hope.
Two banana skins over Chrimbo one easily handled the other rescued in the final seconds, leaving Spurs in the top four with bizarrely the best defence and goal difference half way through the league.
Well you’d think two games against newly promoted sides would be a banana skin for Spurs but strangely in the most un-Spursy way they’ve got a pretty decent record against such teams, which was extended with victories over Norwich and Watford.
Looked like it could have been a slip up in both games though. first up against Norwich the visitors started the brightest and had the chances to take the lead, they were coming off a victory at Old Trafford so you really didn’t know what form they were in. Took over twenty minutes before Spurs came into it, with a shot from Alli and then Kane. Though Gary Birtles thought the former was what “Kyle Walker gives you” :facepalm:
The fact it was a first time shot and not dithered should have told Gary.
Shortly after those two, Kane and Alli not Walker, combined to create the chance for the opening goal. As a lovely ball from that lad Alli played Harry through to just nick the ball away from the advancing ‘keeper before he was brought down.
Spurs were then on top and had the chances to finish the visitors off, mainly through headers that Alderweireld should have done better with. It took until just before half-time before that lead was doubled. A counter attack saw Alli win the ball, onto Lamela and the charge was on, back to Alli then onto Kane who gained enough space to power home his second.
It wasn’t technically over then, this is Spurs after all but it was really the control they seemed to have during the second forty five. It was over when Tom Carroll opened his Premier league account just before the 80th minutes, with a cracking strike from outside the box.
It was the second game Ben Davies had played at left-back – was Danny Rose dropped after his stupidity got Newcastle back into the game? – and the second clean sheet. Unfortunately Pochettino didn’t seem to notice.
Was indifferent to Norwich’s relegation plight but after they employed Ed Balls as chairman I do hope they are relegated now. I mean what volume of alcohol would it need to get Delia so tanked up she’d employ Balls?
Watford were coming into the next game with some good form. Scoring and winning, with two in form front men. This two pronged attack led Pochettion to change things up a bit, dropping Dier back into a back three and pushing Trippier – replacing Walker who was facing a suspension with another yellow card – and Rose – unfortunately replacing Davies – into wingback roles.
The game hinged in a way on an early decision by the ref to book Dele Alli for a challenge that looked nothing like a yellow card challenge. It subdued the youngster for most of the game, he was involved but you could tell he was holding back.
didn’t stop him taking the ball to start the move that ended with Lamela slotting in the opener.
People were quick to blame Dier for the Watford equaliser a few minutes before the break. Yes, maybe it wasn’t his best moment of the season so far but he was going to head the ball when Ighalo pushed him. Being off the ground Dier could offer no resistance to this push so it wasn’t all his fault when the striker levelled the score.
Chances were there in the second half to get that second from Spurs as one player in particular was showing his worth. Now I know I keep saying I’d prefer a right-back who can defend first rather than Walker and his gormless running about and I’m not sure Trippier can defend that well but he can cross better than Walker and if Walker is only in there to go forward, well.
Trippier’s crossing was excellent, not just in where they went but in the lack of dithering about to get them in there. None of Walker’s usual routine of stopping, looking about, rolling the ball under his foot then hitting the defender he’s given enough to time to so they can get back and defend.
Bung everyone in the box and get Trippier crossing it. #COYS
— Токсическая сеть (@Toxic_Web) December 28, 2015
Well with Heurelho Gomes in the Watford goal, well flappy times ahead.
By then though the hosts were down to 10 men and by christ they’re still moaning about it. Almost as bad as the MotD commentator who claimed even though Ake was no where near the ball and went through Lamela in a dangerous way he didn’t think it was a red. Well if Alli’s was a yellow then Ake’s was a red and a half.
After that though it wasn’t plain sailing as Watford piled on the pressure. Spurs were under the cosh and the hosts looked like the only ones to get a winner. Which looked like it did come seconds before it did.
A Watford corner was heading in before Hugo scrambled it away. It was this close…
This is how close we came to no points. Son will have the headlines, but great save once again Hugo Lloris #COYS pic.twitter.com/n6g7dZoZOl
— The Spurs Web (@thespursweb) December 28, 2015
After some decent build up play the ball was out to Trippier, who again put in a decent cross, which Gomes punched away from the suspiciously offside looking Son. It went straight back to Tripper who got it back in straight away and this time found Son and Son well he nutmegged Gomes with an inside flick/backheel to win it.
The player celebration with the Spurs’ crowd showed what it meant. A smash and grab? Who cares?
@SpursOfficial Great angle. pic.twitter.com/JpUPsOynrF
— Michael Bridge (@MichaelBridge_) December 29, 2015
It put them third – again Spurs are better when playing at the same time, or before others slip up, they don’t do so well when playing later to benefit from others failures – as said with the best goals against and goal difference, joint third goals scored. It’s too much hope…