Tottenham Hotspur Home Lost 0 – 5
Picture from Keith Richardson
Bye bye Russell. Thanks for the play off win and the twenty or so undefeated!
McCarthy was fit to face Spurs, so that was good news, and indeed Forster in the visitors’ goal touched the ball before Macca; unfortunately McCarthy was the first Saint to have any sort of touch at all, which was to pick the ball out of the net following Maddison‘s strike from Spence’s assist. Still within the first five minutes, McCarthy was in ball retrieval action again, this time after he had been beaten as Son fired in from close range amid ineffective defending by Walker-Peters. The game hadn’t been going for a quarter of an hour when Kulusevski scored arguably the most embarrassing goal of the set (although that’s debatable), Son again influential. That spelled the end for Sulemana’s latest return to the side as he was replaced by Wood, who had been dropped when Bednarek was available again. At least we had an extra defender to shore things up but it really meant only three at the back and when Walker-Peters, in his wing back role now, lost possession upfield, Dragusin went forward with more purpose than anyone in a defensive position tracked him, and feed Son who passed on to Sarr who in turn strolled through a defence that had now completely lost the plot. At 0-4 and with half time approaching, Russell thought it safe to make an early move to the dressing room, presumably to compose a difficult talk. That meant he missed goal number five, scored by Maddison, somehow shooting past McCarthy who showed all the mobility of a Subbuteo goalkeeper – another assist for Son, by the way. Whatever the manager said during the break was probably of less significance than Son being substituted as the teams played out a forgettable final 45 minutes. It was the last 45 minutes of the RM era as he was gone within an hour of his swansong camera call. Those who had been calling for the manager’s head finally got their way, but it was more likely the rows of empty seats from the first half onwards that forced the move; heck, I don’t suppose the fan zone was even open. Of course it was really results that forced him out, but I, and maybe as well those who make the important decisions, would have stuck with him in a season that we can write off anyway – except that this opening period could not be ignored, making it ten home goals conceded in one and a half games. I wish Manager Martin well, it was a fun ride, albeit a bit shaky at the start and finding every imaginable pothole at the end. The staff have gone with him and I don’t expect the defensive coach (if there ever was one!) will find early re-employment.
Just two LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from, although I somehow doubt whether either will get many votes:
3. Ryan Manning, who seemed to be showing a bit of passion – of course his reward was to be substituted after about an hour.
33. Tyler Dibling. A great cross for Armstrong to miss from, and a shot that beat both Forster and the post.
Become a Member
Become a member of London Saints from as little as £5.