Spurs Ease Pressure on Thomas Frank as Xavi Simons Rounds Off Straightforward Win Against Slavia Prague
Son Heung-min's emotional homecoming to the club he represented for a ten-year period was somewhat dimmed by a match that was devoid of competitive edge. Finding meaningful insights from this revamped European format prior to the knockout stages commence remains a challenging endeavor.
This fixture was largely a non-event in terms of a genuine contest, rendering it a error to assume Tottenham have morphed into a formidable machine on their own ground. They encountered a limited challenge from Slavia Prague and were not forced to exert themselves completely to claim the result.
A Night of Limited Resistance
Slavia Prague, coming into the match winless from their first six league phase games, offered little threat. The Czech Republic champions gave away a bizarre own goal early on before surrendering two debatable spot-kicks after the interval.
"I was pleased we built on the positive feeling from the Brentford game," the manager remarked. "This side is coming together increasingly."
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Frank is right to cling to signs of improvement after a troubled start to his tenure in North London. He will not mind by the close to 15,000 unsold tickets at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Son's Emotional Return
The thin attendance in the higher stands perhaps highlighted a lack of excitement about the visiting team's quality, even if a tremendous ovation welcomed Son Heung-min during his formal send-off ceremony before kick-off.
The goal came from Son who netted the historic goal at this stadium after the club's relocation in 2019. Although his impact diminished last campaign, he will always be remembered as a Tottenham icon. His return certainly enhanced the mood, although the current crop of stars also played their part.
Match Overview
The opening goal arrived in the 26th minute when the Argentine defender flicked on a Spanish full-back set-piece, leading to Slavia's David Zima directing a strange own goal past his own keeper.
Mohammed Kudus made it 2-0 from the spot-kick early into the second period, after a Slavia defender was ruled to have fouled Porro.
With the result safe, Spurs were able to ease off. The Dutch playmaker then completed the scoring by winning and scoring a another spot-kick later on.
Key Points
- Momentum: The win followed the weekend's success against Brentford, easing the short-term scrutiny on manager Thomas Frank.
- Xavi Simons' Form: Finding the net once more will boost the young attacker's confidence considerably.
- Defensive Setback: Micky van de Ven's needless booking makes him ineligible for the crucial upcoming European fixture against Borussia Dortmund.
Overall, it was a efficient performance from Spurs against inferior opposition. The mood around the club has improved, and the heat on the coach has for now eased.
