ALLI SEALS IT FOR POCH
No Kane, no problem as Llorente shines
DELE ALLI scored a vital late goal to help Spurs finally see off bottom-club Swansea in a controversial win.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men led from an offside header by Fernando Llorente.
FERNANDO LLORENTE piled on the misery for his old club as Carlos Carvalhal’s first home game ended in a controversial defeat.
Llorente, who left Swansea for Tottenham last August for £12million, was offside when Christian Eriksen whipped in a right-foot free-kick.
But his headed opener was allowed to stand to ensure Swansea began 2018 with another defeat.
It infuriated Carvalhal on the sidelines in his second game in charge of the bottom club, who arguably deserved a point.
And Swansea’s frustration was complete when Dele Alli scored a freak second goal for the visitors in the 89th-minute to kill off an impressive secondhalf fight-back.
The Portuguese coach’s mood was not helped after the break when Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez – already on a caution – wildly scythed down Martin Olsson.
Yet the Tottenham man somehow avoided a second caution and was not sent off by referee Bobby Madley.
Jordan Ayew also went desperately close for the hosts and defender Mike van der Hoorn hit a post from Tom Carroll’s corner.
Harry Kane, the first player to score hat-tricks in backto-back Premier League appearances, started on the bench after a heavy cold.
The last player to score three successive trebles in English League football was Liverpool’s Jack Balmer in November 1946.
In his place, Spurs gave Llorente a belated full Premier League debut. Swansea were without injured duo Tammy Abraham and Wilfried Bony up front and seemed content to cede possession at the start.
It resulted in intense Spurs pressure, which paid off when Llorente rose to head in a 12thminute opener.
Carvalhal (below) complained bitterly it was offside, but his protests were ignored.
Tottenham might have increased their lead before the break when the lively Alli and Erik Lamela had sights of goal. It took until the 32nd minute for the hosts to have a chance when Sanchez conceded a free-kick outside the box.
Renato Sanches took it, but curled his right-foot effort over the bar.
Llorente might have doubled Spurs lead four minutes before the break when he helped on another Eriksen free-kick.
But this time his flick-on with his outstretched leg went just over.
After the break, Tottenham were given a major let-off when Sanchez stayed on the pitch.
He should have been sent off in the 55th minute and his boss Mauricio Pochettino subbed him moments later instead.
But the tide of the match was turning and the Swans’ second-half fightback can give them hope of beating the drop this year, while Spurs aim for the top four again.