Having beaten their opponents on all five previous occasions they had met at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs were ready to relinquish that streak and settle for an FA Cup replay last week, but the clubs’ fourth-round tie ultimately went the way of Man City.
Nathan Ake’s much-disputed late goal decided matters in the holders’ favour, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s men with only the Premier League to concentrate on between now and the end of the season.
A 16-year silverware drought goes on, so Spurs now turn their attention to staying in touch with the top four – and holding off challengers from behind, such as Manchester United, who held them to a 2-2 draw earlier this month.
On that occasion, Tottenham trailed twice but bounced back each time with goals from Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur, and their last league win now dates back to New Year’s Eve.
Although City shut them out last Friday, Spurs have scored in each of their last 33 top-flight matches, which represents the club’s longest streak throughout their whole league history – and the fourth-best run by any side in the Premier League era.
They have also lost just one of their last nine league games against Brentford ahead of this week’s home contest, though that defeat did come in the equivalent fixture last season.
their midweek hosts, the Bees were recently knocked out of the FA Cup, with their brief journey coming to an end in a replay against Wolverhampton Wanderers after the sides had drawn 1-1 in London the first time around.
Then, to much fanfare, talisman Ivan Toney returned from his long ban to captain the team that took on fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest last time out in the league, when victory ended a five-game losing streak.
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After six losses from seven overall, Brentford finally got back to winning ways with help from Toney’s opening goal, for which the England striker employed a dose of dark arts, and further strikes from Ben Mee and Neal Maupay during the second half.
They have, though, lost all of their last four Premier League away games, and after embarking on a 14-match unbeaten run in London derbies they have since lost their last two – going down 1-0 to Arsenal and 3-1 at Crystal Palace.
With his side still perched perilously close to the relegation zone, Bees boss Thomas Frank will therefore seek to end both streaks by toppling Spurs on Wednesday.
