Tottenham Hotspur go fourth with thrilling win over Brentford

Neal Maupay sent Brentford ahead in the 15th minute, but Spurs scored three times in the early stages of the second half through Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Richarlison to turn the match around.

Ivan Toney registered a second for Thomas Frank's side in the 67th minute, but the visitors could not find another, as Tottenham edged an entertaining contest in the capital.

Ange Postecoglou's side have moved above Aston Villa on goal difference, with the capital outfit now sitting fourth, while Brentford remain down in 15th position, just four points clear of the relegation zone.

The first half-chance of the match came for Oliver Skipp in the fourth minute after smart work from Dejan Kulusevski, but his shot was blocked by Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock.

The Bees thought that they had taken the lead in the 13th minute through Mads Roerslev, but his effort was disallowed for an offside on Mathias Jensen.

The visitors did manage to make it 1-0 in the 15th minute, though, with Maupay finishing from close range after Toney had seen his powerful effort kept out by Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Timo Werner tried his luck for Spurs in the 21st minute, looking to pick out the bottom corner from the edge of the box, but Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken was on hand to make a smart save, before the on-loan RB Leipzig forward headed the resulting corner wide at the far post.

Tottenham came close again in the 25th minute, with Richarlison's effort from distance just missing the target, but the pressure was increasing on the Brentford goal.

The visitors had a chance to double their advantage in the 36th minute when the ball was deflected towards Nathan Collins at the far post, but the defender just failed to make contact, before Pinnock's spectacular flick from the resulting corner flew just wide of Vicario's post.

Richarlison had the ball in the back of the Brentford net in the 38th minute, but his effort was chalked off for a clear foul on Collins, and it proved to be a frustrating first period for the North London outfit.

Brentford had another chance in the final minute of the first half through Toney, but his header from a dangerous Jensen delivery was kept out by Vicario, and the Bees were one goal ahead at the interval.

Spurs managed to level the scores early in the second period, though, with Udogie firing into the back of the net from close range in the 48th minute after breaking into the Brentford box.

Tottenham then completed the turnaround less than a minute later, with the substitute Johnson turning a low Werner cross home at the far post, sparking jubilant scenes inside the stadium.

Richarlison sent another one just wide of the post in the 54th minute, but the Brazilian managed to get his name on the scoresheet in the 56th minute, firing into back of the net after a cross from James Maddison was deflected into his path.

Toney came close to making it 3-2 just past the hour when he thumped one towards the far corner, but his effort just whistled wide of the post, before the forward sent another one wide of the target two minutes later after initially slipping inside the box.

Toney was not to be denied, though, and he got his name on the scoresheet in the 67th minute, firing into the back of the net after a horror mistake from Udogie, who played the ball straight to the Englishman when attempting to find his goalkeeper.

Brentford came close to third in stoppage time through Shandon Baptiste, but his effort was turned over the crossbar by Vicario, before Christian Norgaard flicked wide from the resulting corner, and Spurs held on in the latter stages to secure a vital three points.

Tottenham are next in action away to Everton on Saturday afternoon, while Brentford will resume their campaign at home to the champions Manchester City on Monday night.