Match Report: Spurs 4 Sheffield United 0 (A Bale hat-trick & a visit to the Stadium).
What an eventful Sunday. First, I went up to stay at Hanna’s, then a visit to the Stadium, Bale gets a hat-trick and then the concluding part of Line of Duty. Or putting it another way, excellent-good-excellent-puzzling.
The excellent was going to London to see Hanna, the good was going to the Spurs shop (on the day of the match, but I wasn’t allowed to witness it first hand, as my season ticket would have dictated). Then an excellent result against a relegated side (a bit of sarcasm here) and then the puzzling final of Line of Duty.
When I arrived in Goodmayes, Hanna and I then left to visit the Spurs shop (long time no see) and chatted to the manager (I’ve known him for years), talked to staff, purchased some goods (including a handbook) and then on to Sainsbury’s and back to Hanna’s. Dinner, then we both sat down to watch the game (on my iPhone). To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from Mason’s team. I did predict that we would win 3-1 in my Blog, when I previewed the game (four goals were scored), but beyond that, I was expecting the worst.
To the match;
Gareth Bale’s hat-trick gave us a comfortable victory over a struggling and relegated side. However, we did maintain our pursuit of European Champions League football. We are five points behind fourth-placed Chelski. We’ve got four games to go; two home and two away. The two away are Leeds & Leicester City, and the two home ones are against Villa and Wolves. Chelski have Man City, the Gooners, Leicester City and Villa. They have the most challenging run in (so, fingers crossed).
Back to Bale, he, who flicked in the opener when it was lifted over the top by Serge Aurier before he thumps in the third in the second half. He was played in by Son on the break for his second – a brilliant strike that flew into the top right corner. Son then rounded off a dominant Spurs performance when he curled in a superb fourth goal. Son also had a goal disallowed for offside five minutes into the second half.
After the game Bale said he was “feeling good” after starting back-to-back Premier League games. “You have to take your chances when they come,” he said. “I just needed to play games and get a run of games, and I’m doing that now. I’m happy, and when I’m happy, I play well.”
Mason praises ‘world class’ Bale after our win. He added: “I said all along Bale hasn’t and won’t lose that ability in the final third to produce moments of excellence. He’s a world-class player – he’s proved that over many years. The most pleasing thing was his attitude; his running for the team. You feel confident he’ll take the chances.”
Sheffield United, who were relegated on 17 April following defeat to Wolves, had one shot on target and could not test Hugo Lloris.
Gareth Bale became the first Welshman since Craig Bellamy in 2006 to score 50 Premier League goals. Bale’s hat-trick was only his second in the Premier League and his first since December 2012 when he netted three against Aston Villa.
He was one of two changes in our starting line-up as Mason called up Bale and Dele Alli in place of Harry Winks and Lucas Moura. Both players did a good job. Alli showing sparkles of quality in the first half before fading in the second.
My thoughts
It was Bale everybody focused on, and rightly so.
Aurier’s pass for Bale’s third was perfectly weighted, as he drilled it into the bottom right corner to seal the hat-trick.
The Blades fail to trouble us.
It was a good game, and we played excellent, however, as a friend of mine said, it was only the Blades, a team of the calibre of our team should be expected to win games like this (no trouble), if we have high hopes of winning anything and being in the top four.
Can we overtake Chelski in fourth? Well, it isn’t impossible, but you never know with Spurs, and don’t forget we’ve got an inexperienced manager pulling the team’s strings (and probably Levy pulling his). As I said earlier, between the Russian bear and us, we have – on paper – an easier run-in. But nothing is easy with Spurs lately. If we do manage it, then we can thank the Soviet’s failures (who are still in two competitions; Champions League & FA Cup).
What worries me, if Mason manages it (to get into the top four), will Levy be stupid enough to permanently give the Job to him? An inexperienced man/ boy who has never managed any sort of league club. You never know with Levy (at least he will save money by appointing him).
The stats
We have won five of our last six Premier League home games (L1), one more than we managed across our first 11 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season (W4 D3 L4).
Sheffield United have lost 27 of their 34 Premier League games this season (W5, D2) – the most the Blades have ever lost in a single league campaign in their history.
The Blades have picked up just four points from a possible 51 available away from home this season.
All nine of Bale’s Premier League goals this season have come at our Stadium.
Son (16 goals, 10 assists) joined Harry Kane and Bruno Fernandes as one of three Premier League players to score and assist 10+ goals in the Premier League this season.
What’s next for us?
Well, we travel to Elland Road to face Leeds on Saturday, 8 May (12:30 BST kick-off). Then in the evening, Chelski take on Man City away. It is all hotting up.
It has been an exciting weekend, with the final episode of Line of Duty being aired. Not what everybody thought and still left a few questions unanswered. Maybe that is for a new season. Like our next new season (21/22), with many questions to be answered, or failures met with shouts of Levy out. It never rains at Tottenham, just pours (or it has been since Levy & Lewis took over).
All the best and stay safe, Glenn
Has your eye’s seen the Glory? If yes (or even no) click HERE and follow the link, then they will and for those that are longer in the tooth…. be prepared to be dazzled all over again!
COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1960s (the season of the double). In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London. I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books, Spurs handbooks, Spurs programmes etc.
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
