After a busy week, Tottenham was back in action in the WSL against Manchester United. Tottenham faced Manchester City last week in the WSL where two controversial incidents cost Tottenham a game that they were very much in, highlights of that game can be found below.
On Wednesday Tottenham welcomed the London City Lionesses to the Hive in the Continental Cup where Tottenham ran out 4-0 winners with goals from Percival, Ayane, Kennedy and Addison. The Conti cup victory will most certainly give the team a much-needed confidence boost before welcoming United to the Hive. Highlights of the game un-televised game can be found below.
Lineups.
Tottenham lined up in a 4-3-3 with Spencer in goal, Neville at right-back with Zardorsky and Godfrey in the centre of defence, while Worm retained her place at left-back. The Tottenham midfield was made up of Green, Kennedy and Percival with Addison, Davison and Ayane making up the front 3.
Manchester United also lined up in a 4-3-3 with Earps in goal, Amy Turner at right-back, McManus and Millie Turner in the centre of defence and Galton in at left-back. The United midfield was made of Ladd, Groenen and Zelem. While Heath, Russo and Press made the up the front 3 for United.
Match report.
The biggest surprise of the day was that AM13, Alex Morgan herself was again not in the lineup nor on the bench. Fan’s are growing restless but all good things come to those who wait and the coaches as I am sure Alex herself want to make sure that our new Lilywhite is the best condition possible before being unleashed on the WSL. All our players are finely tuned athletes, you wouldn’t unleash a Porsche or Ferrari without ensuring that it has been serviced and the same must be applied to our players and it will be worth the wait.
Tottenham seemed to have been reborn after Wednesday’s Conti Cup victory because Tottenham looked like a new team, Pressing United from the start making them feel very uncomfortable and in the 4th minute Tottenham should have been up when Ayane latched onto a misplaced Galton ball but Ayane seemed to rush her shot and put her effort wide of Mary Earps’s right-hand post after shooting from outside the box. Tottenham pressured United, passed the ball nicely and were slightly on top of United in possession. Tottenham looked much more compact and comfortable playing in a 4-3-3 and was on top of United giving the visitors no room to breath.
In the 23rd minute, United caught Tottenham with just Neville at the back and could have taken the lead through Heath but Becky Spencer stood strong to deny Heath with a save with her left foot. Toward’s the last quarter of the half United started to gain more possession from Tottenham which is understandable as it is very difficult to maintain the same amount of pressure all game. In the 40th minute, United again had a chance to take the lead when a Heath corner came back to Tobin and played a cheeky ball to Zelem instead of crossing where Zelem shot from just inside the box and her shot was tipped over by Spencer for another United corner.
Both teams came out fighting for possession in the second half with Tottenham continuing to pressure United and not give them any time on the ball to play their game. United made their first substitute of the game on the 55th minute with Hanson coming on for Press. In the 59th minute, United earned themselves a corner but M.Turner headed over a Heath corner keeping the game 0-0. The more the minutes passed both teams looked more afraid to make a mistake that could cost them the game as Tottenham and Manchester United began paying more long balls to see who could catch who off guard in defence. In the 66th minute it almost paid off for united when Russo had her effort brilliantly saved by Spencer who had been spectacular in the Tottenham goal. As a result of that Russo effort, Tobin Heath took United’s corner which was met by Millie Turner and looped over Spencer into the back of the net to give United the lead.
It was definitely a sloppy goal but nothing less than the visitors deserved. Rianna Dean came on for Ayane and then Graham came on for Kennedy who was taken off as a precaution after a collision. United didn’t seem like they wanted to attack much more after getting the goal out of fear of conceding but in the 74th minute Ella Toone shot from the edge of the box but her effort was straight at Spencer for a comfortable save. Lucy Staniforth came on for Tobin Heath in the 76th minute as united looked to hold on to the 1-0 lead and not risk conceding late in the game as Tottenham searched for the equalizer. The Tottenham coaches made their final 3 substitutes in the 88th minute with Quinn, Filbey and Leon coming on for Davison, Green and Ashleigh Neville who was walking a thin line after a yellow card early into the 2nd half. The final Tottenham substitues came a little late and Tottenham were unable to get the goal needed to take a point away in a match that I feel every Tottenham player and fan can be of.
Player of the match.
Every player gave everything today, personally feel it would be unfair to pick just one player for the player of the match. If we had to select one we would say Becky Spencer because she kept Tottenham in the game and the score at just 1-0 to the visitors. Do not get me wrong we aren’t saying it was an onslaught by United, but Spencer came up with some important saves to keep us in the game. Because of this wonderful performance (the best I have seen in a long time) our individual player of the match goes to Becky Spencer but, because of the team’s performance and work rate today we will be making the player of the match a player(s) of the match and, therefore the whole team gets this from us.
Post match analysis.
Every player gave everything today, It’s like the team was reborn after the London City game. I have said for a long time that Tottenham needed to return to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 and play with Addison and Davison down each wing and wow what a performance by our Lilywhites. The team left everything on that field and there are so many positives to be taken from today’s performance despite the defeat and there is only room for improvement. The United winner was a bit of a soft goal and personally feel disappointed that we lost to that goal. If I am honest United just deserved the victory but we have to be proud of each player that was on that field today. Tottenham is still missing something in the final third because even though we played much better and really went head to head with United we didn’t cause Earps many problems in the final third which makes me think had Dean or Graham been in that number 9 role maybe just maybe we could’ve taken a point or maybe all 3 against a very strong Manchester United.
Manchester United did have the clearest chances and did deserve the victory but we came so close and thought and it was definitely the best performance from us excluding the first half against West Ham on opening day. Many will say Becky Spencer saved us from losing by 2 or 3 but a goalkeeper’s job is to block and save goals and to lose to such a soft goal is heartbreaking but this performance will give us a lot of hope and belief going into the derby next Sunday. I saw a lot of improvements and I think the Coaches have found their right tactic and starters the only issue is the Number 9 role which should be between Dean and Graham (until Morgan is match fit). Hopefully, Alanna will be back for next weeks game as she would be a miss against Arsenal and would be another unnecessary headache for the coaches. We must keep improving and take this defeat as a positive and learn for it.
Chloe Peplow injury update.
It was announced on Thursday, October 8th that Chloe Peplow had undergone surgery to repair a fracture in her right foot. Peplow went off Injured in the FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal after a collision and will now up undergo a period of recovery before beginning rehabilitation. We wish you a speedy recovery Pep.
New arrival.
With the injury to Aurora Mikalsen, Tottenham announced the signing of a new goalkeeper in fellow Enfielder Sophie Whitehouse. The 23 year old joins our Lilywhites from Santa Clara University where Whitehouse made 13 appearances, keeping 7 clean sheets.
Whitehouse started her senior career with Columbia University where she later became captain and kept five clean sheets in 16 games in 2018. Whitehouse will wear the number 24 for Tottenham and will provide some much-needed cover to the Tottenham goalkeeping position, welcome and good lucky Sophie.
Next match.
Next up for our Lilywhites is a trip to Borehamwood to take on Arsenal to close a tough month of fixtures in the WSL.
Next weeks match against Arsenal on Sunday, October the 18th will be broadcast live on BT Sports at 2 pm, until then COYS!!
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