A perfect ending to an imperfect game
It was absolute bedlam. The fans were going crazy in the stands and on the pitch the Tottenham Hotspur players were swarming from everywhere.
Captain Son Heung-min sprinted off the bench to join in, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario ran the length of the turf to leap into the celebrations and Spurs’ young Dutch giant Micky van de Ven picked up Pedro Porro clean off his feet and lifted him into the air before roaring towards the west stand.
If you want to look at how much of a tight-knit squad Ange Postecoglou has already created you might only look at the players who all came off the bench to make such a huge impact but you could also peer across at those not even involved on the day.
Youngster Alejo Veliz went crazy when the goal went in, screaming and yanking the advertising hoarding back and forth in front of him with Bryan Gil, while teenage defender Ashley Phillips bellowed his delight alongside them.
On the other side of Veliz, Rodrigo Bentancur was equally ecstatic while trying not to spill the drink of maté he had in his hand and beside him Giovani Lo Celso pumped his fists into the air over and over again.
After the final whistle, Eric Dier, Fraser Forster, Porro and Son all ran for Richarlison before the players on the pitch jogged in a line holding hands towards the south stand to enjoy a moment with the fans who had pushed them on, all of the team pushing Richarlison to the front and pointing at him to ensure he soaked up a huge impactful occasion after his recent tough time.
Yves Bissouma pulled up the neck of the back of the Brazilian’s shirt so his name was on full display to the fans before launching himself up on to the crossbar. The Mali international pulled himself up above it and roared at the jubilant supporters before dancing before them and then danced all the way off pitch, after jumping into Son’s arms.
Rival fans will say ‘it was only Sheffield United’, but this felt like a special moment for such a young team so early in its gestation.
It was the latest winning comeback in Premier League history and it was the first real test of this Tottenham side’s character and ability to break down the most stubborn of teams and they came through it.
Postecoglou was so calm and collected throughout the chaos in the aftermath of the winning goal. He pumped his fists a couple of times and assistant head coach Chris Davies gave him a big hug, which the Australian accepted for a moment before a ‘release me now’ pat on his shoulder before turning to organise the back four which was a little makeshift after he made the changes to win the game.
This was not perfect football but it provided the perfect way to end the game. Sheffield United had been impressively organised but ultimately it was the amount of time they wasted, mostly through goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, that handed Spurs the chance they needed to turn things round under the new rules.
The match stats read 70% possession to Tottenham, with 535 passes to the Blades’ 181. They had 28 shots at goal to the visitors’ seven, with 10 efforts on target to their five, forcing the away side into 35 clearances, nine blocks and eight saves.
Despite United’s goal, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were dominant throughout as their partnership continues to flourish.
At the other end, Tottenham have now scored two or more goals in all five of their Premier League games under Postecoglou, something only four other managers have managed in the competition.
The style of football under Postecoglou, who is now unbeaten in 50 home matches and broke the Manager of the Month curse with a bang, gives him more patience from the fans.
The style of football under Postecoglou, who is now unbeaten in 50 home matches and broke the Manager of the Month curse with a bang, gives him more patience from the fans.
In recent seasons had Spurs been 1-0 down to a promoted side in the 73rd minute let alone 97th minute, the atmosphere would have been toxic. There would have been boos for the players collectively and for some individually and chants against the chairman.
With Postecoglou, the fans can see what he’s doing and they contributed loudly, with the odd geeing up from James Maddison, in pushing on the players despite the lateness of it all.
“The fans played their part today. It was a real frustrating game, in terms of there was a lot of stoppages and dead time,” said the Tottenham boss. “Sometimes we didn’t
Just what Richarlison and Spurs needed
As scripts go, you couldn’t have written much of a better way for Richarlison to end this week.
It was a week that began with tears in the dugout, an admission that he needed to speak to a phycologist as life off the pitch had hit him hard over the past five months and then a Spurs team that gathered around him.
The Tottenham fans also let the Brazilian know their thoughts after he spoke about his mental health, giving him a huge cheer when he came on late in the game and he responded in the best way possible.
Richarlison had spent a long time on the sidelines warming up, constantly looking across at the bench, just waiting for the nod and at one point even seemed to make a substitution sign with his hands to someone over there.
When the forward did come on he immediately gave Spurs a focal point, heading over a cross from Porro, before making that great untracked run to head in Ivan Perisic’s corner in the 98th minute, a kick earlier won by a blocked header from another substitute Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
