SERGIO UPS
Reguilon finds the goal and Conte the energy to change the mood at Spurs
BY JOHN CROSS
THE honeymoon period lasted all of 45 minutes for Antonio Conte.
But he quickly showed who is boss in this marriage, with his Tottenham team turning fans’ half-time boos into cheers by the final whistle.
This was a from convincing display by Spurs and, if anything, underlined the size of the task Conte faces, because his squad looks a long way from being topfour material.
Leeds battled, scrapped and for long periods frustrated hosts who had forgotten how to have a shot on target never mind score a goal.
But even so, having given Conte a marvellous reception before kick-off ahead of his first home game in the Premier League as Spurs boss, home fans jeered their team after a turgid opening half.
Conte must have worked his magic, as they came out a different team in the second half and turned the game on its head for a muchneeded three points.
The Italian probably did as much running as any of his players with his touchline histrionics and efforts to whip up the crowd before sprinting onto the pitch at the end to hug his men.
One thing is for sure, life is rarely dull under Conte and, even if the players are not what he is used to, his infectious enthusiasm will definitely lift them.
Leeds played so well in the first half, with Kalvin Phillips outstanding in an unfamiliar sweeper role to stop Harry Kane, yet they could not hold on.
They are hovering two points above the drop zone, and although Marcelo Bielsa has brought much, this looks like being a season of struggle.
Tottenham could not find a rhythm in the first half and even when they did get forward, Phillips seemed to be everywhere, shutting down the danger.
Spurs had gone 226 minutes
without a shot on target before kick-off and stretched that to 272 before finally finding their range a minute into the second half.
That lack of threat allowed Leeds to soak up pressure, Phillips ran the show and gradually the visitors grew in confidence, going ahead just before the break.
Jack Harrison skinned Emerson Royal down the left, put over a low cross and there was Dan James at the back post to slam home from point-blank range.
Then came the boos. Spurs must have got a rocket in the dressing room. They nearly scored straight after the restart when Kane’s shot bounced off keeper Illan Meslier’s leg and onto a post. Soon after, Heung-Min Son’s shot was deflected onto the bar.
Spurs levelled after 58 minutes. Sergio Reguilon’s cross caused chaos, Lucas
Moura picked up the scraps and fed PierreEmile Hojbjerg who swept the ball home.
It was just a matter of time. Moura was fouled by
Liam Cooper on the edge of the box. Eric Dier took the free-kick, which clipped the wall and bounced back off a post to Reguilon who was chasing in, and he fired home.
Leeds pressed for an equaliser, Phillips stepped into midfield but, with no Patrick Bamford or Raphinha they are struggling, and did not create anything else. It was the first Premier League win of the Conte era, with encouraging signs in the second half. His energy does not take long to change the mood.