Where would you rank Spurs vs Brentford on the list of great London derbies? If you have got it in your top 10 congratulations, you are either a Christian Eriksen superfan or drunk already at 18.15 on a schoolnight. And so close to the end of Dry January.
Nevertheless, we are primed for all of the extra aggro, spice and fury which can only be provided by vague proximity. No love lost in the postcode war between N17 TW8. It’s Skepta vs Greg Dyke. It’s Adele vs Janet Street-Porter. It’s… let’s face it, London derbies are overrated.
Thankfully no need for added intrigue this evening, as we reach the point in the season where teams’ fates become clearer. The Angeball revolution has faltered from its early autumn zenith but the Tottenham injury list has a less desperate look to it now. Son Heung-min is the major miss, still on Asian Cup duty in Qatar with South Korea, but James Maddison could make the starting line-up for the first time since early November. He came off the bench against Man City in last Friday’s FA Cup defeat.
Things trending in the other direction for Brentford, who are above only Sheffield United and Everton in points taken from the last five games. Their goal difference of -6 across that period is also the worst in the league. One enormous boon is the return of Ivan Toney, back in the team and scoring already with the help of foam-moving shenanigans against Forest in their last game.
Spurs go into the top four with a win, at Villa’s expense. Brentford have the thrilling opportunity to leapfrog Palace, Bournemouth and Fulham if they can take three points at this stadium for the second game in succession. Their 3-1 here in the last Spurs home game of last season preceded the solemn sight of Harry Kane waving goodbye to a smattering of loyalists and tens of thousands of angrily vacated seats.
Team news to come shortly, stick it out here with Dan Zeqiri and I.