Spurs 0-0 Bournemouth: (match report)

Spurs were unable to Score against Bournemouth on Saturday lunch time as Mauricio Pochettino’s side fought out a goalless draw on the south coast. Eddie Howe’s side were fearless from the offing as they attacked with great intent early on, and the cherries were denied an early lead after Hugo Lloris denied former Spurs man Charlie Daniels with a tremendous save. Daniels was found in the box by Dan Gosling who squared it to the former academy graduate however, the defenders effort was turned excellently on to the top of the crossbar by Lloris. We continued to find our rhythm in the game and on 17 minutes we almost took the lead through Erik Lamela’s curling long range shot which clipped the post before going out of play. We were the much better side in the second half as we dominated play with 67% of possession, but despite creating a couple of half chances early on we struggled to break down a stubborn Bournemouth defence. However, despite our control of the second half the cherries almost grabbed a late winner as they caught us on the break, but star performers Jan Vertonghen and Victor Wanyama denied the hosts with key challenges to ensure Spurs held on to a point. Undoubtedly Mauricio Pochettino will not be chuffed with yesterday’s result, but it is by no means a bad result, we are still the only unbeaten side in the league and we have a string of important games coming up starting with a trip to Liverpool in the EFL cup on Tuesday.

I thought we lacked our usual sharpness a little yesterday, taking in to consideration our trip to Germany in midweek where he fought out a highly competitive draw with Leverkusen. However, I think it was Bournemouths structured style of play which caught us out yesterday, Howe’s side worked incredibly hard and none more so than Republic of Ireland international Harry Artrer who was incredible in the centre of midfield. Arter’s hard work and high intensity caused us bother through out the game and I believe that he was one of the main reasons why we didn’t pick up all three points yesterday. Jan Vertonghen and Victor Wanyama were our two best players on the day, Vertonghen’s decision making was top class and the Belgium international made some terrific challenges including a decisive sliding tackle in the penalty area late on. Wanyama is proving to be a fantastic player for Spurs since his arrival in the summer, Wanyama put in another excellent performance yesterday, he was a powerhouse in the midfield making numerous important interceptions. Some questioned why Son and Alli were taken off in the second half but I would imagine that Pochettino was thinking about Tuesdays tough league cup tie against Liverpool at Anfield. Meanwhile Moussa Sissoko’s elbow on Harry Arter in the second half may well mean that the winger faces disciplinary charges by the FA.
My MOTM: Jan Vertonghen, the Belgian centre back put in an excellent performance making some crucial challenges and interceptions.

AFC Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Boruc; Smith, Francis (c), Cook, Daniels; Gosling, Arter; Ibe (Gradel 60), Wilshere, King (Fraser 88); Wilson (Afobe 82). Substitutes (not used):Federici, Ake, Mings, Mousset.
Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c); Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli (Sissoko 71), Lamela; Son (Janssen 61). Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Davies, Winks.

Yellow cards: AFC Bournemouth – Gosling 39, Gradel 67; Spurs – Lamela 18, Vertonghen 35, Alli 37, Rose 43.

Referee: Craig Pawson.
Attendance: 11,201.

Spurs 1-1 West Brom: (match report)

Spurs battled from a goal down to draw 1-1 with West Brom at the Hawthorns yesterday, it was a game in which Pochettino’s side will be disappointed with despite their best efforts West Brom’s solid defence was excellent but most of all it was the Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster who denied us all three points. Foster had an incredible game making seven saves in what was a man of the match performance from the former Manchester United goalkeeper. Spurs started the brightest of the two sides and they dominated play creating a string of early chances including efforts from Lamela and Davies that went close to breaking the deadlock. We continued to have the upper hand on the game and shortly after the half hour mark Dele Alli came close to scoring on two occasions. Alli’s first effort came inside the penalty area as the England international poked an effort at goal which was denied by Foster after the Baggies goalkeeper charged towards Alli. Shortly afterwards Alli came close again after his over head kick went narrowly wide of the right post. With seven minutes remaining till half time the England international yet again got into an excellent goal scoring opportunity after Alli was played in by Janssen who had excellently held up the ball before playing Alli in. One on one Alli tried to find the far corner with his effort however, Foster spread himself well to make another top save.

