Tottenham Hotspur’s slide continued as they suffered their fifth defeat in six Premier League games. West Ham United went fourth with a 2-1 victory that sees David Moyes’ side move into the Champions League places and Tottenham slip nine points behind the top four.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Slide Continues
West Ham Punish Poor Spurs Defending
Coming into this match, West Ham were looking to go into the top four and the job that David Moyes has done in his second stint with the club is nothing short of brilliant. Mid-table and lower league finishes have become synonymous with West Ham but Moyes has turned that on its head this season.
Against Tottenham, West Ham continued their charge thanks in large parts to more woeful defending from Jose Mourinho’s side. It took the Hammers just five minutes to unlock Spurs. A teasing ball in from Jarrod Bowen was well stopped by Hugo Lloris but Eric Dier just stood and watched as Michail Antonio fired home from close range. Dier, rather than taking responsibility for what was his fault, instead shouted blame at his colleague Japhet Tanganga.
It was yet more evidence of Spurs failing to learn from their errors. Jose Mourinho may be the manager but he cannot legislate for individual profligacy.
Jesse Lingard Enjoying Hammer Time
Jesse Lingard grabbed his fourth goal since joining West Ham United straight after the half time break. The finish was sublime but the defending, again, was atrocious. Matt Doherty who had replaced Japhet Tanganga at half time gave the ball away and Lingard reacted quickest. Davinson Sanchez did not even muster so much as a challenge and Lingard raced through unchallenged to make it 2-0 and leave Spurs with a mountain to climb.
Gareth Bale Showing Signs of Form
Gareth Bale impressed in the Europa League for Spurs against Wolfsberger AC – grabbing a good goal and working hard for his team. Mourinho left Bale out of the starting line up against West Ham but introduced the Welshman at half time along with Dele Alli.
Whilst Alli showed little that would have impressed his manager, he tried a few flicks that Mourinho audibly was unimpressed with, Bale was full of energy, strength and skill. Whilst he may not be at the levels he was when he first played for Spurs, his return to form could be vital for Tottenham’s run-in.
It was Bale’s whipped corner that gave Spurs hope as Lucas Moura headed home at the near post and Bale nearly equalised when he struck the bar with a thunderous half volley from the edge of the box. Son Heung-Min who had been infective for the majority of the game also hit the woodwork when a clearance hit him and bounced over Lukasz Fabianski only to bounce away.
Spurs kept pressing for an equaliser but time ran out on them and they remain ninth with the top four slipping further and further away with each defeat.
The second-half performance will have given Mourinho encouragement but the Carabao Cup Final and Europa League are now Spurs’ best chances of silverware and getting into next season’s Champion’s League.
With no income due to coronavirus, missing out on the Champions League for the second season in a row could have huge financial repercussions for Tottenham and recouping money might just have to come through selling players. That is something that will have Spurs fans chewing their nails away right down to the fingers.
Jose Mourinho has to act to halt Tottenham Hotspur’s slide toward a season of failure.
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