Back-to-back wins have made relegation memes feel less relevant, but Tottenham Hotspur is far from out of the woods. While the risk of finishing that low was never truly serious, no one should be celebrating the club’s rise to…12th place. Nothing will be achieved domestically this season, but it is hard to dismiss the remaining fixtures as irrelevant (even if they should be deprioritized in favor of the Europa League).
With that in mind, the goal in the league over the next few months is about salvaging the vibes as much as it is climbing the table. A great way to not further destroy the little remaining goodwill is winning the gimmes. Spurs have secured just one victory in four matches against the current bottom three, but they will have another opportunity to take on one of these pesky combatants against Ipswich Town on Saturday. Asking for a win here is hardly unreasonable.
Ipswich Town (18th, 17pts) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (t-12th, 30pts)
Date: Saturday, February 22
Time: 10:00 am ET, 3:00 pm UK
Location: Portman Road, Ipswich
TV: USA Network (US)
Ipswich broke a four-match losing streak with a surprising draw at Villa last weekend. It was a little fortunate, losing the xG battle 2.4 to 0.4, but taking the lead and hanging on for a point while going to 10 men should be commended. The Tractor Boys are still favored to go down, but they will have a chance to fight over the final three months.
For Spurs, there have been many disappointing moments this season, but a 1-2 loss to Ipswich in November stands out as one of the most frustrating. The defeat was an all-around lifeless performance, made even worse by impressive wins over Villa and City before and after. Much has changed since then, but another failure in this fixture would be disastrous for the club’s morale.
Avert the narrative
Almost all of Tottenham’s defeats to (theoretical) underdogs this season have followed a familiar script: an inability to break down a compact defense, getting caught out on the counter, wasteful possession, and questionable decisions from Ange Postecoglou. While health and depth issues have played a role, these recurring problems still feel avoidable.
The solution on Saturday is to, uh, just not do any of that? Tottenham is clearly the superior team and will have much of the ball. Turning that possession into clear opportunities is easier said than done, but Ipswich’s defense has been poor this season, sitting in the bottom four in goals allowed and xGA. While Spurs’ own defense remains vulnerable, Ipswich has managed only three goals in its last five matches. There is not even much else to be said — just get it done.
At the center of it all
Tottenham took full advantage of Manchester United’s weak midfield last weekend, with Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, and James Maddison controlling the center of the park. Despite this, Spurs did not convert as many chances as the xG would have suggested, scoring only once. Against Ipswich, the midfield advantage should be firmly in Tottenham’s hands again, and hopefully that will yield a more fruitful attack.
The performance of the midfield is pivotal beyond just this weekend. With Bergvall’s recent emergence and Maddison’s return, there are multiple ways to mix and match this area of strength, including the proper deployment of Dejan Kulusevski. Tottenham’s Europa League ambitions could hinge on the consistency of this part of the formation, but its reliability seems to ebb and flow. While it may only be Ipswich this weekend, a strong showing from this group is essential to build momentum for the rest of the season.