Brentford v Tottenham predictions: Bees may sting top-four chasing Spurs

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Brentford v Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Brentford
1pt 16-5 Coral

Over 3.5 goals
1pt 9-4 Hills

Team news

Brentford
Ethan Pinnock is a doubt while Sergi Canos and Frank Onyeka are out.

Tottenham
Matt Doherty, Japhet Tanganga and Oliver Skipp are out.

Match preview

Brentford pulled off an impressive treble by beating Chelsea, West Ham and Watford this month and there's no obvious reason why they can't end the month by completing a London and home counties four-fold at the expense of Tottenham.

The Bees' own decent form, which has transformed a potentially awkward end of term into a celebration of mid-table security, certainly suggests they aren't fazed by any challenge from supposed superiors.

And if three wins on the bounce and five wins in their last six isn’t enough of an incentive to side with the Bees, then surely odds of 16-5 against their name should clinch the deal.

Tottenham are improving under Antonio Conte but they are still a million miles from the real deal and make no great appeal at odds-on, whoever the opposition.

Expect an improvement on Tottenham no-show at home to Brighton last weekend, when they landed no shots on target and no points.

But an improvement doesn't necessarily equate to a victory against a Brentford side who look as though they actually belong at this level. Certainly they believe they belong at this level, and that's half the battle.

You can't overstate the impact of Christian Eriksen, the Spurs old boy, who can't run around like he used to but doesn't have to. The willing runners are all around him. What Eriksen has, indeed always had, is the abundant class, the imagination, the ability to pick a pass and time a run, and crucially, the influence in a dressing room full of Danes who see him as a hero.

Eriksen has started five matches for the Bees and they've won the lot. They have scored at least two goals in all five of them, headlined by that remarkable 4-1 demolition of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Ivan Toney, one of the real beneficiaries of Eriksen's classy distribution, has scored six goals in just over a month, doubling his output for the campaign.

Toney is now on the same goal mark as Harry Kane, a real feather in the cap for the super-confident 26-year-old, and he's in better current form than the England skipper, who hasn't found the net in his last four league games.

Heung-Min Son has filled that gap with six in his last four for a Spurs side who frustratingly seem capable of battering anyone – in the last two months they have put four or more past Leeds, Everton, Newcastle and Villa – but also throw in the shockers, such as against Wolves, Burnley or, most recently, Brighton.

Spurs are averaging 3.1 goals per game under Conte and there's a sense that this game, between two teams with a positive outlook, will yield goals.

Key stat

Brentford have claimed five wins from five matches when Christian Eriksen starts.

Inside info

Brentford

Penalty taker Ivan Toney
Free-kick wizard Christian Eriksen
Set-piece aerial threat Pontus Jansson
Card magnet Christian Norgaard/Ivan Toney

Tottenham

Penalty taker Harry Kane
Free-kick wizard Harry Kane/Heung-Min Son
Set-piece aerial threat Harry Kane
Card magnet Cristian Romero

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