and not losing.
Another ugly performance from Spurs but after the ugly midweek draw, this was a welcome ugly win, as they overcame a tricky looking game away to Everton, winning 3-0.
It was another defensive show, with yet again some added Vicario highlight reel saves, but this time there was three headers that gave Spurs the three points that moved them up to third in the Premier League.
Everton hadn’t lost at their new home in the five games played there and with a number of the teams around Spurs in the league losing earlier in the weekend – City, Liverpool, Chelsea – it was all set up for another Spurs disappointment.
The starting XI was. The usual suspects, with a new face and barely started face. Bentancur was back alongside Palhinha, while Richy was dropped for his old team, with Muania getting his first start and Johnson was getting his first league start since August.
It was a lineup that didn’t work again. No link between the sets of players. While Muani looked like he was in need of games, he wasn’t helped by Xavi and Kudus contributing next to nothing. So when Everton weren’t causing Spurs problems – mainly through Ndiaye, how long can they hang onto him? – it was of their own making.
Amazingly in the first 20 minutes, Spurs had most of the ball, but the home side had two chances, before Micky van de Ven opened the scoring. A Kudus corner banged in to the back post where Bentancur nodded it back and Micky, captain for the day again, nodded it in. Remember Ange and corners?
It looked like the biter had been bit, 15 minutes later, when Everton had the ball in the back of the net from the same situation. But there was two players around Vicario, both were offside and crowding him, fouling him and if they weren’t interfering with play from that position then nobody is ever interfering with play. For once Spurs got the decision in their favour. I haven’t heard Moyes’ post match, but imagine he wasn’t happy in that hypocritical way of his. You know, the way he would be caterwauling if it was Spurs players around Pickford.
Well, he probably was caterwauling for Micky’s arm on Pickford when he doubled his tally, five minutes into first half added time. A wicked corner from Porro – where was balls like that midweek? – and Micky powered it home. Ange… yeah corners whatever mate.
Vicario was making the saves, the one which two deflections before clawed it away was special. He was also putting the ball away from danger with his saves.
Richy eventually came on. Yes I understand, with his lack of game time why Muani made way but I’d like to have seen him put on the left, in place of Xavi, and see if there was a link up between the pair. Xavi did come off for Bergvall. Richy had a chance but Pickford made an excellent save, so no law of the ex. Does that ever work for Spurs? Sarr, who has been missing from the staring XI of late came on a bit later.
And shortly after they combined to confirm the victory. Sarr played it out to Porro, who ignored Johnson’s pointing and put in another excellent cross – that was missing midweek – which Richy guided across goal for Sarr – or did he mean it for Johnson – at the back post. Pape didn’t look that happy.
And there’s a thing, Sarr and Bergvall were being praised for their great start to the season, were both in top form and then both found themselves out of the starting XI. Danso has come in due to Romero’s injury and has played really well, he had a great game here.
The stats for the big Austrian, 18 clearances, the most by a Spurs player since Vertonghen in 2016, most by any player in the league this season. 100% of duels won and didn’t commit a foul. He was close to man of the match, just Micky had those two goals.
But will he be dropped when Romero comes back? He’s in form and has that long throw. To my mind go back three with all of ’em. Porro and Udogie – if ever fit – at wingbacks. Midfield of Palhinha, Bergvall and Sarr. Muani and Richy, or Kudus up front.
So it might have been the prettiest of victories but it’s a victory. Third in the league, second best goal difference, second fewest goals against, top goals for. Best away record in the league, fourth win, one draw and no defeats. Now if they could improve that home record, which is ranked 17th for points and roughly the same for the goal stats.