Spursvs.Brentford

After their record-breaking start to the 2023-24 season under Ange Postecoglou, who took an unprecedented 26 points from his first 10 games in charge, Spurs have experienced a dramatic fall from grace so far this term.

The Lilywhites only have four points on the board after four matches in 2024-25, leaving them in a mediocre 13th place in the Premier League standings as they bid to recover from back-to-back defeats.

Postecoglou's men have been seen off by Newcastle United and North London derby foes Arsenal in their last two Premier League affairs, going down 1-0 to the latter at home thanks to a Gabriel Magalhaes header.

Spurs at least restored a small sense of pride in the EFL Cup in midweek, coming from behind to edge out Coventry City 2-1 in the third round, but Saturday's hosts could now find themselves in an undesirable page of club history.

Tottenham out to avoid third straight London derby loss

Should Brentford come up trumps at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend, Spurs would have equalled their club record of three successive Premier League home defeats in London derbies, set between August 2003 and April 2004.

During that campaign, the Lilywhites were humbled 3-0 by Fulham at White Hart Lane, before also being beaten by Charlton Athletic and Chelsea by a goal to nil each time.

Tottenham ended that streak of home London derby losses by holding bitter rivals Arsenal to a 2-2 draw, but that result was enough to clinch the Premier League title for the invincible Gunners.

Prior to last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Mikel Arteta's side, Tottenham's last home London derby of the 2023-24 season coincidentally saw them lose 3-2 to Arsenal, and the omens are not promising for Postecoglou if Spurs cannot stop their London derby rot.

Already suffering two losses from their opening four games this term, Tottenham have not lost at least three of their first five games of a Premier League season since 2008-09, when Juande Ramos was in charge.

History against Postecoglou ahead of Brentford clash

That year, Spurs endured a horrendous beginning to the term with two draws and six defeats from their first eight games, after which Ramos was given the boot and replaced by Harry Redknapp.

There are no suggestions that Postecoglou's job is under any imminent threat, but a few more questions are being asked of the Australian amid Spurs' early-season struggles, particularly on the creativity front.

However, Postecoglou affirmed in his pre-game press conference that he believes his side have been playing as well as they did 12 months ago, saying: "I certainly thought our first four games we were about as dominant as we were last year for any series of games.

"All four games, we've outpossessed the opposition, created double the chances of the opposition, played the game mostly in the opposition half. But because you win, people always look at the outcomes which is understandable.

"I think we need to maintain our focus on what is important to us and the principles of our play. If we just show a bit more conviction in that front third, I'm sure we'll get the rewards for it soon."

The 59-year-old also provided a mixed injury update ahead of Saturday's showdown, with two players expected to miss out but two potentially overcoming their problems to feature.