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Premier League
Mar 4, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
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3-2

Chadli (7'), Mason (51'), Townsend (60')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Sung-yueng (19'), Sigurdsson (89')

Player Ratings: Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Swansea City

:Headline: Player Ratings: Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Swansea City: ID:209346: from db_amp
Sports Mole rates the heroes and villains from Tottenham's 3-2 Premier League victory over Swansea at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham Hotspur kept themselves within touching distance of the Champions League places by holding on to beat Swansea City 3-2 at White Hart Lane tonight.

Nacer Chadli's opener was cancelled out by Ki Sung-yueng either side of Bafetimbi Gomis collapsing and being taken to hospital in a first half which ended 1-1.

Strikes from Ryan Mason and Andros Townsend gave Spurs a two-goal lead which came under threat late on as Gylfi Sigurdsson rifled in a volley against his former club.

Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a crucial save in stoppage time to secure his side a victory which ensures that their top-four rivals did not run away from them.



SPURS

Goal

Hugo Lloris: Was beaten too easily at his near post by Ki's equaliser and flapped at a couple of crosses, but ensured his side victory in stoppage time by denying Fernandez with a match-winning save. (7/10)

Defence

Kyle Walker: Spent plenty of time in the Swansea half, but did not always use the ball well. Has all of the physical and most of the technical attributes to be a top-class full-back, but often makes the wrong decisions. (6/10)

Eric Dier: Did not have a genuine leader of the line to play up against and so could not get into the type of feisty battle that he enjoys. Solid nonetheless and covered well for Walker once or twice. (6/10)

Jan Vertonghen: Not the Belgian's best game. He scuffed several clearances with both head and feet and needs to take more responsibility organising this young Spurs defence to prevent avoidable mistakes. (5/10)

Danny Rose: Probably the best player on the park this evening. Relentless energy up and down the Spurs left and a final ball to go with it as he delivered a wonderful cross for Chadli's opener. Did not neglect his defensive duties, as he is often criticised for doing. (8/10)

Midfield

Ryan Mason: A landmark night for the academy graduate as he scored his first Premier League goal. He may feel that it is overdue, considering that he makes plenty of good runs into the box, and they were a feature of another decent display tonight. (7/10)

Nabil Bentaleb: Did not quite assert himself on this game as he did the League Cup final on Sunday. Is very naturally fit, but could probably do with a rest after three full-throttle games in six days. (6/10)

Nacer Chadli: Took his goal really well, a side-footed finish back across the keeper for his 10th goal of the season. That is a vital contribution for Spurs, but he needs to be doing more outside of the box. (7/10)

Andros Townsend: Had previously frustrated Spurs fans with some wayward passing, but got them off with a great solo goal, staying on his feet under a heavy challenge and then darting the length of the field before cutting inside and thrashing home with his right foot. Was harshly substituted in the aftermath. (7/10)

Christian Eriksen: Unusually quiet in the first half, the Dane had a greater influence on the second and his run cutting in from the left in the build-up to Mason's goal was particularly lovely. When he plays well, Spurs play well. (8/10)

Attack

Harry Kane: Plenty of balls went into the Spurs box, but Kane could only get on the end of a couple and could not make the most of his half-chances. Was perhaps guilty of holding on to the ball a bit too long on occasions. (6/10)

Substitutes

Mousa Dembele: He helps stiffen up Tottenham's midfield when he plays as the man behind the striker and it is no coincidence that they dominated possession for 15 minutes after his introduction. Should start more often. (7/10)

Roberto Soldado: Came close with a glancing header and played his part in some nice interplay around the box, but could not get the goal that all strikers' performances will be judged on. (6/10)

Ben Davies: Was given 12 minutes against his former club and allowed Sigurdsson too much space at the back post to volley home Swansea's second. (5/10)



SWANSEA

Goal

Lukasz Fabianski: The finger cannot really be pointed at the Pole for any of Tottenham's goals and he got everything in behind some long-range Spurs efforts. Got away with a scuffed clearance when the offside flag saved him. (6/10)

Defence

Kyle Naughton: White Hart Lane will be used to this kind of Naughton performance. Pretty solid defensively, although Rose gave him a tricky time, but no real imagination when he got up in support of his winger. (6/10)

Federico Fernandez: Nearly snatched the Swans a last-gasp equaliser with a late header that Lloris kept out. (6/10)

Ashley Williams: Took it upon himself to stick tight to Kane and only once or twice let him get any space inside the box. Showed his warrior spirit by playing with protection on his head after a bruising Saturday. (7/10)

Neil Taylor: Swansea's first-choice left-back now that Davies is largely on the Spurs bench. Played a lovely chipped ball through for Ki's goal and had a good contest with Townsend. He won some battles, he lost some. (7/10)

Midfield

Jack Cork: Picked out a couple of holes in the Tottenham defence in the first half and kept the ball tidily, but his influence on the game waned, perhaps as a result of a lack of match sharpness. (6/10)

Ki Sung-yueng: The Korean continues to chip in with important goals and took tonight's smartly, through the legs of Lloris from a tight angle. Has arguably been one of the most under-appreciated players in the league this season. (7/10)

Jonjo Shelvey: Not the midfielder's greatest night. He is at his best when he is in the thick of the action, but he was largely on the periphery, with the most significant of his involvements a left-footed strike which Lloris tipped over. (5/10)

Wayne Routledge: Struggled in an unconventional Swansea system. Never got the chance to run at his full-back and show the home fans what he could not show them in his two-and-a-half years at the Lane. (5/10)

Gylfi Sigurdsson: An inevitable scorer against the club who were perhaps foolish to sell him in the summer. Took his volley really well, and played a role in Ki's equaliser too, with a delicate touch after his free kick had struck the post. (8/10)

Attack

Bafetimbi Gomis: Stretchered off wearing an oxygen mask after collapsing in the aftermath of Chadli's goal. Is believed to be in a stable condition in hospital and fingers crossed that he only gets better from here. (6/10)

Substitutes

Nelson Oliveira: Replaced Gomis 15 minutes in. Showed some nice touches here and there, but could not provide the focal point of the attack that Swansea needed. (5/10)

Jefferson Montero: Supplied Sigurdsson's goal with a decent knock to the back post. Has been struggling with injuries of late, but would have been a good option to start if fit as his pace and direct running could have exposed the holes in behind Tottenham's full-backs. (7/10)


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