Tottenham player ratings vs. Brentford: 7/10 for Vicario, 6/10 for Kudus

Tottenham and Brentford shared points after a lacklustre display from both teams.

Tottenham returned to Thomas Frank‘s former club but failed to break down a resilient Brentford side in a goalless draw at the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year’s Day.

Frank’s homecoming proved underwhelming as Spurs struggled to create clear chances against a well-organized Bees defense marshaled by new manager Keith Andrews. Brentford had the better opportunities throughout but lacked precision in the final third. The result leaves Tottenham in 12th place with 26 points, while Brentford remain ninth with 27 points.

We now take a look at how the Spurs stars fared today.

Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings

Guglielmo Vicario (7/10): Made several important saves to preserve the clean sheet, particularly from Kevin Schade’s efforts. Vicario commanded his area well and showed good decision-making on crosses against Brentford’s aerial threat. Picked up a booking for time-wasting late in the second half as Tottenham desperately clung to a point. His distribution was quick when opportunities to counter arose.

Pedro Porro (6.5/10): The Spanish full-back worked tirelessly down the right flank and delivered some dangerous set pieces. Porro created Tottenham’s best chance with an excellent lay-off to Cristian Romero in the first half, whose placed shot narrowly missed the target. Solid defensively against Keane Lewis-Potter but lacked the cutting edge that produced Archie Gray’s winner at Palace.

Cristian Romero (7/10): Returned from suspension with an authoritative display. The Argentine captain was dominant aerially against Igor Thiago and made crucial interceptions throughout. Romero showed his quality with a well-struck effort that nearly broke the deadlock in the first half. His leadership and organization helped Tottenham secure a valuable clean sheet.

Micky van de Ven (7.5/10): Tottenham’s most assured defender throughout. Van de Ven dealt comfortably with Thiago’s physical presence and made several crucial interceptions. His pace allowed him to cover ground when Brentford broke forward, and he showed composure under sustained pressure during the second half when the hosts enjoyed their best spell.

Djed Spence (6/10): Defended diligently on the left side but offered little going forward. Spence tracked runners effectively and maintained his defensive discipline against the dangerous Kevin Schade. His reluctance to push high limited Tottenham’s attacking width, though his defensive focus helped secure the clean sheet.

Rodrigo Bentancur (6/10): The Uruguayan stuck to his defensive duties expertly and helped Tottenham shield their backline. Bentancur’s experience showed as he managed the game intelligently, though his passing accuracy dipped under Brentford’s intense press. He worked tirelessly in the pivot but offered little going forward as Spurs struggled to control possession.

João Palhinha (7/10): Started in the pivot role and brought the physicality and experience Frank desired. Palhinha was excellent defensively, breaking up play and winning duels in midfield. The Portuguese international showed why he was signed from Bayern Munich, adding steel to Tottenham’s midfield. His positioning was intelligent throughout, helping Spurs nullify Brentford’s attacking threat through the middle.

Mohammed Kudus (6/10): The Ghanaian had little opportunity to contribute in the final third as he was often required to assist Porro defensively. Kudus showed flashes of quality when carrying the ball forward, but was starved of service in a congested midfield battle. His work rate couldn’t be faulted, but his attacking influence was minimal.

Archie Gray (6.5/10): Operating in the number ten role, Gray worked hard to link midfield and attack but struggled to create clear chances. The teenager showed energy and willingness to press, but couldn’t replicate his goalscoring heroics from the Palace match. His movement was intelligent, though Brentford’s compact shape limited his space to operate.