Super Son Helps Spurs Sweep Aside West Ham

Sunday 20th March 2022 - 4:30pm

Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur 3 – 1 West Ham

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Competition: English Premier League

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Huge game, West Ham's cup final, Spurs' last chance to mount a charge towards top 4. The Hammers come into it full of confidence following their impressive win in Europe on Thursday, but not only was it a day later than Spurs' solid win at Brighton, it went to extra time too, so Spurs should be the fresher of the sides coming into this one.

It'd be the perfect time for us to break that win lose win lose form of ours, but it's a difficult one to be confident about. I can see it being 2-2."

Conte named the same line-up that started the Brighton game.

9' GOAL! Doherty nicked in to win it well on the right wing and was quick to release Kane. Kane burst down the right side of the penalty area and passed it across to Son who was racing in at the near post. Son just missed it, but Zouma was sliding in on him and diverted it into his own net. Another own goal in Spurs' favour. 1-0.

12' Kulusevski embarked on a charging run from inside his own half down the right side of the field. He beat a number of players before slipping it to Kane and continuing his run into the box, Kane knocked it back to him and Kulusevski laid it left to Son around the penalty spot. It was a tad behind the Korean which caused him to lean back and fall as he attempted to finish right-footed, his effort crashed off the outside of the post and went behind. Big chance.

24' GOAL! Davies on the left played inside to Bentancur, he turned and found Kane on the centre spot, who immediately looked to get it forward and picked out Son on the left side of the area with an absolute peach of a pass. Son sold the defender with a stepover before blasting it left-footed across goal into the top right corner. 2-0.

35' Goal. Under pressure by the corner flag, Doherty hesitated and gave away a cheap corner. Cresswell whipped in an out-swinger that was won by Dawson amongst a cluster of Spurs players, he flicked it on to Benrahma on the edge of the six-yard box, who had lost Son and side foot volleyed into Lloris' near post. 2-1.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – Spurs started the game brilliantly and could have been three up within half an hour. They did well to find two, but unfortunately slack defending from a corner helped West Ham get a crucial goal back before half time. It's been a lively encounter that seems like it has more goals to come. Let's hope they go our way and we secure all three points."

56' Cresswell got it on the left side of the area and struck a dangerous ball across the face of goal that made it over to Antonio at the far post. Thankfully he got the volley all wrong and he blazed a big chance well over the bar.

70' Kane nudged a pass right to Kulusevski who cut in onto his left foot on the edge of the area and had a pop at goal. Unfortunately it was just over.

Spurs were doing a good job of controlling the tempo of the game, passing it around, tiring out the opposition. West Ham looked dangerous when they had chances to break forward though. We desperately needed another goal to calm any nerves.

80' Slick play from Spurs as they passed it around the edge of the West Ham penalty area - Son to Kulusevski to Højbjerg, who chipped a lovely deft ball into Kane who took a good first touch around the penalty spot, but the ball was still bouncing when he had to attempt his lofted finish over the outrushing goalkeeper. It was all a tad too hurried and he lifted his effort up over the bar.

81' The ball ricocheted around in the area and eventually fell to Doherty who struck powerfully on the half volley towards the bottom corner, but it was blocked by a West Ham defender. The rebound fell to Bentancur who shot wide from the edge of the box.

89' GOAL! Lloris booted it upfield, it was flicked on superbly by Kane and fell into the path of a sprinting Son who found himself onside and clear through on goal. He had time to think about his finish, and just as the keeper went to ground, he slotted it into the bottom left corner. 3-1!

"Thoughts at Full-Time – A massive win for Spurs! Not only does it break our win lose win lose run of form, it also puts us above West Ham into fifth in the table, and just three points behind Arsenal. There was a real class and confidence about the team today. Let's hope it continues and we string together more wins after the international break, as we'll need to if we're going to sneak into that vital 4th spot."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 7 – Beaten at his near post for their goal. Did well to claim the ball towards the end when it was bouncing around dangerously in the area following a corner. Rocketed the long ball upfield that was flicked on by Kane and set Son through for the third.

• 4. Cristian Romero – 8 – Looked certain to pick up yet another yellow with the vigour he went into tackles with. Thankfully he was more composed though and avoided getting one. Loves winning the ball, playing it forward then bombing on to join the attack. Muscled Antonio around and seemed to relish doing so. Clearly frustrated West Ham's front man as he kicked out at him at one point. Another quality performance.

• 15. Eric Dier – 7.5 – Commanding at the back. Wins his duels and keeps the backline in order by constantly barking orders. Brings a real stability to our defending which is crucial to us not conceding many goals.

• 33. Ben Davies– 7 – Has really grown into that left centre-back role and goes about his job there consistently nowadays. Solid defensively and dribbled on into space in front of him when given the chance to.

• 2. Matt Doherty – 7 – Continued his period of rejuvenation with another good display. Did brilliantly to win the ball in the build-up to the opening goal. Gave away the corner that led to their first goal after stumbling on the ball. Kept sprinting up and down even towards the end when he was switched to the left side.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 8 – Battled admirably throughout again. Looks a good pairing in there with Bentancur. Lovely chipped ball through to Kane to set him up for a chance we'd have expected him to score.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 8.5 – So cool, calm and collected at all times. Time seems to stand still when he's on the ball at times, which is drawing comparisons to Berbatov. Silky smooth with his touches and passing, strong in the tackle too.

• 3. Sergio Reguilón – 6 – Raced up and down that left side again but was a bit too erratic. Often went to ground or wasted a decent shooting chance when his pace had gotten him in behind the defence. Still did some decent things and brings energy to the team.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 7 – Strong, charging runs and intricate little passes in key areas. Seems to keep possession incredibly well. Always heavily involved and another promising display overall.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 9 – Put Zouma under pressure to force the opening own goal. His shot took a slight deflection off Zouma before finding the top corner too, but it was a great finish nonetheless. Lost Benrahma for their goal in a lapse of concentration. Came up with another goal to seal the match with a lightning burst of pace and cool finish. Back to the in form Son we love to see.

• 10. Harry Kane – 9 – Orchestrated things by dropping into the hole in front of the defence, turning and picking out clinical passes. Assisted all three goals. Another world class display from him.

Substitutions:

• 3. Sergio Reguilón ⬅ 88' ➡ 12. Emerson Royal – N/A – Headed it away from Kane right at the last. Didn't do much else.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski ⬅ 90'+2' ➡ 23. Steven Bergwijn – N/A – Lovely roll and cross inside the area that probably would have handed Kane his deserved goal had it not been for Royal nodding it off course.

• 7. Son Heung-min ⬅ 90'+2' ➡ 27. Lucas Moura – N/A – Looked lively in the short time he had on the field.

Man of the Match – 7. Son Heung-min