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Tottenham Hotspur aren't far removed from getting absolutely demolished at home by Liverpool, but they're now level with the Merseyside giants, sitting in fifth place, just out of the top four on goal differential. Sunday's performance was arguably the best of the Tim Sherwood era, with Spurs scoring the first three goals of the game before giving up one late to win 3-1.
Even though Swansea were without many of their best players, Wilfried Bony was healthy and was by far his team's best player on the night. He had a couple of excellent early chances, including a strike of the crossbar in the 24th minute. However, he couldn't finish before Spurs got on the scoreboard.
Swansea were the better side in the opening 20-25 minutes, but Spurs picked things up shortly after that and turned their improved play into a goal in the 35th minute. Christian Eriksen, who had drifted to the right wing from a new central midfield starting position, lofted a cross to the back post. Emmanuel Adebayor started his run at the perfect time and never had to slow up, heading the ball into the back of the net in perfect stride.
Spurs took full control of the game in the 53rd minute, though their second goal was a bit of a gift. At the end of a very nice build-up, Michael Dawson found Kyle Walker with a through ball down the wing, and the Tottenham right back's low cross was deflected into the back of the net by Chico Flores for an own goal.
With Swansea needing to push hard for a goal, plenty of space opened up behind them, resulting in some big chances and eventually a third goal. Mousa Dembele squandered a two-on-none chance with Adebayor in the 69th minute, but Ade got his second goal just a minute later. Danny Rose set it up, finding him with a low cross.
Bony pulled back a well-deserved goal for his team in the 78th minute, smashing a volley past Hugo Lloris off a cross by Roland Lamah, but Swansea were unable to fight their way back into the match as Spurs held on for all three points.
Notes:
- This was Nabil Bentaleb's first game as the single pivot in a 4-3-3 and he looked very comfortable in that spot
- This holder-runner-creator midfield setup is pretty great. With no disrespect to Bentaleb, it'll be really great with Sandro.
- I don't have bad things to say about any player. I could nitpick, but everyone was a 7/10 or better today. I'm not sure how much of that is down to Swansea being shorthanded and in bad form, but I'm really happy with all of this.
- I liked the defensive sub after Bony's goal, moving Kyle Walker into midfield and bringing in Kyle Naughton.
- Roberto Soldado is going to have a very tough time winning his job back.
