Mauricio Pochettino: 'Their supporters pushed them and I think they played very well in the second half. But we made a big, big effort'

Published: 26 December, 2014
by DAN CARRIER

Premier League
LEICESTER CITY 1, SPURS 2

FRENCH international Hugo Lloris celebrated his 28th birthday in style by keeping Spurs on the shoulders of the top four with an outstanding Boxing Day performance.

The goalkeeper's acrobatics in his team's 2-1 away victory at Leicester City prompted head coach Mauricio Pochettino to call the skipper “one of the best goalkeepers in the world”.

Spurs stole all three points with goals from Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, but it was another smash-and-grab away win as Leicester dominated. It was only through the work of Lloris in stopping 22 efforts on target that Spurs recorded their fourth victory in a row.

After the game, Pochettino admitted City could feel hard done by. He said: “We managed [the game] for 25, 30 minutes but Leicester are a very good team, their supporters pushed them and I think they played very well in the second half. But we made a big, big effort.”

Tottenham’s leading scorer Kane opened the visitors' account in the opening minute when he latched on to a Nacer Chadli cross, poked the ball around his marker Wes Morgan and beat Ben Hamer in the Foxes' goal from close range. It was his 15th strike in all competitions so far this term. 

For the opening 20 minutes it looked like Spurs would use the occasion to make some headway into their goal difference column. Kane, Chadli and Eriksen all had openings, while midfielder Nabil Bentaleb missed a glorious opportunity midway thorugh the first half to double their lead after streaking clear. It took a last-ditch recovery from ex-Spur Paul Konchesky to keep the Foxes in it.

Then, as Spurs saw their opening efforts produce no goals, Leicester found fresh legs. They worked hard, belying statistics that read 11 defeats out of the past 13 attempts. Nigel Pearson's bottom-of-the-table side hit the woodwork twice and had two good calls for penalties denied as Spurs fought a desperate rearguard action.

Leicester's efforts were rewarded as the second half got underway when Leonardo Ulloa turned home at the near post and the home team sensed all three points were there for the taking. 

Spurs were kept on the back foot until a 71st-minute free-kick by Danish forward Eriksen stole the victory. He stepped up wide on the left and delivered a near perfect long-range free-kick that snuck round the wall and in at the near post. It prompted another onslaught from the Premiership’s bottom club – but Tottenham’s goalkeeper was equal to all thrown at him. 

At the other end, the technique of Eriksen – scoring his seventh goal this term –  proved to be the difference between the two sides. His winner keeps Spurs within touching distance of the top four, one point off fifth place.

SPURS: Lloris, Rose, Vertonghen, Fazio, Stambouli, (Mason h/t), Bentaleb, Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli (Soldado, 63), Kane (Paulinho, 84).

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

Five points from today:

Enjoy Hugo Lloris while you can. This was yet another incredible performance. He and Eriksen showed they have that innate match-winning ability, and he is quickly becoming as important to this side as Gareth Bale was two years ago. He deserves to play in the Champions League – hopefully with Spurs, but if not, expect a big bid to come in for him, sooner rather than later. 

You have to feel sorry for Benji Stambouli. He has patiently waited for the chance to show what he can do and was handed his first start today in the Premier League. But he looked nervous, and took a knock, which led to him being subbed at half-time.

Danny Rose needed a big game to fend off Ben Davies, who has made the left-back berth his own. But he was not convincing and expect Davies to return for the game versus Manchester United on Sunday. 

This was another ugly win, which for the optimists prompts the thought: how good can this team become, when everyone performs well and follows Poch’s plans to the letter? 

Harry Kane, with 15 goals now in all competitons, must be odds-on to break the 20-goal barrier for Tottenham. 

The side have long sought a regular goalscorer – and the 21-year-old from Walthamstow is proving to be that man.