Brennan Johnson still ‘frustrated’ at Tottenham as footage emerges v Southampton
Tottenham picked up three points for the first time since February with a 3-1 victory against Southampton on Sunday.
Goals from Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel cancelled out a Southampton consolation and saw the Saints relegated to the Championship.
The Lilywhites sit 14th in the Premier League table, but despite picking up all three points and scoring twice, Johnson was left frustrated on the afternoon.
Johnson not happy at Tottenham
Johnson has had a bit of fairly solid season in front of goal but probably hasn’t had as much of an impact as he would have liked on a consistent basis.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 28 | 11 | 2 |
However, two goals to put his side 2-0 up at half-time were no doubt a boost to his confidence after a period of rust in recent months.
The forward had a chance to gain a hat trick in the 96th minute when he won a penalty after being fouled, but it was Tel who took the penalty and scored to make it 3-1.
While scoring is the most important thing for the team, especially after the Saints scored just before, Troy Deeney admitted he didn’t like the way the penalty decision happened.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2 (6 April), Deeney said: “Being in the position that he [Johnson] just won the penalty as well. I don’t like this for the team in general. He’s asking for it, he should be taking it if he’s a goal scorer.
“Tel, he’s on loan, he hasn’t scored, and this is more about the individual than the team, that’s why I don’t like it. I think Brennan Johnson, you can see he’s frustrated.
“The designated penalty taker wasn’t on there, and I wouldn’t be asking the question if I’m Brennan Johnson. I’m saying that’s mine, I won it, do one.”
Tottenham face big week under Postecoglou
It has been a terrible season for Tottenham, and many players look lacking in confidence, which has not helped to turn things around.
It was probably a good time to play Southampton, though, because the Lilywhites will now go into their Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt on the back of a victory.
Johnson will surely be feeling like he has a point to prove, though. As Deeney says, the fact that he gave away his hat trick to the non-designated penalty taker at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium suggests he doesn’t have the confidence to claim it.
With the pressure on the players and, more importantly, Ange Postecoglou to deliver a trophy in north London this season, the pressure is on in the Europa League.
However, players like Johnson will have to be prepared to step out of their comfort zone on the pitch and make sure they give everything to see their side through.