What went wrong in the draw with AS Roma?

Finishing

Pretty simplistic – but true. Whilst Spurs would have generated more opportunities had they looked after the ball better, they did have the opportunities to see this game off. You would have felt that even a two goal lead would have been too much for Roma to come back from. Yet that never came.

He has been a really good signing so far, so you don’t want to go hard on him – but you do also have to analyse things objectively. This was Solanke’s most frustrating night in a Tottenham shirt so far, and he is perhaps the biggest culprit of Ange’s side not running away with the game.

The chance in the first half, where his rebound was saved, after Johnson’s shot was cleared off the line, was not that bad. It was a good save, and an awkward shot for the striker. That is not the issue with his output in this game.

However, the header he had ten minutes from time, after a superb cross from Gray – had to be converted. That has to be meat and drink for a striker. Spurs did not just sign him for his goals, but they also did not just sign him for his general play. There is an expectation for him to do both to a good enough standard.

Even more frustrating than that, was a few minutes before. Just after coming on, Maddison played a pass to the striker, who decided to shoot straight down the throat of Svilar, instead of reversing the ball back to the midfielder, who would have been in on goal. If you don’t pass there, you simply have to score.

That was not the only time his decision making was off. Three minutes into the second half, during a breakaway, he opted to play Kulusevski in on his right foot, rather than playing in Son on his left foot. Not only is the Swedish international slower than Son, he is also far less apt on his weaker side. Wrong decision.

It is just about having composure in key moments. In the first half, Son blazed over the bar when well placed. Even though the ball came to him quickly, you’d have really expected him to do much better from there.