Ange Postecoglou had spoken of Tottenham’s perceived goal-scoring problems and how they could be solved internally. As it turned out, goals from Dominic Solanke – his first for the club -, Brennan Johnson and James Maddison earned them three solid points. They also showed character after conceding a Bryan Mbeumo goal that put Brentford ahead after just a minute. This triumph of patience should boost the fans’ faith in their manager, who was quick to acknowledge it afterwards.

Tottenham produced a more familiar display than they did in midweek when they fought back to a late Carabao Cup win at Coventry. Solanke, the club’s record signing, only had to wait until the eighth minute for his big moment this time, while Johnson scored the second goal with admirable composure.

Thomas Frank’s injury-plagued Brentford, meanwhile, were closing in on north London in a respectable ninth place. With the in-form Yoane Wissa the latest to drop out with an ankle problem, it was an opportunity to see if Mbeumo and Fábio Carvalho could pick apart the hosts and score using the Bees’ usual counter-attacking strategy.

That long-awaited moment came sooner than even Frank could have imagined. After 22 seconds to be exact. Keane Lewis-Potter crossed from the left and from 12 yards, Mbeumo was perfectly positioned to volley into the top corner of the Tottenham net.

Spurs’ reaction was impressive. An uncharacteristic pass from Ethan Pinnock was intercepted by Maddison in the penalty area – and the midfielder’s shot was only parried by the visitors’ goalkeeper, Mark Flekken, allowing a grateful Solanke to casually slot the ball into the net.

Both Heung-min Son and Johnson were encouraged and almost scored against the West Londoners’ battered defence.

If Postecoglou was afraid of wasting time, the second goal after 27 minutes was certainly particularly pleasing for the Australian. Son burst forward, forced the Bees’ defence to retreat and then played a beautiful pass to Johnson. The attacker created a metre of space and fired a low shot from a tight angle into the corner of the Brentford goal.

A dribbling error by Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario almost allowed Carvalho and then Mbeumo to take the lead before half-time, but Vicario then pulled off a brilliant save to deny Mikkel Damsgaard.

Brentford experienced a collective bout of frustration in the second half when Vicario appeared to have handled the ball outside the penalty area, with Frank and defender Kristoffer Ajer being cautioned amid understandable protests.

Due to the injustice, both Mbeumo and substitute Kevin Schade failed to get past two brilliant saves from Vicario, while on the other side Johnson missed a shot from a tempting position.

With six minutes to go, Son surprised Brentford with a pass to Maddison, who fired the ball over Flekken. A day of clear relief for Postecoglou, with Tottenham once again looking forward.