Some things in life are guaranteed. Manor Solomon, given the chance to run at an opponent will cut infield into his right foot. James Maddison, challenged in the box, will go to ground, sit up, and spread his arms while looking plaintively at the referee. And Tottenham, just as optimism is beginning to sprout, will find a way to lose. Or will they? Perhaps this is the true Ange Postecoglou revolution: it took 15 minutes of added-time, but from somewhere they found two late goals to win it.
Richarlison scored the equaliser and then laid on the winner for Dejan Kulusevski, a remarkable contribution from a player who has seemed so out of sorts for so long, who has admitted his off-field struggles. But it also seemed typical of this new era for Spurs, who have recently become, uncharacteristically, a club to whom good things happen.
It really hadn’t seemed as though it was going to end like that. We’d seen this Tottenham performance before. The longer the game went on, the more obviously Tottenham ran out of ideas, the more frustration mounted, the more probable an away goal became. Even the manner of it had a certain inevitability, Jack Robinson’s long throw looped over everybody and came to Gustavo Hamer at the back of the box. Taking it on the bounce, the Brazilian steered his second goal since last month’s move from Coventry in off the far post.
It says much for how much Postecoglou has changed the mood that the crowd stayed with Spurs. It is easy to imagine how toxic the mood would have been at 1-0 down six months ago; what anger and frustration there was, was directed largely at the referee Peter Bankes and his inability to deal with what might euphemistically be called Sheffield United’s game management. Quite how there were only three minutes of added-time added in the first half under the present directive is anybody’s guess. That there were 12 in the second half perhaps suggests how reluctant referees are to show goalkeepers a second yellow for time-wasting. But it worked for Spurs.
Richarlison heads in Tottenham’s equaliser against Sheffield United. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
Wes Foderingham not merely made a series of useful saves, but also proved a master of slowing the game down. When he was clattered by Micky van de Ven early in the second half, there’s no reason to imagine it didn’t hurt and equally nobody should begrudge the time it takes to perform a proper concussion check. The lengthy delay while he refastened his gloves, though, was harder to fathom. Why had they come off in the first place, just as they had before he received treatment in the first half?
To suggest United were only about time-wasting, though, would be unfair. They also, as they had against City, defended extremely well in a very low block, albeit aided by a curious diffidence about Tottenham. Repeatedly they got in decent positions but the shot was mishit or the cross misplaced. Foderingham made seven saves before the break but probably the only one that was anything other than a block he would be expected to make came as he rushed out quickly to Yves Bissouma after a little shuffle had created space in the box.
Space, generally, was limited, long periods of the game compressed into the 40 yards nearest the United goal. Only once did Solomon’s habitual trick of darting inside create anything – and even then he had to dart inside three times in quick succession. Maddison, though, surely should have had a penalty before the break: he may have collapsed theatrically but on the other hand he clearly was whacked on the back of the ankle by Chris Basham.
One of the most impressive aspects of Postecoglou’s management so far this season has been his capacity to make substitutions that have had a positive impact. Against both Manchester United and Bournemouth a couple of changes headed off possible fightbacks almost before they had begun. Here he generated a spark with the introduction of Richarlison and the new signing Brennan Johnson leading to the latest comeback in Premier League history.
United will wonder how on earth, having defended so well and for so long, they ended up with nothing other than a late red card for Oli McBurnie, but the force of the Postecoglou narrative is not to be denied
