Spurs Relieve Strain on Frank as Simons Seals Straightforward Victory Over Slavia Prague
The South Korean star's emotional homecoming to the club he represented for a ten-year period was somewhat dimmed by a contest that was devoid of competitive edge. Extracting meaningful insights from this revamped European format prior to the latter rounds commence proves a challenging task.
This encounter was largely a one-sided affair in terms of competitiveness, making it a mistake to assume Tottenham have morphed into a formidable machine on their own ground. They encountered a limited test from Slavia Prague and were not forced to extend themselves completely to claim the result.
An Evening of Limited Opposition
Slavia Prague, coming into the match without a victory from their first six league phase games, offered little danger. The Czech Republic title holders conceded a peculiar own goal in the first half before yielding two debatable penalties after the interval.
"We were very happy we continued the positive feeling from the Brentford game," the manager stated. "This side is gelling more and more."
Despite the uneven nature, Frank is right to cling to indicators of progress after a difficult beginning to his time in charge. He will not mind by the close to 15,000 unsold tickets at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Son's Touching Homecoming
The sparse attendance in the higher stands maybe reflected a lack of excitement about the opposition's quality, despite a huge roar welcomed Son Heung-min during his official farewell appearance before the start.
The goal came from Son who scored the historic goal at this stadium after the club's move in 2019. Although his influence waned last campaign, he will forever be remembered as a club legend. His return certainly enhanced the mood, although the present crop of stars also played their part.
Match Overview
The opening goal arrived in the 26th minute when Cristian Romero glanced a Pedro Porro corner, resulting in Slavia's David Zima sending a strange own goal past his own keeper.
Mohammed Kudus made it 2-0 from the spot-kick early into the second period, after Youssoupha Sanyang was adjudged to have fouled Porro.
With the result secure, Spurs could manage the game. The Dutch playmaker then completed the scoring by earning and scoring a another spot-kick later on.
Important Takeaways
- Momentum: The win followed the weekend's success against Brentford, easing the immediate pressure on head coach Thomas Frank.
- Simons' Confidence: Scoring again will boost the young attacker's confidence considerably.
- Defensive Setback: Micky van de Ven's needless booking rules him out for the crucial next Champions League fixture against Borussia Dortmund.
Overall, it was a professional display from Spurs against limited opposition. The mood around the club has improved, and the pressure on the manager has temporarily subsided.