Sheffield United 1 Tottenham 3 - Errors return to frustrate Blades

JOSE MOURINHO is not the sort of manager to be caught out twice and you also suspect that he has a long memory.
Tottenham Hotspur's Tanguy Ndombele celebrates scoring his side's third goal. Pictures: PATottenham Hotspur's Tanguy Ndombele celebrates scoring his side's third goal. Pictures: PA
Tottenham Hotspur's Tanguy Ndombele celebrates scoring his side's third goal. Pictures: PA

As gracious as he was in congratulating his Sheffield United counterpart Chris Wilder – part-way through a post-match interview – before heading for the away team coach after his side’s 3-1 loss at Bramall Lane in July, he would not have seen the funny side in terms of patting the Blades chief on the back again following another setback for Spurs.

Taking care of business is the Portuguese’s modus operandi and this time around, his after-match conversations with a figure whom he respects in Wilder were conducted after a professional Spurs win blessed with one moment of brilliance.

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It was pushing it to expect the Blades to follow up the events of Tuesday evening with another stirring result. By common consent – and with all due respect – Spurs are not Newcastle and operate on a different Premier League stratosphere these days.

Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier and Sheffield United's David McGoldrick (right) battle for the ball.Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier and Sheffield United's David McGoldrick (right) battle for the ball.
Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier and Sheffield United's David McGoldrick (right) battle for the ball.

For things to have gone right five days on, United’s display needed to be exemplary given an obvious step-up in class in terms of opponent and immaculate from a defensive perspective. And for Spurs to have an off-day.

All those scenarios did not transpire at the start of a run of three league games where Wilder’s side also face trips to both Manchester giants.

To sloppily concede one goal can be viewed as misfortune. To do it twice points to carelessness. Three times is reprehensible.

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The inattentive Omar Bogle, a player still learning at Premier League level, probably by his own admission, erred when he was beaten by Serge Aurier at a near-post Son Heung Min’s corner for a soft and preventable Spurs opener just five minutes in.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder (left) and Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho on the touchline.Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder (left) and Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho on the touchline.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder (left) and Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho on the touchline.

Spurs then profited after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg picked the pocket of Oli Norwood five minutes ahead of the break with Harry Kane being the beneficiary. His low finish was deadly as he passed the ball into the net in a nod to Jimmy Greaves in his pomp at the old White Hart Lane.

That the Blades – whose spirit and desire was not in question – found a way back courtesy of David McGoldrick’s fine glancing header just before the hour mark was commendable.

They reckoned without the audacity of Tanguy Ndombele just 172 seconds later, although Wilder will have been more concerned in terms of what happened in the build-up to the Frenchman’s sublime 63rd-minute lob with the outside of his foot – than the merits of a goal-of-the season contender.

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It came after more loose play from United between Ethan Ampadu and Norwood at a time when the final half-hour had the potential to be interesting.

Instead, Spurs were able to finish in comfort. Another lesson in a bruising campaign for United.

The visitors were clearly not taking any chances. Mourinho, who stood on his own on the playing surface in the warm-up, seemed deep in thought, no doubt mindful of Spurs’ concession of 10 points from winning positions so far in 2020-21.

They are not statistics associated with a side competing at the top end of the table.

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Mourinho referenced his belief that, in his view, the league table was false and the Blades were not in the position they merited at the bottom. On the day, some poor concessions pointed to a big reason why they are.

After their first league win and clean sheet in 21 matches, it remained to be seen as to whether United would come of age against one of the top-flight’s big-hitters, with Dele Alli, Harry Winks and Matt Doherty not even making their match-day squad.

Aurier’s early goal was something that the hosts could have seriously done without as the Blades sought to avoid an eighth top-flight loss on home soil in a season, something which last happened in 1975-76.

With a willing runner in Oli Burke up front and McGoldrick pulling one or two strings behind him, United took the fight to Spurs, but the visitors always had the quality in their locker.

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Spurs came into the game with the best goals-for tally in the first half of matches in the Premier League so far this season in 19. That became 21 by the interval.

After Aurier’s header flew past Aaron Ramsdale, who made an early tip-over to thwart Steven Bergwijn, Kane’s pass dissected the Blades’ rearguard, but fortunately, Son’s dinked effort clipped the post as Spurs sought a quick kill.

United regrouped and stayed in the game, with a fine saving challenge from Joe Rodon stopping McGoldrick from having a clear run on goal, with the Blades’ best other moment seeing Eric Dier do well to divert Burke’s goalbound drive.

Kane’s second hinted at a routine second half for the visitors, but McGoldrick had other ideas with a super glancing header from John Fleck’s equally fine cross to reduce the arrears.

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Unfortunately, Ndombele’s outrageous finish from Aurier’s assist instantly changed the narrative as the afternoon finished to Mourinho’s liking.

On script.

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