Spurs clinch a crucial win despite missing key men
IT IS tempting to imagine that as the final whistle went on Chelsea’s startling win down in London, up in Leicester Mauricio Pochettino hurriedly tried to reclaim his teamsheet so to scribble in biro the name of Harry Kane somewhere in the line-up.
Clearly with Barcelona on the brain, Tottenham’s manager left out his most potent weapon at the King Power Stadium, for the first time this season.
But with the Premier League picture shifting in unforeseen ways a victory here could be just as crucial in the long-run. As it happens, Pochettino knows what he is doing. Funny that.
Events at Stamford Bridge had given this encounter an unexpected context. All of a sudden the carrot of moving to within six points of top was dangled for Spurs.
No Kane? No problem. No Christian Eriksen either for that matter. Instead Pochettino started Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura up top, with Dele Alli in front of a midfield three and it worked a treat.
Son scored a beauty in the first half, then set up Dele’s clincher in the second. As straightforward as you like and with rest accrued where necessary ahead of Tuesday night’s game in the Nou Camp. Dele’s goal was his 50th for the club, while Son has now had a hand in five goals in two starts against Leicester, including three assists.
Claude Puel’s side went away with a whimper, the only needle coming in the stands with rival supporters still barbing over the 2016 title race.
Seeing a Spurs teamsheet without Kane or Christian Eriksen starting was a rarity indeed. Not since March 8, 2014, for a match against Chelsea, had both players been left out of a Premier League line-up. And that ended in 4-0 defeat, so it was a risk by Pochettino to limit his side voluntarily.
The Champions League do-ordie in Barcelona takes immediate precedence, of course. But events at Stamford Bridge had given this encounter an unexpected context.
It was the first effort on target in the game and Kane, in his unfamiliar pink bib on the subs bench, stood to applaud with glee.
It was Son’s third goal in four games, after a slow start to the season, and it lifted his side hugely. Spurs emerged for the second half intent on adding more. Schmeichel had to act quickly to swat away a through ball from Moura from feet of Dele. Then Morgan blocked superbly from Son.
Gray had Leicester’s first attempt on target with a neat back heel to set up a strike from 18 yards but Hugo Lloris gathered easily.
In the 56th minute Puel made two changes, sending on Marc Albrighton and Rachid Ghezzal – replacing Iheanacho, who had been ineffectual, and Iborra, who looked highly irritated. Two minutes later though Spurs stretched their lead.
Son got the assist, but Mendy was the inadvertent creator, making two fatal errors.
First the French midfielder sloppily gave possession away to Ben Davies, then he failed to show any energy to get back as the Welsh defender passed sharply to Moura.
It meant Son had space to collect the next pass and he took his time to pick the ideal cross for Dele at the far post to head in.
It must be said Dele looked to be standing in an offside position when the ball was played but it was fractional and didn’t give him a particular advantage. leicester 4-3-3: Schmeichel 6; Ricardo 6, Morgan 7, Evans 7, Chilwell 7; Mendy 4.5 (Okazaki 79’), Iborra 6.5 (Albrighton 56’ 6), Ndidi 6; Gray 6.5, Iheanacho 4 (Ghezzal 56’ 6), Maddison subs not used: Ward, Maguire, Fuchs, Choudhury. tottenhaM 4-3-1-2: Lloris 7; Aurier 7 (Walker-Peters 78’), Vertonghen 7.5, Alderwiereld 7, Davies 7; Dier 7, Winks 7, Sissoko 7; Dele 7.5; Moura 7.5 (Eriksen 67’), Son 8 (Kane 74’ 5) subs not used: Rose, N’Koudou, Gazzaniga, Skipp. scorers: Son 45+1, Alli 58 referee: Craig Pawson 8