Tottenham Hotspur welcomed Ipswich Town at home for an important game in the Premier League and were looking to walk away with the three points ahead of the November international break. Ipswich meanwhile came to the N17 searching for their first three points of the season.
Having beaten Aston Villa 4-1 last weekend, Spurs were in good league form coming into this game. The line-up that Ange Postecoglou named was along expected lines with Cristian Romero managing to prove his fitness.
In the first half of the game, Tottenham started brightly but could not really create clear cut chances. Ipswich took advantage, scoring two goals and going into the break just 45 minutes away from their first victory of the season.
The second half played out in an expected manner. Tottenham started very well and had a goal ruled out almost immediately. They then got one back through Rodrigo Bentancur. Eventually, despite being the better team in the second half, Spurs fell to a 2-1 defeat to the newly promoted side. This is one that would surely sting Ange.
Here is how we think Tottenham Hotspur players fared in the game against Ipswich Town in the Premier League at home.
GK | Guglielmo Vicario: (6/10)
Cannot be faulted for the first goal. Parried the ball straight into Radu Dragusin’s feet for the second. Neither can be put down to his mistakes though. Made a few decent saves but yet again, looked shaky when claiming crosses.
RB | Pedro Porro: (7/10)
A ‘nothing to write home about’ first-half performance from the Spaniard. Didn’t do much going forward and didn’t do much wrong defensively either. Excellent corner delivery for Bentancur’s goal.
CB | Cristian Romero: (6/10)
Should have shown awareness for Ipswich’s first goal, where he seemed to have assumed that the danger was cleared. Took much better control of the situation in the second half.
CB | Radu Dragusin: (6.5/10)
Dragusin was having a good game before directly making the mistake (?) in Ipswich’s second goal. Did not affect that mistake to affect him though, as he continued to put in a solid shift in the second half.
LB | Destiny Udogie: (6.5/10)
The more adventurous of the two full backs in the first 45 minutes. Did not create much out of his combination play with Son though. Made more clever runs in the second half. End product has to improve though.
CDM | Rodrigo Bentancur: (7/10)
Missed the tackle in the lead-up to the second goal. Not at his sharpest in the first 45. Headed home Tottenham’s first goal from the corner to spark hopes of a comeback. Screamed his way into a yellow card. Taken off for Yves Bissouma after a ‘mixed bag’ performance.
CDM | Pape Matar Sarr: (6/10)
Typically, industrious first half. Looked to force the situation but not much came of it. Taken off in the 65th minute with what seemed like an injury.
CAM | Dejan Kulusevski: (6/10)
Some nice touches; some poor ones. Neither great nor poor in the first 45. Looked much more involved on the ball in the second half. It did not result in anything though.
RW | Brennan Johnson: (4/10)
Missed a guilt-edge chance from a beautiful Son cross, very early in the game. Did not do much else in the first 45. Taken off at around 85 minutes for James Maddison after a disappointing display.
LW | Son Heung-min: (6/10)
Similar first-half to Kulusevski – some sublime touches, some atrocious ones. Drew one good save. Looked so much better in the second half. Moved into a central role after Pape Sarr left the field. Not a bad day but not a great one either.
ST | Dominic Solanke: (7.5/10)
Tottenham’s best player in the first half. Clever touches, intense pressing and typical centre-forward play. Also drew a couple of saves. Unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for handball early in the second half.
Continued to very impressive as the game progressed. More than anything, it is his intelligence and hard work that stands out. Unfortunately, could not get the all-important goal on the night. Had a chance to win the game in stoppage time but his shot was saved, yet again!
Substitutes:
Timo Werner: (6/10)
Came on for Pape Sarr and typical Werner performance. Intelligent runs, incredible pace but 0 end product.
James Maddison: (N/A):
Came on for Brennan Johnson.
Yves Bissouma: (N/A):
Came on for Rodrigo Bentancur.