minutes.
Spurs first Premier League game against Huddersfield wasn’t a game of two halves, it was all over halfway through the first half.
Remember the good old days of Spurs when facing a newly promoted team brought expectation and ultimately Spursy reality.
Back in those days they could easily be three up inside 25 minutes, yet see things turn around after the break and be hanging on in the dying seconds.
This was the 20th game played against newly promoted sides during Pochettino’s reign, of which they’ve won 19 and drawn one, taking 58 points out of a possible 60. In those matches they’ve have scored 54 goals and conceded just 11.
It’s about as unSpursy as you can get.
This game started like it could have been the exception to the rule. Huddersfield came to play, thankfully. It was a strange half, in that it seemed like the hosts had most of the ball and were caught on the break in fact Spurs had the possession.
But with Huddersfield playing a pressing game, there was just so much room for Spurs to play into, space that’s not usually there. Huddersfield played the way they like to play, unfortunately for them they came up against a team that does it better.
The first goal, after less than ten minutes, exploited that space from the high line. The keeper’s kick headed forward towards Kane, from half way in the Spurs half by Trippier, was missed by the defender and Harry was heading goal wards. Beating the keeper on the near post with another of those thumping curlers.
You never thought he wasn’t going to score.
The second followed just over five minutes later and involved some glorious one touch stuff that ran rings around the hosts. Trippier, Dier, Eriksen, Dele, Kane into the charging Eriksen, into the box and for some reason he tries to get the ball on his right foot, thankfully that causes the ball to hit of a defender straight into the path of Davies for him to score.
A cracking team goal, yes with a hint of good fortune, but one that if scored by certain other sides would see plenty of media oozing.
It was another few minutes before it really was game over. A throw from Trippier to Harry, he turns and runs parallel to the box until he’s enough room from the defender before curling the ball into the net.
Another Kane cracker. His thirteen goal in September, five braces and a hat trick.
Huddersfield were gone by now. They had chances in that half, an early shot brought a smart save from Hugo, a pile driver off the woodwork and a decent shout for a penalty. Sanchez barging the player in the back in the box. He has these daft moments, so far he’s pretty much got away with it.
The second half was just a training session. Spurs passed the ball around and nowt much else happened. Bar Dele’s stupid attempt to get a penalty. Woeful dive, that he knew was so bad he didn’t even appeal for it. Good on Pochettino for telling him it’s not on.
All that was left was a Sissoko goal, yup you read that correctly. Sissoko now has more league goals than Crystal Palace.
Son, on for Kane, going forward played in the charging Davies, his cross to Sissoko and the Frenchman tried to bugger up his chance but only ended up buggering that up, scuffing in his first goal for the club.
A word for the fullbacks, with that final goal it was one goal and three assists between the pair. It was by far Trippier’s best outting of the season. He was looking forward most of the game instead of the backwards game he’s played of late. A lack of Sissoko around him might have helped.
On the other side Davies is continuing his excellent form. Who knew eh, the more he played the better he gets. Talk of Rose being back shortly, well he should be back on the bench. Player in possession of the starting place has done nothing to lose it. And when you look at the win ratio when Rose plays is less than half, while being about two thirds with Davies.
Anyway, a good comfortable victory to head into the international break, now just do it at Wembley next game…