Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
As a Tottenham player Ryan Mason became accustomed to hearing his old manager, Mauricio Pochettino, sing Marcelo Bielsa’s praises.
Back then Mason could hardly have envisaged leading Spurs against Bielsa’s Leeds at Elland Road in his capacity as a 29-year-old interim manager of the North Londoners.
Or, for that matter, that Tottenham’s hopes of European qualification could rest on victory in West Yorkshire.
Yet this Premier League encounter provided both scenarios with the age difference of 35 years and 327 days, the second biggest gap between two managers meeting in the top-flight since the late, great Bobby Robson and Chris Coleman (37 years, 112 days).
What followed provided plenty of Premier League highlights but joy for only one as Leeds maintained their unbeaten home record against the ‘big six’ this term.
Highlights of the game
It was massive one-way traffic when the sides met in the New Year, as noted by this SBOTOP observer, but it was always felt it would be closer this time around.
Pride and passion were also predicted, even without fans to make the Elland Road atmosphere as raucous as some previous meetings between these two old stalwarts of English football.
Bielsa reacted to defeat at Brighton last week by naming an unchanged side, although Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha both returned from injury to take a place on the bench.
Liam Cooper didn’t make the squad, even at the conclusion of a three-match ban, so Luke Ayling was named captain.
Spurs, meanwhile, were unchanged from the side that hammered relegated Sheffield United 4-0 last week.
Aiming to become the first manager or coach to win his opening three Premier League matches in charge of Spurs, Mason knew Spurs needed all three points to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish, a point emphatically made by captain Harry Kane pre-match as speculation continues to surround his future at his boyhood club.
That they were never able to take control of proceedings during the entire 90 minutes was down to a combination of their impressive hosts and an element of bad luck.
The home side had already seen Hugo Lloris deny Patrick Bamford before Stuart Dallas – scorer of both goals in a 2-1 win at Manchester City last month – added another goal to his growing Premier League collection.
Jack Harrison’s low cross was touched towards his own goal by Sergio Reguilon and, while Lloris’ reflexes were alert, the lurking Dallas swiftly netted the follow-up.
Midway through the half and Spurs were level with a blistering counter-attack which saw Dele Alli given space to drive and send Son Heung-Min clear and the South Korea was at his ruthless best.
While it took another important stop from Lloris to prevent Harrison from regaining the lead for Leeds almost immediately, the visitors were left to rue VAR shortly afterwards.
Alli, Son and Kane all combined to send the league’s top scorer clear and his chipped finish was as confident as the disappointment which duly followed when he was adjudged to be offside.
That disappointment exacerbated three minutes before the break when Dallas, Harrison and Ezgjan Alioski teamed up and Patrick Bamford restored their lead from close range.
Early in the second half and Kane had the ball in the net again, although this time VAR wasn’t required to tell us the England marksman had strayed into an offside position.
Chances continued to be created: Lloris tipped over a Mateusz Klich shot, Serge Aurier’s goalbound drive was kept out by Illan Meslier and then, the moment Spurs must have known their luck was out as Kane struck a fine free-kick which smashed against the crossbar.
After an important block by Toby Alderweireld, Leeds made the game safe when Raphinha burst down the left and fellow sub, Rodrigo, duly applied the finish.
The Premier League betting odds on a top four finish for Spurs are surely now over as a result.
Key statistics
Bamford is just the fourth Englishman to score 15+ goals for Leeds in a single Premier League campaign after Lee Chapman (15 in 1992-93), Rod Wallace (17 in 1993-94) and Michael Bridges (19 in 1999-00).
Dallas is the first Northern Ireland player to score eight Premier League goals in a single season since Chris Brunt in 2008-09.
Only teammate Harry Kane (21) and Liverpool forward Mo Salah (20) have scored more Premier League goals than Tottenham’s Son (17) this season.
This was Alli’s first Premier League assist in 16 games. The midfielder has only assisted Kane (16) on more occasions in the competition than Son (nine).
Until today, Leeds had only earned one point from their past six Premier League games against Spurs.
Spurs have scored in 12 successive league games, the longest current run in the competition. Only City have scored in more top-flight fixtures this season than the 29 by Spurs.
What’s next?
The season is now drawing to a conclusion for both clubs.
Leeds are next in action at Burnley next Saturday lunchtime (May 15) before a trip to Southampton and a home match with West Brom rounds off their 2020/21 campaign.
For Spurs, back-to-back home clashes with Wolves (May 16) and Aston Villa will be followed by a last-day visit to Leicester City.
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