Tottenham 2-0 West Brom: Kane, Son snap three match losing streak vs. Baggies

That’s more like it. Tottenham Hotspur dispatched a hapless bottom of the table West Bromwich Albion 2-0 on Sunday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, snapping a three match losing streak in the Premier League. After a scoreless first half, both Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min fired home for Spurs. Kane’s goal put him in a tie with Bobby Smith as Tottenham’s second all-time highest goal scorer.

The biggest surprise in Jose Mourinho’s lineup was Kane, who not only rejoined the first XI after missing a few matches for an ankle injury, but slotted immediately in the starting lineup. Behind him, Lucas Moura started in Steven Bergwijn’s regular place along with Son Heung-Min and Erik Lamela. Davinson Sanchez started alongside Toby Alderweireld in the back line, with Serge Aurier and Ben Davies as fullbacks. The middle featured Pierre Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele.

Key Moments

First Half

12’ — Erik Lamela’s looking lively here early. He fires a left-footed curler that goes just over the bar.

15’ — Kane with a shot, but it’s juuuuuust over. the bar. He’s looking sharp considering he has no ankle ligaments left.

18’ — CLOSE! Ndombele puts a little bouncing through ball into the box and Kane latches onto it. He side-foots it at goal but it dribbles wide of the post.

33’ — I think that’s the first time Hugo’s been called into action this entire half. An easy collection for the keeper, and that tells you how much offense West Ham has generated so far.

35’ — Cute little interplay around West Brom’s box results in a blocked shot from Ndombele. Shortly after, Kane gets another shot on target but Johnstone is able to parry it it out for a corner.

42’ — Aurier and Alderweireld both get a bite at the cherry from close range — Serge with a header saved by Johnsone and Toby with a blocked shot on the rebound — but just can’t get it over the line. This is both frustrating and 1000% better than the last three games.

44’ — Whoa, BIG chance for WBA. Diagne gets a free header from a few feet away off of a cross from Snodgrass and Hugo is there to keep it out. West Brom’s best chance of the match easy. Big defensive breakdown for Spurs there.

HALFTIME: it’s been almost all Tottenham so far but no goals to show for it.

Second Half

No changes at the break for either side.

45’ — Wow, Kane finds Son with a deep pass straight from the opening kick, but Johnstone sticks a leg out and blocks it.

48’ — Lamela weaves his way into the box but tries to guide the ball into the net with his right foot. Because it’s his right foot, it dribbles wide of the post.

53’ — GOAL! HARRY KANE! Harry goes level with Bobby Smith as Spurs’ second all time goal scorer thanks to a great ball from Pierre Hojbjerg. Spurs are finally on top! 1-0!

58’ — GOAL! SON HEUNG-MIN! A devastating counterattack from Spurs. Harry chests tehe ball to Lucas Moura who dribbles up to the top of the box, cuts inside and then feeds Sonny who side-foots it home. 2-0!

60’ — West Brom have the ball in the net off a Diagne header but he’s clearly offside and the goal is called back.

64’ — Yellow card for Erik Lamela for a (lol) ill-advised tackle. Everyone drink.

68’ — First sub of the match for Spurs as Matt Doherty comes on for Serge Aurier, who is down holding his calf.

73’ — Second sub for Spurs. Steven Bergwijn coming on for Lamela.

76’ — Yellow card for WBA as Snodgrass kicks out at Ben Davies after a tackle. Crazily, that was WAY more violent than what Son did to Rudiger last season, but VAR didn’t even look at it. Football is dumb.

82’ — Diagne has it in the net AGAIN for West Brom and again it’s called back as offside.

90+2’ — Spurs’ final sub, and it’s Dane Scarlett making his Premier League debut! He comes on for Sonny.

90+4’ — Yellow card for WBA — Conner Gallagher.

FULL TIME! Tottenham snap their three match losing streak comfortably behind goals from Kane and Son, because who else is scoring for this team? Final score: 2-0.

Reactions

• A Spurs win is great, but like a groundhog seeing his shadow this likely means six more weeks of Jose Mourinho.
• Bobby Smith scored 208 goals in 317 appearances. Harry Kane has now scored 208 goals... in 317 appearances. Wild statistic.
• I enjoyed Erik Lamela today who brought both a feistiness in possession, his usual lunatic tackling, and a yellow card.
• We usually criticize Harry Kane for coming back from injury too early but he looked very sharp today. It’s incredible how integral he is to Tottenham doing ANYTHING good this season.
• West Brom are garbage, holy smokes. Not even Big Sam can save them.
• Dane Scarlett made his Premier League debut and that was fun! Sad he never touched the ball and I was screaming at Lucas to pass it to him.
• Next match: at Everton in the FA Cup on Wednesday.