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Saints At Tottenham Hotspur The Verdict

Saints really should have come home with at least a point probably all three on their first trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but our defensive woes continue.

Saints benefited from a first half sending off, but strangely I don't think this helped our cause as it meant that we had the lions share of the possession and Spurs did what they do well, break quickly and we did what we do badly and that is defend breaks.

Saints were hit by a blow pre match with Cedric unable to play after being injured in the warm, the big question here is why he wasn't replaced like for like and Yan Valery drafted in, but instead Ralph Hasenhuttl opted to change formation and bring in Vestergaard and use JWP as the right wingback.

Whilst there aren't many Saints supporters who appreciate what Ralph has been doing here and have faith i him, of late he seems loathe to play certain players and prefers to either play square pegs in round holes of change formation than play them.

If he did want to change formation then surely he would be better playing Kevin Danso in his normal position of central defence and get the chance to show if he is the answer or not, but Danso seems to be one out of favour at the moment.

The early Spurs goal was against the run of play and had all the usual poor defending traits, players not being marked tightly, and standing off and it looked like Gunn really should have done better.

But the sending off changed things and we had the lions share of the play and the chances and Danny Ings again showed why we signed him getting a real poachers goal after closing down the keeper.

But just as we had got into it and looked like we could head into the break level, we again gifted a goal, Spurs broke and caught us in total disarray, they passed the ball and if there is one man we should have been marking it was Harry Kane , he found space and put Spurs ahead again, it truly would never have happened with a good organisational leader in the centre of our defence or at least some pace and there is where perhaps Danso should have been on the pitch.

Second half saw Saints huff and puff, but a marvellous Lloris save from Yoshida aside, we looked short of inspiration in front of goal, our play lacked inspiration and Spurs were capable of soaking up the pressure .

As mentioned perhaps the sending off aided Spurs more than Saints, it meant that we had more of the ball and pushed forward meaning that the home side had more room to counter attack us and that is their strength, it also served to bond them more as a team and gave them a spirit they have been sorely lacking in recent weeks.

All in all this was at least a point dropped for Saints and probably three, we can't keep gifting goals, but we know we will because we are lacking a vital ingredient at the back, as at Sheffield United Saints will get strokes of luck and win games, but sadly we will keep throwing away points because we have no leadership on the pitch.

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