SUB- PAR SPURS ARE LEFT LOW
Jose’s wholesale half- time changes can’t stop rot
TOTTENHAM’S long unbeaten run went up in smoke last night – and not even Jose Mourinho’s attempt at fire- fighting could save them.
The Spurs boss made four changes at the break after a woeful first half where Ben Davies donated the only goal, then called on captain Harry Kane to replace Gareth Bale just before the hour.
But with Ritchie De Laet in majestic form, Royal Antwerp gave a command performance compared to a dreadful Tottenham display.
Ivan Leko, the coach of the Belgian league leaders, had claimed that he had been “super happy” and “grateful” to face Mourinho and his team.
Yet the Croat did a number on the double Europa League winner by inflicting a first defeat on the Portuguese in 15 matches in this competition.
Tottenham’s unbeaten run of 10 games in all competitions since the opening defeat to Everton also came to a halt as the Belgians showed the north London club under Mourinho still have a long way to go. And Dele Alli is not certain to be part of that future after getting subbed at halftime for the second time this season.
But the England star was not the only Tottenham player to suffer a nightmare.
Mourinho had made five changes from the side which opened Group J with a easy 3- 0 win over LASK last week – and nine from Monday’s win at Burnley.
Captain Hugo Lloris, playing instead of Joe Hart, and Davies were the only players doing a double shift this week. But Tottenham were flat from the start in the
Low Countries. Steven Bergwijn recorded Tottenham’s first and only shot on target after 19 minutes before Alli, starting his first game for five weeks, released Carlos Vinicius only for De Laet to make the covering tackle.
The former Manchester United and Leicester defender was one of three former English- based players in the Royal Antwerp side, along with captain Faris Haroun and Dieumerci Mbokani.
And it was the former Norwich and Hull striker Mbokani who set up the only goal after 29 minutes.
Dawdling Davies was dispossessed by the Congo forward and he squared to Lior Refaelov to rifle home.
It summed up Tottenham’s terrible first half and Mourinho was not amused. Alli was joined on the bench after the break by Vinicius, Giovani Lo Celso and Bergwijn – but the Belgians were still the better team despite the changes.
Mbokani missed a great chance to score their second after 54 minutes following a fine cross by Koji Miyoshi, before Mourinho called on his biggest potential saviour.
The boss had been full of praise for four- time Champions League winner Bale in his pre- match press conference.
But he was the fifth player replaced after 58 minutes as Kane came on as the whole starting front four were swapped.
There was added urgency but no goals. Abdoulaye Seck blocked an effort from Heung- min Son but the hosts had the best late chance when midfielder Simen Juklerod fired over when through.
ROYAL ANTWERP ( 3- 4- 1- 2): Butez 7; Seck 7, Gelin
6, De Laet 7; Miyoshi 6 ( Buta 58, 5), Haroun 6, Hongla 6 ( Verstraete 70, 5), Juklerod 5; Gerkens 6; Mbokan 6, Refaelov 7 ( Benavente 88)
TOTTENHAM ( 4- 2- 3- 1): Lloris 6; Aurier 5, Sanchez 4, Davies 4, Reguilon 6; Winks 6, Alli 5 ( Lamela 46,
6), Lo Celso 4 ( Hojbjerg 46, 5), Bergwijn 4 ( Moura
46, 5), Bale 4 ( Kane 58, 5), Vinicius 5 ( Son 46, 6).