When Tottenham Concedes in Matches as Damaging as How

As HotspurHQ covered yesterday, the overall panic around the Tottenham defense may be overblown as Spurs have only conceded 22 goals, second fewest in the Premier League. However, conceding goals primarily from mistakes and errors is disheartening for fans. Even more disheartening for the players has been when Tottenham have conceded in matches, which has negatively impacted the squad and is highlighted in the teams inability to hold a lead.

Some Goals are Backbreakers

Tottenham Hotspur had scored in the first 15 minutes, but Arsenal was hanging around earlier this season as the two rivals met at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It looked like the Gunners were going to survive the half conceding just the one goal, when a minute into injury time when Heung-Min Son played in Harry Kane and Kane countered for a Spurs second just before the interval.

That goal against Arsenal was a backbreaker as it changed the entire outlook of the match at a time when the Gunners felt safe. Unfortunately for Tottenham, they have felt the affects of a similar gut punch multiple times this season. Both Leicester City and Liverpool scored in first half injury time to take a one goal lead at the break in matches Tottenham lost. Sometimes when you score means everything.

Late losers have cost Tottenham points

In four matches this season Tottenham have conceded in the 90th minute or later. On three of those occasions, the goals cost Spurs points. First, was a late Southampton penalty at the 90th minute which just made the score closer in a Spurs romp. However with the Newcastle penalty at 90+7 and then the West Ham screamer from Lanzini at 90+4 Spurs were drawn in matches they should have won, dropping four points in the process. And against Liverpool the first time Firmino scored at the 90th minute to beat Spurs, in a game that looked drawn. That is now five points lost from late losers in just the 90th minute or injury time that Spurs will certainly regret.

Spurs start strong and fade?

It may not have felt like it during Tottenham’s three game skid, nor against West Brom where both goals came in the second half, however, Spurs have been a first half team. According to footystats.com Tottenham have scored 21 of of their 36 League goals in the first half, that is 59%. Likewise, the defense has been stronger in the first half conceding only 7 goals, about 31%. That is a +14 goal difference for Tottenham in the first half of games.

However, in the second halves of matches, Spurs both score less and concede more. Tottenham have actually given up as many goals in the second half 15, as they have scored this season 15. While Spurs have mostly been exceling in the first half, the second half is when the goals are shipped and they come in the first and last third of the half.

69% of all the league goals conceded by Tottenham are in the second half, making things even tougher on Tottenham is that eight of those 15 have been in the last 15 minutes of matches or injury time. Those late goals, even when not in injury time leave little opportunity for Spurs to respond. And while the five goals conceded in the first 15 minutes of second halves leaves time to recover, it also strikes a blow at whatever plans were made at halftime.

The bottom line for Tottenham is that not only are they making individual and team errors to concede, they are doing it at terrible times. Right before and after the half and in the final minutes of matches are some of the worst times to concede. These are easy times to lose focus because you just were or are about to be somewhere else but it also makes it a critical time in the match.

While Spurs are good at jumping on teams early, that leaves time to respond, when you concede late, it is usually final. Spurs have to find that balance and make fewer second half mistakes at bad times and the points will follow.