under Jose Mourinho?
Harry Kane provided his usual goal and assist to help Spurs get their Europa League campaign back on track after last weeks embarrassment, with a 3-1 victory away to Ludogorets.
Jose wasn’t happy with the performance in losing to Antwerp in the previous game, he wanted to make 11 changes at half-time, he made seven changes from that game for the trip to Bulgaria to play Ludogorets.
For most games there’s at least two first names on the team-sheet. Kane and Son. Neither started the last game, at least one of them was going to start this. It was Kane and within the first couple of minutes he could have, should have opened the scoring.
People say the look of shock on Kane’s face was in disbelief at how badly he missed the goal, ballooning it over the bar, but than likely it was still the shock of the ball from Winks. Some nice build up play actually started with Winks, he passed it forward to lo Celso who tapped it off to Bale who played it back to Winks who lofted the ball over the defence for the free Kane. It took Kane totally by surprise.
A few minutes later he went closer with a power shot from outside the box that hit the post.
He didn’t have to wait long to opening the scoring, it came thirteen minutes in. They were lining up to head home from Moura’s corner, in the end Kane beat Dier and Bale to do so. It was the 12th goal he’s scored in 13 Spurs appearances this season. His 200th club goal in only his 300th game. A goal ever game and half. The third player to score 200 goals for the club, he’s only got to get 9 to move past Bobby Smith and 67 to move top eclipsing the record of Jimmy Greavse.
They were playing like they didn’t want to be on the end of what Jose was like after the last Europa outing. More intensity and actually looking like they think they have to actually turn up. By the break they should have been at least 4 up if not more. It was only two as Kane added to his assist stats. To go with those 12 goals he now has 10 assists. Bale in the middle passes to Kane on the right and his curled cross provided the perfect tap in for Moura.
Don’t suppose Jose wanted to make 11 changes at the break but he did make two. No surprise Kane was removed, it felt like he’d done his job and better safe than sorry. Sissoko also made way for Hojbjerg. The latter again showed what a great buy he was for the club. Kane’s replacement though seems to have dipped over the last couple of weeks. Just two Europa games ago Vinicius looked the part, last week and this second half he looked shot of confidence. Very strange.
Spurs started the second half like Gareth Southgate had given the half-time team talk and it should have come to the surprise of no one that they cut the lead just five minutes in. Winks went in for an inept slide and Ludogorets took the ball away, slowly making his way back Winks was just in time to get the ball to loop off him into the path of the home scorer.
A little later Jenas said in commentary “another block effort by Winks” as another one looped off him. But no. It wasn’t another effort because neither of them were efforts, they were both those looking to look like you’re making the effort to make a block while not actually trying to get your body where it hurts attempts. Coward’s block.
Jose needed to inject his other name. And so on came Sonny and within 17 seconds he’d set up Lo Celso to restore the two goal lead. It all started with Hojbjerg winning the ball and charging forward, playing it off to Vinicius, getting it back and charging forward, lovely ball probably meant for Vinicius but Son snuck in front of him, controlled with his first touch of the game, Son’s second laid it n a plate for lo Celso’s well deserved goal.
Jose didn’t seem too impressed with Lo Celso’s man of the match performance. Doesn’t do enough off the ball, apparently. Yet he still plays Winks.
Anyway it was back to winning ways in the Europa as the go back to the top of the group. A far better performance from last week but that isn’t saying much. The score probably flattered the hosts but Spurs weren’t at their best but there’s always Harry Kane… to prove what an idiot Paul Merson is…