Tottenham legend singles out three players for praise from West Ham win

After the disappointment of a loss at Brighton, Spurs responded in emphatic fashion against West Ham United, delivering a four-goal masterclass at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that saw Graham Roberts lavish praise on three standout performers.

Spurs needed a response

Tottenham Hotspur entered Saturday’s clash with West Ham United under pressure, eager to make amends following their 3-2 defeat to Brighton before the international break.

Ange Postecoglou’s side knew they needed to shake off the disappointment quickly, as the battle for European qualification is intense, and consistency is key at this stage of the campaign.

In front of a lively North London crowd, Spurs were determined to regain their momentum, but their start was far from ideal. West Ham, struggling themselves, took a surprise lead in the 18th minute after Jarrod Bowen’s clever cut-back found Mohammed Kudus, who made no mistake in drilling the ball home.

With the pressure mounting, Tottenham’s response was crucial, as the nerves of conceding early could have derailed their plans for a return to winning ways.

Yet, Postecoglou’s side remained composed and patient, knowing that their style of play would eventually break down the opposition’s defence. Spurs didn’t have to wait long for their equaliser, as James Maddison, produced a perfectly weighted ball for Dejan Kulusevski to fire into the net, bringing Spurs level before half-time.

Roberts hails ‘fantastic’ Spurs trio

With the game finely poised, the second half proved decisive for Tottenham, as they came out of the dressing room with renewed energy and a determination to control proceedings. It was Son Heung-min and Destiny Udogie who orchestrated the move that led to Yves Bissouma’s goal in the 53rd minute.

The floodgates were well and truly open at that point, as Jean-Clair Todibo’s unfortunate own goal two minutes later further tipped the scales in Spurs’ favour.

Graham Roberts was quick to highlight the contributions of three players in particular—Son, Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke.

Taking to X, he praised their performances, noting, “Son, Kulusevski and Solanke were fantastic today, and we’ve been crying out for a manager like Ange, who plays the way we want. He’ll bring us silverware if we keep this up.”

Solanke, although not on the scoresheet, was pivotal in linking up play and creating space for others, while Son and Kulusevski consistently caused problems for West Ham’s backline.

Key stats from a stellar display

The performances of Tottenham’s key players were backed up by the numbers, as Kulusevski, Son, and Solanke each contributed significantly to the team’s success.

Kulusevski, who scored the equaliser, had an outstanding 8.3 rating from FotMob, having played the full 90 minutes and managed four shots, one of which hit the target, while he also completed 29 of 34 passes, showing his sharpness on the ball. His ability to create chances, with two key passes, and his 59 touches of the ball underlined his importance in the attacking build-up.

Son, who continues to be a reliable source of goals, had an even higher FotMob rating of 8.5. In just 70 minutes of action, he notched a goal and had five shots on goal, two of which were on target, while he created two chances for his teammates. His intelligent movement and ability to get into dangerous areas were evident as he had 10 touches in the opposition box, making him a constant threat.

Solanke’s involvement may have flown under the radar, but his contributions were vital to Spurs’ fluid attacking play. With an 82% pass accuracy, Solanke linked up with his teammates effectively, creating one key chance while winning four of his 13 duels, showing his willingness to battle and hold up the ball.

As Tottenham prepare to face AZ Alkmaar in their next Europa League clash, fans will be hoping for more of the same, with key players stepping up at the right time to keep the team’s momentum going in what is shaping up to be a promising season under Ange Postecoglou’s leadership.

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