The mercury plunged in this concrete corner of the capital and tucked away beside the M4 flyover there were times when it seemed like all the moving parts of this game were about to freeze over.
There was little to de-ice the spectacle. Nor to warm the cockles. If anything sums up the tedium of the event it was the Tottenham goalkeeper, booked for time wasting with only an hour on the clock.
Neither team were slick, but Brentford were far more effective. They created the better chances and Spurs might take more consolation from the dogged resistance at the back against a team who take some beating on home turf, but this came with the ring of a missed opportunity for Thomas Frank.
Victory would have launched his team up the Premier League table with the promise that a New Year might offer new hope and yet they served up more stale fare. They never looked like winning, were grateful for a point to add to the three they won at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Home fans goaded them with cries of ‘Boring Boring Tottenham’ and boos echoed around at the final whistle. Some in the away end unleashed their frustrations on Frank and booed the head coach as he walked across to acknowledge their support.
Thomas Frank returns
There was a pre-match embrace of genuine warmth between Frank and Keith Andrews in the tunnel. Colleagues last year, now rivals and going head-to-head for the second time in a month.
Frank came out on top 26 days earlier in North London. Xavi Simons was the Spurs star that day, creating one and scoring the other in a 2-0 win. Here, the creative spark was missing as Simons served the second of a three-match ban. The visitors were also with Lucas Bergvall, injured in the win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Also absent, Brennan Johnson, who is set to leave for Palace for £35million. The Spurs fans sang about that glory of winning the Europa League to keep amused during a humdrum affair and there was a brief chorus of ‘Johnson again ole ole’ in the first half in honour of the departing goal hero from that night in Bilbao.
Mo is the future
The arrival of Mohammed Kudus for £55m has roadblocked Johnson. Kudus has made the right wing position his own with his trickery and bursts of speed, but he has not delivered goals in the same number. Here, he found it desperately difficult to get involved.
Frank restored Wilson Odobert to the starting line-up. Also back came Cristian Romero after serving a ban and Joao Palhinha. The pace was out wide with height and physical presence through the centre of the pitch.
Spurs probably knew what was coming but just in case they had forgotten Brentford gave a reminder from the kick-off, punted high towards Pedro Porro. There would be plenty more from whence that came be it from long throws, corners or route one stuff out of defence.
Bees swarming...
Brentford controlled the first 30 minutes by making the game untidy and testing Spurs from set pieces. Kevin Schade had the ball in the Spurs net from a corner inside five minutes, only to find ruled out for offside.
Frank has taken encouragement by the desire shown by his team to defend under pressure, and they were up for the challenge again. There was barely a threat at the other end though.
Archie Gray had a header blocked by Nathan Collins in the 32nd minute but Bees goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher did not have a shot to save until the 93rd minute, comfortably gathering a tired effort from Richarlison.
...but no sting in the tail
Briefly Spurs were more purposeful at the start of the second half. They summoned greater tempo and Romero sought to step out of the back line before he two fortunate escapes in quick succession as Brentford’s dominance was restored.
A failed interception by Romero led to a chance for Keane Lewis-Potter, who did not connect cleanly. Then, a missed tackle took him and Igor Thiago down a heap and someone the Spurs captain emerged with the ball.
Guglielmo Vicario saved a header by Vitaly Janelt, who should have done better from a cross by Jordan Henderson. But this was destined to remain goalless. Tottenham’s first goalless draw in the Premier League since April 2022, also at Brentford.