Tottenham Hotspur’s costly summer overhaul was rocked badly by an impressive Brentford side on a worrying opening day for Roberto De Zerbi’s team.
The revamped Spurs displayed the same familiar weaknesses as goals from Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt and Michael Kayode sealed a comprehensive 3-0 win for Brentford.
Spurs are set to go beyond the £300m mark on new arrivals this summer once they complete moves for Savinho and Omar Marmoush, as they attempt to put last season’s brush with relegation behind them.
Roberto De Zerbi was left facing serious questions over his side after a poor display.
Yet it was Brentford’s headline signing, the relatively modestly priced £41m midfielder Mamadou Sangare, who made the early impact in west London.
Archie Gray created Spurs history by becoming the club’s youngest captain since Steve Perryman in the 1970s, and he had three new signings alongside him in the back four: Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi.
That lack of understanding was visible almost immediately, with Robertson nearly turning the ball into his own net in the opening seconds before Bees captain Nathan Collins stabbed a glorious chance wide from six yards.
The lively Mali international Sangare created the opening goal after only 12 minutes, exchanging passes on the edge of the box, bursting to the byline and cutting the ball back for Lewis-Potter to finish.
Keane Lewis-Potter had put Brentford in front.
The Bees continued to surge forward and Dango Ouattara was sent through by Igor Thiago, only to be denied by Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
The pressure paid off in the 33rd minute when Kinsky could only push away Mathias Jensen’s shot from the edge of the area, and Janelt reacted quickest to tuck away the rebound.
Tottenham’s miserable first half was summed up best when the ball dropped 18 yards out to £100m signing Sandro Tonali, who badly sliced his volley far over the crossbar.
There was no real improvement after the interval, even with the half-time introduction of £85m midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
The third goal arrived when Collins headed a corner back down at the far post, Sangare’s first-time effort was pushed away by Kinsky, and Kayode hammered in the loose ball.
Michael Kayode, on the right, completed the job and secured the points.
“Thomas Frank, he’s laughing at you,” sang the Brentford supporters, a taunt aimed at their former manager whose disastrous spell at Spurs last season had left De Zerbi trying to rebuild the damage.
Shortly afterwards it should have become four when Rodrigo Bentancur brought down Kevin Schade in the penalty area, but last season’s top scorer Thiago struck his penalty against the post.
Mikey Moore, the 19-year-old academy winger, offered the only real positive for Spurs with two attempts saved by Bees goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher on an otherwise bleak opening day for Tottenham.
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