “I felt it was going to be a tight game, and a game of few chances. They sat back a little bit and were very respectful of the threats we have.”
Collins: We deserved more
Reaction: Nathan Collins post-Spurs
Brentford captain Nathan Collins was left frustrated by the Bees’ goalless draw with Tottenham.
“I think we were the better team and deserved more,” said the defender.
“It’s a credit to how we’re playing that they sat in and defended.
“You always have to take the positives. There are a few negatives, not scoring a goal, but it’s a clean sheet and we build on that.”
On reaching a century of appearances for Brentford, Collins added: “It’s come very quick. I’ve loved every minute – I just love playing here. The reception, the fans, how much it feels like home. I’m really enjoying it.”