Spurs on the front foot again to give Mason dream start
GARETH BALE declared Tottenham had rediscovered their attacking identity after beginning the post-Jose Mourinho era with a dramatic 2-1 win at home to Southampton.
After a week which had seen them sack Mourinho and face condemnation after becoming embroiled in the tumultuous European Super League controversy, Spurs were predictably slow out of the blocks and trailed at the break to Danny Ings’ header.
But a more proactive display after the break earned its rewards as Bale equalised with a wonderful curling effort before a late Heung-min Son penalty, given with the help of VAR, ensured caretaker boss Ryan Mason (inset) began his reign with a win.
Asked what had changed on the field at the club, Bale said: ‘We need to be on the front foot a bit more, we’re a big team with great players and we need to attack more and stay higher up the pitch more.’
Saints took a deserved lead when Ings got in front of Serge Aurier from a James WardProwse corner and sent a glancing header in off a post.
Mason had vowed to send his side out to be brave and aggressive but, robbed of Harry Kane, it was a lifeless performance in the first half.
It did not take much but there was a big improvement after the break and Bale was at the forefront of it. Lucas Moura’s blocked shot fell to the Welshman at the far post and he sent a delicious curling effort in off the far post. Spurs thought they had scored the winner when Sergio Reguilon’s pullback was converted by Son, but VAR spotted Moura in an offside position in Alex McCarthy’s line of sight. But VAR paid them back in the 89th minute as, after a free-kick was initially awarded by referee David Coote for a foul by Moussa Djenepo, replays showed it was on the line of the box and was ruled as a penalty.
Son stepped up to strike home and give Spurs fresh impetus. It was just the tonic the beleaguered club needed going into Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Bale added: ‘It’s important for me but more so for the team and club and fans. Everyone talks about me a lot but it isn’t about me, I don’t care about me. I care about trying to help Spurs and it was important to get the victory.’