The top four, Champions League qualification and the added spice of a London Derby were all at stake at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium with both Spurs and West Ham United knowing that anything less than three points could have a detrimental impact on their season. Ultimately it was Tottenham’s dynamic duo who were the difference.
Tottenham’s Dynamic Duo Burst West Ham United’s Bubble
The Kane and Son Show Delivers Once More
It was an expectedly vibrant and raucous atmosphere with West Ham still in raptures following their after extra-time win over Sevilla in the Europa League and Spurs coming off the back of a 2-0 away victory at Brighton & Hove Albion. That win for Spurs continued their recent run of W-L-W-L-W, a run that has seen Antonio Conte bemoaning his sides’ lack of consistency.
It was Spurs who started brighter and took the lead on eight minutes to settle any nerves that may have been hanging around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Matt Doherty, who was playing his fifth straight game for Spurs – the most he has managed since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers – broke up play and Harry Kane was strong to keep the ball before squaring to Son Heung-min.
The ball ended up in the net, although it was not Son who had scored but Kurt Zouma who was being booed loudly each time he got near the ball. On this occasion, his touch was cheered loudly as Spurs took the advantage. Just minutes later it should have been two as Dejan Kulusevski linked with Kane and when the ball fell to Son he hit the post rather than finding the net. The look on his face said it all. It was a glorious opportunity wasted.
That Premier League record-breaking partnership of Kane and Son don’t need too many chances though and they combined to give Spurs a deserved two-goal lead. Kane played a sumptuous pass to Son that left the West Ham defence reeling. Son hit his shot and it deflected over the despairing Lukasz Fabianski off the boot of Zouma once more. The shot was on target though so there was no second own goal for Zouma. It was looking like the exertions of extra time against Sevilla were having an impact on West Ham who could not get into any sort of groove.
Spurs In Control but Defensive Wobbles Appear Again
Tottenham have seen some good performances from Cristian Romero and Eric Dier in particular at the back but the backline makes too many mistakes and defending set-pieces has become a frailty that numerous have teams have taken advantage of.
Doherty had a simple task to put the ball out for a throw-in or clear upfield but instead lost his concentration and allowed the ball to drift out for a corner kick. When the set-piece came in, the Spurs defence were all over the place and Said Benrahma was unmarked at the back post. He still had work to do but kept the strike under control to put the away side back into a match that until that point they didn’t look like having much of a say in.
Tottenham have been guilty of self-destruction on too many occasions, something that has become part of their DNA over the years and they needed to regroup and get back onto the front foot in the second half in a game that they simply could not afford to drop points in.
Feisty
The second half got off to a feisty start although more for pushing and shoving than the football. There was a scuffle in the West Ham box that saw Son dumped on his backside with players from both sides getting involved in what was little more than handbags. It was then Tottenham who started to look like a side that had played 120 minutes recently with some tired passing from Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg and Sergio Reguilon in particular.
West Ham sensed they could get right back into the game and Michail Antonio should have made sure of them doing so but blazed high over the bar with what turned out to be his last kick of the game. The home fans were getting restless and less than pleased when David Moyes made changes whilst Conte made none with an hour gone. With 20 minutes left, Spurs still led 2-1 but the game was on a knife-edge with both sides starting to show nerves knowing the importance of taking all three points.
Chances
Tottenham wasted chances against Manchester United and were guilty of doing the same against West Ham. Reguilon drove into the box on two occasions from his left wing-back berth but lacked any composure on both occasions. The first time he went down under minimal contact and then fluffed his lines when he just needed to remain calm. Kane was next to get a chance but blazed over. He was onside and it should have been 3-1 and game over. The tension could be felt growing from the stands.
Dynamic Duo End Tottenham’s Inconsistent Curse
Kane and Son really are the dynamic duo. They know where each other are without even looking at times and it was that combination that finally ensured Tottenham remain right in the race for the top four this season.
Kane was strongest to the ball and flicked his header into Son who was one on one with Fabianski and won the duel slotting home for 3-1. The relief from the home fans was unleashed and Spurs go three points ahead of West Ham into fifth. Arsenal still hold the advantage in the top four battle with three points and a game in hand on Spurs but with the North London derby still to be given a new date, which is a home tie for Spurs, Tottenham have given themselves a huge boost as the Premier League heads into the international break.
West Ham ran out of steam in this game and now sit six points away from the top four but they have the Europa League as well and Moyes will be driving his team on to win that competition.
Following the international break, Tottenham are at home to Newcastle United and will look to another three points to pile the pressure on their neighbours. The race for fourth place could just go all the way to the final day of the season.
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