Christian Eriksen Scores Late Tottenham Winner Against Hull City

Christian Eriksen scored a late winner for Tottenham against 10-man Hull City who had taken a  first half lead through former Spurs player, Jake Livermore. In the second half after Ramirez was sent off, Harry Kane equalised following a free-kick from Eriksen had struck the post.

Hull City 1  Tottenham Hotspur 2

Scorers: Livermore   Kane, Eriksen

Team: Lloris, Dier (Chiriches), Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Dembele (Lennon), Mason, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane, Soldado (Paulinho) Subs: (unused) Vorm, Ball, Ceballos, Stambouli

For the visit to Hull City, Mauricio Pochettino made six changes to the Tottenham team which lost at home to Stoke City a fortnight ago. Hugo Lloris captained the team with Eric Dier replacing the suspended Kyle Naughton. Jan Vertonghen returned to the side in place of Younes Kaboul, playing alongside Frederico Fazio with Ben Davies making his first Premier League start for Tottenham. In midfield Mousa Dembele came in for Etienne Capoue with Erik Lamela replacing Nacer Chadli. Christian Eriksen and Ryan Mason completed the midfield while Roberto Soldado also returned with Harry Kane retaining his place.

With Capoue, Chadli, Kaboul, Andros Townsend, Danny Rose, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nabil Bentaleb and Kyle Walker missing through injury, included among the substitutes was Dominic Ball, the Academy defender who has been playing for the England Under-20 team and Christian Ceballos.

With neither team finding their best form this season, the result could depend on which team shows the greater commitment and with three former Tottenham players in their team, Michael Dawson, Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone, Hull could have the advantage in that area.

The Tottenham team may have had multiple changes but it was the same old performance in the first half as Spurs found themselves a goal down after 8 minutes, scored by Jake Livermore. Following a free-kick, Fazio cleared the ball out of the area but it fell to Livermore in space outside the box. He took it forward to fire low past Lloris from 20 yards.

Spurs had started tentatively with Hull pressing them quickly, especially when the Spurs defenders tried to pass the ball out from the back. In a quick break through Mason and then Kane, Soldado had a low shot saved by the home goalkeeper after 4 minutes.

As has been the pattern of Spurs play this season there were too many misplaced passes with Hull much more threatening in possession. When they went forward on the counter-attack, Hull caused the Spurs defence constant problems.

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Kane tried a shot from wide on the left of the box but the goalkeeper saved easily after 14 minutes. A long free-kick by Huddlestone to the edge of the area caused Lloris problems as he tried to punch clear with players in front of him. Two minutes later, in the 20th minute, the goalkeeper saved Spurs with quick reactions to save a low shot from Brady after the ball had been pulled back from the by-line.

A minute later, Lloris pushed out a low shot and was relieved when Ben Arfa shot over from a good position. While Spurs had plenty of possession McGregor was rarely troubled with defenders able to cut out a pass or get a block on an attempted shot.

in the 37th minute, Eriksen made a forceful run into the box but the Hull goalkeeper parried his powerful shot. Hull continued to trouble the Spurs defence on the break and pressing quickly outside their area. At the interval, Hull deserved their one goal lead and will have been disappointed not to have had more to show for their effort.

Christian Eriksen to the Rescue

At the interval, Vlad Chiriches replaced Dier and provided an attacking outlet on the right. Tottenham started with greater purpose and Dawson had to block a Kane shot on the edge of the area. The game turned, however, when Ramirez was sent off after making contact with Vertonghen, kicking at the Spurs defender. The referee’s assistant drew the official’s attention to the incident and Hull were reduced to 10-men with 40 minutes to play.

Encouraged by this, Spurs continued with greater purpose forcing Hull back into their own half. A Ben Davies header at the back post was cleared by Dawson after 52 minutes and then a shot by Fazio hit the side netting. Aaron Lennon replaced Dembele and two minutes later Spurs drew level.

On the hour, a foul on Soldado brought a free-kick in a central position, 25 yards from goal. Eriksen’s curled free-kick struck the post but Harry Kane reacted quickest to knock in the rebound.

Soldado and Kane had two good opportunities to put Spurs ahead but Soldado put Chiriches cross wide and Kane headed wide from a Lennon cross.

Hull provided little threat going forward but continued to battle hard in an effort to take a point from the game. In a rare foray forward, Hull had a free-kick which again troubled Lloris who mis-handled it at the first attempt and was relieved to grab it as he fell to the ground.

For all their possession and territorial advantage, Spurs failed to open up the home defence and it looked as if they would miss out on taking all three points until Christian Eriksen produced the late winner.

In the 90th minute, good link up play around the Hull area between Christian Eriksen, Kane and Lennon resulted in Eriksen regaining possession on the edge of the box and  firing low past McGregor.

Hull tried desperately to score in the final four minutes of added time but Spurs held out to move up to 10th place in the Premier League, level with Arsenal and 2 points behind 4th placed, Manchester United.