We continued the second half with the same intensity and our hold on the game didn’t weaken in the slightest. The Lillywhites yet again created numerous chances but just couldn’t find a way past Pulis’s stubborn defence. We again saw chances go close, Sissoko had an effort deflected narrowly wide shortly after the hour mark and we seemed destined to take the lead at some point in the second half. With eight minutes to go Spurs were stunned after West Brom took an unlikely lead from former Spurs man Nacer Chadli who joined West Brom in the summer. Chris Brunt flicked the ball into James McClean from the resulting corner and McClean who’s first time shot was saved excellently by Lloris before falling into the path of Chadli who lashed home from close range. With little time remaining, Pochettino’s resilient Spurs side persevered and in the 89th minute they found a well deserved equaliser courtesy of a fine goal by Dele Alli who converted a chance from inside the area with an excellently taken jabbed finish much to the relief of the Spurs faithful. The Lillywhites almost grabbed a dramatic late winner after Eriksen’s whipped free kick forced a fine save from Foster. The final score Spurs 1-1 West Brom, we are still the only unbeaten team in the league and despite disappointment the lads can be proud of their efforts today, we go again on Tuesday as we face Bayer Leverkusen away in the UEFA champions league. COYS

My man of the match: Dele Alli, Alli was undoubtedly our best player on the day, the 20 year old got himself into countless goal scoring opportunities netting the all important equaliser and on another day the England international may well have had a hat trick.
Spurs (4-1-4-1): Lloris (c); Walker, Alderweireld (Dier 60), Vertonghen, Davies;  Wanyama; Sissoko (Dembele 64), Eriksen, Alli, Lamela (Son 72); Janssen. Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Trippier, Nkoudou, Onomah.
West Brom (4-4-1-1): Foster; Nyom, Dawson, McAuley, Evans; Phillips (Brunt 68), Fletcher (c), Yacob, McClean; Chadli (Gardner 87); Rondon. Substitutes (not used): Myhill, Olsson, Robson-Kanu, Morrison, Leko.
Goals: West Brom – Chadli 82; Spurs – Alli 89
Yellow cards: West Brom – McClean 44, Dawson 90+4; Spurs – Vertonghen 54, Dembele 86.
Referee: Kevin Friend.
Attendance: 24,263.

Spurs 1-0 CSKA Moscow: (match report)

Yesterday evening Spurs put in a diligent performance as they defeated CSKA Moscow 1-0 to get their first win of this seasons UEFA Champions league campaign. It was a tough game for Mauricio Pochettino’s side but the Lillywhites controlled the flow of the game from the offing and their persistency paid off late in the second half as Son continued his excellent goal scoring run to bring home three valuable points to North London. We had the majority of possession in the opening half an hour however, Spurs found it hard to get past CSKA’s solid defence. Ten minutes before the interval Dele Alli went desperately close to opening the scoring after the 20 year old fired an effort from just outside the box, but the midfielders excellent effort smashed off the crossbar. We continued to have the upper hand in the game after the interval and Pochettino’s side went close at the beginning of the second half shortly after Ben Davies blocked a shot from Tosic on the edge of the box. Son came close to giving Spurs the lead at the other end after he fired a good shot from the edge of the box which flew narrowly wide of the left post. In the minutes that followed we came closer and closer to taking the lead as the lads searched for that much needed winner.

 

On 68 minutes Erik Lamela came close to breaking the deadlock after the Argentina international created space inside the box before hitting an effort at goal that was deflected off Wernbloom before going narrowly wide. However just a couple of minutes later Lamela turned the provider after the winger threaded through a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Son who from 12 yards out made no mistake as he slotted the ball past Akinfeev and into the back of the net. CSKA came close to equalising five minutes from time through Natcho however, it wasn’t to matter as Spurs recorded a well deserved victory in the Russian capital as they moved up to second in group E. COYS

Yet again Son was our best player, the South Korean international who has been in excellent form scoring five goals in five games this season, showed great perseverance and his tireless hard work ensured us an important victory. Our centre back pairing of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were superb at the back, both read the game incredibly well and they dealt excellently with the presence of 6foot 8 inches CSKA Moscow striker Lacina Traore. Dele Alli adapted well to the centre of midfield, with the 20 year old being one of our most creative players on the night, another player who was incredibly influential in the game Was Erik Lamela. Lamela worked incredibly hard, constantly looking to create chances and his creativity paid off after he set up Son’s winning goal with a lovely through ball.

CSKA Moscow (4-2-3-1): Akinfeev (C); Fernandes, V Berezutski (A Berezutski 46), Ignashevich, Schennikov; Golovin, Wernbloom; Tosic (Natcho 72), Eremenko, Milanov; Traore. Substitutes (not used): Chepchugov (gk), Nababkin, Strandberg, Gordyuskenko.
Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (C); Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama, Alli (Winks 82) ; Lamela, Eriksen, Son; Janssen (Nkoudou 67). Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Walker, Wimmer, Carter-Vickers, Onomah.

Goals: Spurs – Son 71.

My man of the match: Son Heung-Min.