ONCE again, Tottenham have come unstuck at Wembley as Swansea City rode their luck to trot away with a point and leave the home side and their fans desperately disappointed this evening (Saturday).

After the match Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was as much defiant as frustrated. “We deserved more, and we were unlucky,” he said. “But we move on.” Pochettino did express his frustration at two strong Spurs penalty appeals turned down by referee Mike Dean. ” You have to stay calm. I don’t want to complain, and I respect the referee. But, we should have scored before”, he said.

This, however, should have been the match where Spurs could build on their euphoric Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund in midweek, and give themselves the confidence that Wembley is actually a welcome ‘home from home’ and not a dreaded millstone. “Wembley is a factor,” said the manager. “We have dropped 7 points, but Dortmund was also at Wembley.”

There had been much talk of the Wembley hoodoo finallly being lifted post Dortmund, but Swansea’s obstructive bus parking ensured it hasn’t been just yet. Add to that a fine performance from former Arsenal shot stopper Lucasz Fabianski and Spurs fans could sense it wasn’t going to be their day. Fabianski saved well from Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son as Spurs dominated early on.

At the other end, in a rare Swansea attack, former Spur Tom Carroll, saw his goalbound effort blocked by Moussa Sissoko.
Spurs fans continued to urge their team to ‘move it quicker’, but a turgid and tired first half display was a long way from Tottenham’s champagne, Champions League football in midweek. They had 69 per cent possession, but strugggled to click into gear and create chances against a stubborn, well marshalled Swansea rearguard.

In the second half, Pochettino switched Son from his left wing back role to line up alongside Kane, as Spurs went in search of that elusive first Wembley win at home in the league.
Swansea’s double decks of red shirts defended for their lives and 0n 56 minutes, they certainly got away with one when Martin Olson looked to have handled in the area. “It was a handball, ” insisted Pochettino afterwards.
Stirred by this penalty injustice, Spurs players and crowd turned up the heat. Son had another shot saved by Fabianski, while on 57 minutes, a typical Kane snap shot clipped the cross bar. Kane was denied again, when the Polish international, punched over his deft header on the hour mark.

Then Dele Alli needlessly headed across goal for no one, when he was better placed to aim for the corner of the Swans’ goal, with Fabianski out of position.

Pochettino introduced former Swans striker, Fernando Llorente, but Tottenham frustrations continued. Olsson was at it again – this time his arm blocking Serge Aurier’s cross, but referee Michael Dean ignored the din from the crowd.
Starved of much space to operate all evening, Kane did find room to drive goalward in the 81st minute, but his shot trickled wide of Fabianski’s goal, as the one way traffic continued. Tottenham possession was now up to 75%. Swansea had mustered nothing on goal.

The latest Kane miss was the cue for many in the Spurs ranks to head for the exits. And soon referee Dean blew the whistle on more Wembley woe for Tottenham.

SPURS: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Dier, Sissoko (Aurier 63), Son (Llorente 74); Alli, Kane, Eriksen

Subs not used: Vorm,  Dembele, Foyth, Winks, Davies

SWANSEA CITY: Fabianski; Olsson, Naughton, van der Hoorn (Routledge 85), Fernandez, Mawson; Clucas, Sanches (Fer 58), Carroll; Ayew, Abraham (Bon 72)

Subs not used: Mesa, Norfeldt, Narsingh, Rangel