Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur played out an entertaining 0-0 draw on a mild spring evening in West London. Brentford had the better of it and hit the woodwork in both the first half and the second but could not find a way through. They limited Tottenham to few chances and got a share of the spoils.

The point was the least Brentford deserved for their efforts. Ivan Toney hit the crossbar with a header in the first half and then the post with another in the dying seconds. Other chances came and went for The Bees, who produced a superb defensive performance as they extended their current run to one loss in seven.

Brentford made a very bright start and had control of the first quarter of the contest. The Bees were able to find space in midfield to work the ball up the pitch and used long side-to-side passes to great effect. They won a series of set pieces in the opening exchanges and forced some good chances.

The first sight of goal came when Saman Ghoddos, playing as a right wing back, won the ball and found Mathias Jensen in space in Tottenham territory. He was able to pick out Bryan Mbeumo in the centre of the pitch and the low shot deflected wide. That corner was cleared but the next was played deep to Toney, he lofted it back across and a Mbeumo header deflected wide.

That was not the only time Brentford used that corner routine in the first part of the match. Toney was continually able to pull in to space at the far post. He met the next corner, superbly delivered by Christian Eriksen, on the volley, but the shot was blocked. Toney got to the loose ball, but his next shot also hit a Tottenham defender.

Toney almost robbed Hugo Lloris moments later as Brentford looked to force mistakes and most of the game was being played in Tottenham territory. The visitors were unable to build attacking possession, and their frustration was summed up by a shot from Rodrigo Bentancur from 30 yards that was high and wide. By that point, Brentford had come very close to taking the lead.

A corner from Eriksen was met by Toney with a powerful header 12 yards out and flew towards the top corner. Lloris was at full stretch and may have got a touch as the ball cannoned off the crossbar and away. Another deep corner was met by another Toney volley moments later and was again blocked by the hard-working Tottenham defence.

Brentford continued to hold the upper hand in the later stages of the first half, but there were fewer chances created. Tottenham seemed to be happy to concede throw ins rather than corners and dealt better when Mads Bech propelled it in to their penalty area. There was a late chance when one was played short to Eriksen and delivered to the far post. Ghoddos and Vitaly Janelt had space at the back post but were unable to create an opening. When a cross was cleared, Ghoddos saw a shot blocked.

Harry Kane lifted an effort harmlessly in to the arms of David Raya at the other end, but Brentford went in to half time with the initiative, albeit not the lead. The Bees continued to press forward in the early stages of the second half and Mbeumo harried Lloris in to a mistake just after the restart. Lloris dithered in possession and was forced to concede a throw in, but The Bees failed to make the most of the opportunity.

Toney looked to be in behind a few minutes later, on to a long ball. Lloris rushed out and the two collided. Referee Martin Atkinson had a long look at the situation and decided that no foul had been committed. Lloris did appear to get at least some of the ball, which was enough for Mr Atkinson. A brilliant pass from Mathias Jensen to Toney then opened Tottenham up. Toney and Rico Henry combined but neither was able to get a shot away. The ball was cut back to Mbeumo, but he fired over on the turn.

There was a higher pace to the game in the second half and Tottenham were moving the ball more quickly. The visitors had more possession and more of it in dangerous areas, as they looked to take control of the game themselves. Kane found space just outside the Brentford penalty area and turned well, looking to shoot, but Pontus Jansson was able to deflect the effort wide.

Tottenham had a good spell just before the hour mark and pushed Brentford back. The home defence was at full stretch at times but did enough to keep the visitors out. Kane again seemed to have an opening when he got on to a cross, but his effort was blocked, as were some follow-up efforts before the ball was smashed away.

The game was flowing from end to end with the teams taking it in turns to have the upper hand. When Tottenham could only half clear a corner, Jensen headed it back, Jansson nodded on and Lloris scrambled it away. Toney got to it, but his shot was saved by Lloris. Eriksen hit a free kick in to a defensive wall soon after as Brentford pressed.

Eriksen went even closer when Brentford forced a mistake and won the ball in Tottenham territory. Eriksen found space to shoot from 25 yards and the effort deflected inches wide. The resulting corner was half cleared and played back by Mads Roerslev. Jansson’s flick was heading for the net before Kane cleared off the line, Eriksen fired it back and Lloris saved. Toney was unable to force it in and Tottenham cleared.

Bentancur headed over for Spurs, who had a good spell in the later stages, forcing Brentford back. They were not, however, able to create many chances and Mbeumo headed over for The Bees as they went looking for a winner. Substitutions and cautions slowed the game down in the closing stages before a madcap final few seconds.

Brentford won a free kick on the right that Eriksen bent in to the danger zone. Toney rose highest and powered a header past Lloris, only for it to cannon away off the far post. Mbeumo got to the loose ball but hit it in to the side netting.

That was Brentford’s chance, but Tottenham had theirs to come. A cross was drilled to the far post where Kane met it with an acrobatic volley. The ball whistled past Raya and inches past the post. Mr Atkinson blew the final whistle seconds later and the spoils were shared.

Brentford: Raya; Roerslev, Jansson, Bech; Ghoddos (sub Wissa 78 mins), Jensen (sub Dasilva 78 mins), Janelt, Eriksen, Henry; Mbeumo, Toney

Subs (not used): Lössl, Stevens, Jeanvier, Peart-Harris, Baptiste, Fosu, Young-Coombes

Bookings: Jansson (66 mins), Bech (89 mins)

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Royal (sub Moura 86 mins), Bentancur, Højbjerg, Sessegnon (sub Sánchez 74 mins); Kulusevski, Kane, Son

Subs (not used): Gollini, Reguilón, Winks, Rodon, Bergwijn, White, Scarlett

Bookings: Bentancur (90 mins)

Attendance: 17,072 (1,725 away fans)