POCHETTINO HAPPY TO POCKET DERBY POINT
SON’S STUNNER SAVES SPURS AFTER FALLING BEHIND TO A SCREAMER FROM HAMMERS
Mauricio Pochettino had no complaints about Tottenham’s 1-1 Premier League raw with West Ham, although he admitted that, on another day, they could have scored five.
Spurs had to make do with a point last night after Son Heung-Min’s 30-yard stunner cancelled out Pedro Obiang’s bolt from the blue for the Hammers at Wembley.
It was a second match in 48 hours for both sides and Spurs boss Pochettino could not fault his players’ efforts.
“I’m very pleased with all of the players, and only sometimes you need some luck to open the game, like it was against Southampton.
“I think it was a similar game to that one. One was 5-2, and another was 1-1.”
Obiang stunned Tottenham with West Ham’s first shot of the match after 70 minutes.
The Spanish midfielder let fly from 30 yards with a rocket which flew past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and into the top corner.
But Spurs hit back in equally spectacular style with another long-range cracker from Son, who finally got the better of Hammers keeper Adrian with six minutes left.
“In this type of game we did every thing to win,” added Pochettino.
“We dominated the game. Sometimes it happens in football. This type of game when you push and push and it’s impossible to score.
“In fact, we scored with our most difficult situation. But I am happy with the performance after 48 hours.
“You have to be happy with a point when you concede to their first shot. “It was an amazing goal. “We created a lot of chances, we weren’t clinical in front of goal and we paid in the end.
“We will keep going, there were more positive things than negatives. We have to be ready again to play Sunday. This game should have finished 3-1, 4-1 or 5-1, we have to accept that.
Hammers keeper Adrian earlier made a string of saves, the pick of which was to tip a deflected Christian Eriksen shot over the crossbar.
Ex-Sunderland defender Jimmy Nicholl could not contain his excitement after sealing a return to Ibrox as Rangers assistant manager.
The 61-year-old has been appointed number two to Graeme Murty after Falkirk agreed to allow him to move on from the same role under Paul Hartley.
Nicholl had two playing spells at Ibrox in the 1980s and said: “I am so excited and chuffed to bits that Graeme has given me this opportunity.”
The Northern Irishman will fly out to United States this weekend ahead of a training camp and two games against Brazilian opposition in the Florida Cup.