Thomas Frank has urged his Brentford players to ‘attack the league’ after beginning their season with a 2-2 draw against Tottenham.
Byran Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa were both on target for the Bees, while Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal found the net to secure a point in Ange Postecoglou’s first game as Spurs boss.
Brentford were without Ivan Toney, who scored 21 Premier League goals last season, after he was handed an eight month ban for gambling offences, but Frank was keen to encourage his players to play on the front foot in the striker’s absence.
‘I thought we performed fine in many ways,’ he said to Sky Sports after the game. ‘I thought we definitely created more chances. In a relatively tight game I think we should have won it.
‘They [Tottenham] are a good team, we kept them to little with a low block. The two goals were the smallest chances that they had. In the end, we got a point.
Thomas Frank has urged his players to ‘attack the league’ this season after their opening game
The Bees took a point from their clash with Tottenham on Saturday after goals from Bryan Mbeumo (right) and Yoane Wissa (left)
‘The decisive moments, there was a big chance for Bryan [Mbuemo] in the first half and one for Mikkel Damsgaard and Kevin Schade and other situations where we didn’t get enough out of it. Probably just that final bit of quality on the day.’
Both sides managed six shots on target in the match despite the fact that the Bees kept just 30 per cent of the ball, as Frank’s men continued to play an exciting brand of counter-attacking football.
On Toney’s absence, the manager added: ‘They [Wissa and Mbuemo] have a good habit of scoring when Ivan [Toney] is not playing. I am pleased they continued that today.
He also touched on the Bees’ new goalkeeper, saying: ‘I am pleased with Mark [Flekken]. There is nothing he could do about the two goals. He made two or three good saves and was calm and composed with his distribution. A dominant figure in his own box claiming crosses. All happy.
‘It is a long, long season. I have said it before I hope we can attack the league and be an asset.’
Brentford will next be in action against local rivals Fulham on Saturday.
Ivan Toney was absent from the Bees side after being banned for eight months due to gambling offences
