Timid Tottenham Pay The Penalty

Tottenham’s wretched Premier League record away to Woolwich now stretches to just two wins in 28 matches following a dispiriting 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. Erik Lamela – who only joined the action as a substitute – was this North London Derby’s main protagonist. The Argentine scored a sensational 32nd-minute opener before being later sent off for a needless challenge after Woolwich had turned the match on its head.

What will pain Spurs fans most is that it took until Lamela’s dismissal for Jose Mourinho’s side to really go at their rivals. Those anticipating that from the outset Tottenham’s free-scoring attack would severely test the Woolwich defence were left sorely disappointed. Spurs showed puzzling deference to their hosts for the vast majority of this contest, despite Woolwich’s middling league position and long midweek journey to Athens. Furthermore, due to an opaque pre-match breach of discipline, Woolwich were shorn of their principal goal-threat and captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

With the Gunners monopolising possession in the first 15 minutes, it appeared that Mourinho was hoping to repeat the alchemy of Tottenham’s 2-0 derby victory in December. Back then, Spurs ceded the ball to Arteta’s team for long periods before devastating them on the counter. Here, Tottenham struggled to supply their attackers in the opposing half. Son was pinned back, attempting to shackle the menacing Saka on the left-wing. While Doherty, abandoned by Bale, received a chasing by Smith Rowe on the right.

The youngster was unfortunate not to open the scoring after 15 minutes. Reguilon was hounded into relinquishing the ball, allowing Partey to slide a pass to Smith Rowe on the edge of the area. His shot for the top right corner of Lloris’s goal thudded off the bar with the keeper well beaten.

Two minutes later, Alderweireld’s long pass forward was as much an attempt to offer his defensive colleagues respite as it was the launch of an attack. The Stakhanovite Son – who has played so much football this season – made a muscle tearing dash to reach it – and then duly pulled up, clutching his hamstring. Erik Lamela entered the fray in the Korean’s stead and was, as ever, in spikey form. First, he engaged in some off-the-ball grappling with the equally combustible Xhaka. Then he aimed a sly kick at David Luiz, which referee Michael Oliver failed to spot.

There was nothing brutish, however, about Lamela’s next contribution to the match. Reguilon ventured upfield for the first time and was found by Bale’s lofted switch of play. The Spaniard instantly volleyed a centre across the box, where Lucas Moura cushioned it down for his South American teammate. Showing an almost pathological disdain for his own right foot, Lamela struck a sublime ‘rabona’ from the left of the penalty spot that curved inside Leno’s far post. There cannot have been many better goals in the 111 years of this fixture. Sergio Reguilon encapsulated Lamela’s moment of genius, chasing after the ecstatic goalscorer while having both hands glued to his own head in disbelief.

The home side almost restored parity immediately. Smith Rowe burst past Doherty with worrying ease and cut a ball back to Lacazette in the middle of the goalmouth. Inexplicably, rather than shooting himself, the striker opted to dummy the ball where it sped towards Cedric just outside the area. The Portuguese full-back met it with a firm drive that cannoned off the base of Lloris’s near post.

Tottenham failed to take heed of the damage being done to them down their defensive right. And it was no surprise that with the half-time whistle imminent, Woolwich’s route to an equaliser came from that side of the pitch. Tierney, this time, blew past Doherty and fired the ball across the Tottenham box. Martin Odgaard’s connection lacked power but found its way into Lloris’s net via a deflection off the unfortunate Alderweireld.

Woolwich’s threat was undiminished after the interval. Belatedly with ten minutes of the second period played, Mourinho attempted to address his side’s right-sided frailty. However, rather than replacing Doherty directly, the Portuguese curiously opted to change the man ahead of him. Bale was substituted for Sissoko.

Five minutes later, Tottenham fell behind. Half-time substitute Nicolas Pepe steered a ball down the right channel of the Tottenham area to Lacazette. Davinson Sanchez slid in with a recklessly desperate attempt to block the striker’s shot. It was a decision he instantly regretted as Lacazette skewed his effort harmlessly wide before being felled by the Colombian’s challenge. Michael Oliver pointed to the spot, and Lacazette sent Lloris the wrong way from 12 yards.

With 68 minutes on the clock, Lamela picked up his first booking for a sliding tackle on Partey. He did manage to nick the ball with his boot before taking plenty of the Ghanian. It was the sort of challenge Lamela has made throughout his long Premier League career. He is a player who has shown an uncanny knack for being able to tiptoe up to the very threshold of a red card without ever crossing it – until now. Within five minutes of his name being taken, Tottenham’s number 11 was lucky that the referee took a lenient view of another sliding tackle, this time on Xhaka.

There would be no reprieve seconds later. Receiving the ball from Sanchez on the right touchline, Lamela thrust out a forceful arm which struck Tierney in the throat as he came to apply pressure. Not even the Tottenham bench felt compelled to complain as Oliver brandished a second yellow card followed by red.

Even if there was no injustice to rail against, the dismissal roused Spurs. Lucas Moura and the peripheral Harry Kane suddenly came to the fore. With eight minutes remaining, Kane expertly headed in the Brazilian’s flighted free-kick at the far post. The England captain’s subdued celebrations suggested he suspected he was offside – as did the assistant referee. In short order, Moura almost found Kane with another teasing cross. David Luiz did well to intercept just as the striker was flexing his neck muscles to power home.

In the 88th minute, Kane drew a crude challenge from Partey to set up a free-kick shooting chance. The striker lashed a low shot around the wall, which the wrong-footed Leno was relieved to see smack against his left post. Sanchez, reacting quickly, tried to tackle the rebound goalwards, but Gabriel was well-positioned to head the ball to safety.

And with that, Tottenham’s hopes of salvaging a point disappeared. Jose Mourinho will rightly applaud his side’s late valour. But inevitably, when Spurs underwhelm like this, it is impossible to avoid a nagging sense that for the players, their manager’s cautious instincts are more a hindrance than a help.