No win in four games had seen Spurs drop to seventh in the Premier League table at the end of 2020 but a more adventurous Tottenham Hotspur have started 2021 with three points and a 3-0 win over Marco Bielsa’s Leeds United.
Three Points for a More Adventurous Tottenham Hotspur
Leeds United Battle but Spurs Go Third
Leeds United came into this game off the back of a 5-0 midweek hammering of West Bromwich Albion to play a Spurs side who had been gifting points away in December like Christmas presents.
Leeds attack at all costs and, no matter the opposition, just keep going and they started off attacking at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Ezgjan Alioski breaking through but firing wide of Hugo Lloris’ near post in just the third minute.
Patrick Bamford should have done better with a first-half header as the away team flooded players forward. Tottenham, at times, were not helping themselves in the first 20 minutes- giving the ball away too much as they had in the last four games where they had dropped ten points. Ultimately the game came down to clinical finishing.
Clinical Tottenham
Being more adventurous was one thing that Tottenham needed to do after negative performances, particularly against Wolverhampton Wanderers. This time, Steven Bergwijn, Son Heung-min and Harry Kane were all on the front foot. Son was making runs in behind and a combination with Kane saw the latter fire high and wide in the early stages of the match.
It was Leeds’ risky defending that saw Spurs take the lead when Alioski was adjudged to have fouled Bergwijn on the edge of the box after they had given the ball away. VAR checked to see if the foul was in the box and decided it was just on the line. Several replays were inconclusive but Kane dispatched from the spot nonetheless.
100 up for Son Heung-Min
Just before half time, the Kane and Son show swept into full flow once more. Kane played a superb ball and Son went between two Leeds defenders to grab his 100th goal for Spurs. His infectious smile lit up the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as it has so many times. Whilst Kane is seen as the biggest player at the club, Son is close. His energy, his passion and his finishing are as big a key for Spurs’ hunt for success as his striking partner.
Son then turned provider for Toby Alderweireld- delivering a superb near-post corner that the Belgian headed home with goal-line technology confirming that the ball had crossed the line.
More Adventurous Tottenham Hotspur Go Third
Tottenham still had less of the ball against Leeds with 36% but they were more astute with that possession than in recent games and, when they had the ball, were more adventurous. They looked a Tottenham Hotspur more akin to the team that mauled Manchester United and Southampton earlier in the season.
Had Spurs played in this way against Wolves, they could have put that game to bed and, with the players they have, should be able to be stronger going forwards in every game.
For Leeds United, they continue to excite, bewilder and astound. Wherever they go there will be goals, but not always at the right end.
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