Keith Andrews sends a statement as Brentford blitz Spurs on opening day

Keith Andrews has built an Irish core in west London

The Dubliner’s Brentford side tore Tottenham Hotspur apart in west London on Saturday, winning 3-0 as Roberto De Zerbi’s expensive summer rebuild was shaken to its foundations on the opening weekend, RTÉ Sport reported.

Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt and Michael Kayode got the goals.

Brentford’s marquee signing, midfielder Mamadou Sangare, set up the opener after 12 minutes, playing a one-two on the edge of the box before cutting the ball back from the byline.

Janelt pounced on a rebound in the 33rd minute and Kayode lashed in the third after another Sangare shot was parried.

Spurs, set to top the €350million mark on new faces this summer, handed the armband to Archie Gray, their youngest captain since Steve Perryman in the 1970s.

Igor Thiago could have made it four but rolled a penalty against the post.

Andrews has plenty of Irish company at Brentford. He added former Republic of Ireland teammate Damien Duff to his coaching staff over the summer, winning the League of Ireland with Shelbourne in 2024 before making the move to west London.

Bees captain Nathan Collins started, while Caoimhín Kelleher arrived from Liverpool in 2025 for £12.5million.

Speaking before the game, Jamie Redknapp told Balls.ie that Andrews, who guided Brentford to ninth last season, narrowly missing out on Europe, has already proven himself.

"I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on the club, but because they did so well last year," said Redknapp

"Keith Andrews has shown that he is a top-class manager."

On this evidence, few would argue.