A late Harry Kane goal spares Spurs blushes and more than a million captaincy calls as West Brom battle their way to a point at Wembley Stadium.
In a season where the unexpected has been all too common, Harry Kane’s Wembley travails have become increasingly predictable.
Home bankers against the likes of West Brom were meat and drink to the striker last term – he fired a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture at White Hart Lane. However, he’d been starved of goals when Burnley, Swansea City, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace visited earlier this season and came into today’s match scoreless in three Gameweeks.
What followed was standard fare for Spurs at their temporary home. They dominated possession and out-shot the Baggies 24-5, but mustered just two big chances and only found a way past Gary Megson’s well-drilled defence after 74 minutes of huffing and puffing.
That one of those gilt-edged opportunities was converted by Kane came as a huge relief to the 1.2 million (22.5%) of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who trusted him with the armband.
But it took changes in tactics, formation and personnel by Mauricio Pochettino to end West Brom’s resistance, with the 9.6%-owned Jan Vertonghen replaced on a point-busting 59 minutes by Fernando Llorente as Spurs swapped to a back four and went more direct for the final third of the match.
Kane will never be a shrinking violet up front and his eight shots today is the most of any player in Gameweek 13 thus far.
But just one goal in four matches is scant reward for managers used to more explosive returns – he hit eight in the six Gameweeks prior to his current slump.
Still, a goal’s a goal, and although Kane’s ownership dipped by 77,000 coming into the weekend, Romelu Lukaku’s blank for Man United is likely to distract from the Spurs talisman – particularly with two promising away fixtures, against Leicester City and Watford to come.
It should be noted that, with Morata also failing to find the net at Anfield, Kane was one of just three strikers to score a goal in Gameweek 13 so far.
Alli assist not enough
Dele Alli’s cross for Spurs’ equaliser was his first return in four matches and a modest boost for his remaining 16.2% ownership.
But that base is dwindling fast – he’s lost close to 300,000 managers in the last two Gameweeks. One goal and an assist from his last six starts just can’t justify his selection in the current landscape where other premium midfielders are delivering consistently.
Similarly, Christian Eriksen is faring no better. The Dane has been in scintillating form for his country, but abject domestically.
Today’s blank was his fifth in succession and even Spurs’ fixtures – after Leicester and Watford, they host Stoke City and Brighton – will not stem the flow of sales. He is already placed second only to Lukaku for sales ahead of Tuesday’s Gameweek 14 deadline.
Trippier claims the maximum
While Spurs’ struggles to break down spoiling visitors to Wembley is well-documented, they have at least kept things tight at the back, recording four clean sheets in six home matches before today.
A Salomon Rondon strike put paid to that, one of just five attempts West Brom mustered, which is the lowest total of the Gameweek to date.
But that failed to stop Kieran Trippier claiming the maximum bonus points on offer from a personal performance that ticked all the statistical boxes.
The wing-back played seven key passes and three open-play crosses and won four tackles.
Rotation with Serge Aurier, however, could remain an issue for the 8.8%-owned Trippier. But the situation could change on opposite flank, where Ben Davies made consecutive league starts for the first time since Gameweek 7. Danny Rose was again excluded from the matchday squad.
If that indicates some off-pitch issues surrounding Rose – and he has previous for such things – then Davies could yet become a more assured selection ahead of Spurs’ continued run of favourable home fixtures.
