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Has Tottenham Lost Ability to Comeback, Early Leads Critical for Spurs

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Jesse Lingard of West Ham United runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Tanguy Ndombele (R) and Erik Lamela of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Neil Hall - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Jesse Lingard of West Ham United runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Tanguy Ndombele (R) and Erik Lamela of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Neil Hall - Pool/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Jesse Lingard of West Ham United runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Tanguy Ndombele (R) and Erik Lamela of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Neil Hall – Pool/Getty Images) /

When Tottenham Hotspur was flying high early in the season, much of that success came from early goals. Alternatively, over this stretch of tough results, Spurs seem to have forgotten how to come from behind. Tottenham last came back to take points from a losing position October 4 versus Manchester United and even that was aided by a red card.

While much has been made of Tottenham Hotspur defensively dropping points from winning positions, how about Spurs picking up some points from losing ones?

Scoring First a Must for Tottenham

In 24 matches this season in the Premier League according to Footystats.com, Tottenham have scored first in 13 of those matches. While we know Spurs did end up conceding in the 74th minute or later in five of those matches dropping 10 points, the other eight were all wins. Alternatively, Tottenham have conceded first in 10 matches this season.

In 10 matches where Spurs have conceded first, they have only managed to come back and win twice and have lost the other eight

In 10 matches where Spurs have conceded first, they have only managed to come back and win twice and have lost the other eight. Not once have Spurs managed to come back and draw a point from defeat. Throw in the one nil-nil draw with Chelsea and we see that 29 of Tottenham’s 36 points on the season have come when Spurs have scored first. Clearly, scoring first is a must for Tottenham so what has happened?

Spurs had ability to comeback earlier this season

In three of Tottenham Hotspurs four games to start the campaign Spurs conceded first. The match against Everton was a second half goal and the season opener so we can set that aside. However, then against both Southampton and Manchester United Spurs conceded early, yet managed to come back.

In both of those matches, Spurs did not enter halftime down. Against Southampton Heung-Min Son scored two minutes into injury time to draw level at the half. Then to begin the second half, Son scored two minutes in and Tottenham had a 1-2 lead they would not relinquish as they repeatedly punished Southampton for keeping a high line and trying for an offside trap.

In the match against Manchester United, Spurs fell behind from a controversial penalty and then an even more controversial Martial red card for putting hands to the face of Erik Lamela changed the game for good. A man up, Spurs had not only leveled but put four past United before the break on route to a then convincing 1-6 win at Old Trafford.

However, since that win at Old Trafford, Spurs have conceded first seven times and have not come back to take a single point, so what has changed and can Spurs do anything about it?

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