A moment of individual Tanguy Ndombele brilliance gave Tottenham Hotspur all three points at Bramall Lane and a return to winning ways in the Premier League.
Moment of Tanguy Ndombele Brilliance Blunts Struggling Blades
More Attacking Spurs Take Three Points
Spurs and Jose Mourinho have been under scrutiny over recent dropped points, the most recent coming in the home match against Fulham. A visit to Sheffield United – who are rooted to the foot of the Premier League table – was a chance to put three points on the board and shrug off a tag of being incapable to hold onto leads.
It took only four minutes for Spurs to get a lead to hold onto when Son Heung-min delivered a whipped corner from the left and Serge Aurier headed home at the near post. The defending from Sheffield United was poor and showed exactly why they are where they are in the league. Son then lifted the ball over the onrushing Aaron Ramsdale after a good interchange of passes between Harry Kane and Ndombele, only to hit the post.
The Kane Man
As the game went toward the half time whistle, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg won the ball back and fed in Kane. Kane still had work to do but he showed the strength he so often does and shot from the edge of the box past Ramsdale to ensure Tottenham would come out in the second half with a two-goal advantage.
Sheffield United Lifeline
Tottenham did start to sit deep at the start of the second half and they tried to probe down the left-hand side where Aurier was showing his weaker defensive qualities and leaving far too much space for the Blades to get into. Many of Tottenham’s struggles when it has come to conceding goals have come from set-pieces and crosses into the box.
It was their undoing against Fulham, Leicester City and Liverpool and yet again they failed to defend a cross at Bramall Lane. John Fleck sent a high ball into the Spurs box from the left and David McGoldrick headed home but had little challenge from Eric Dier or Joe Rodon in the Spurs back line. Mourinho was raging on the touchline and there was a feeling of deja vu again.
Tanguy Ndombele Brilliance Sinks Chris Wilder and Sheffield United
Mourinho’s instructions from the technical area were audible as he screamed at his charges to ‘press high’ and ‘work harder boys, work harder.’ It didn’t take long for Spurs to restore their two-goal advantage through a moment of individual brilliance from Ndombele.
As the ball came over to him he was forced to the left of the Sheffield United goal. What he did next was sheer impudence. He wrapped his right foot around the ball and lofted the ball over Ramsdale and into the far corner. It will surely be a contender for goal of the season and it was a moment that matched his overall performance.
Looking for passes and always looking to add the creative edge that at times Spurs have not shown in recent draws. He has strength and plenty of skill which Mourinho will have been delighted to see.
Two Teams Poles Apart
Tottenham now move onto the FA Cup and a tie against Wycombe Wanderers on Monday 25th January before a home game in the Premier League against Liverpool. For all of the criticism aimed at Mourinho and Spurs at times, they are still in the mix at the top end of the table and a win over Liverpool would do their titles chances no harm at all.
For Chris Wilder and Sheffield United, they sit 11 points from safety and would need at least ten wins to have any chance of avoiding relegation. The sad reality is that for all the incredible work they did last season, second season syndrome has come to haunt them and they will already be looking behind the scenes at life back in the Championship next season.
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