Tottenham Hotspur managed to scrape a point against Rangers in a 1-1 draw at Ibrox, thanks to Dejan Kulusevski’s late intervention. It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t convincing, but it was enough to avoid a third straight defeat for Ange Postecoglou’s men.
The opening 45 minutes were a scrappy affair, with Spurs struggling to impose themselves against an energetic Rangers side. Ange’s decision to go with Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield alongside James Maddison didn’t quite deliver the control he might have hoped for.
Rangers, buoyed by a loud Ibrox atmosphere, pressed high and caused Spurs’ makeshift backline all sorts of problems. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Archie Gray was thrown into the deep end of a patched-up defence and showed glimpses of composure amidst the chaos, though not without his errors.
Forster deserves a shoutout—not just for remaining calm under the hostile atmosphere but for his heroic performance under immense pressure. The former Celtic man pulled off five crucial saves to keep Spurs in the game, though his distribution left fans reaching for their blood pressure meds.
Two minutes into the second half, the inevitable happened. Rangers captain James Tavernier delivered a pinpoint cross, and Hamza Igamane finished clinically to give the hosts a deserved lead. Porro’s lapse in concentration was costly, allowing Tavernier to exploit the space and pick his man with ease.
Spurs needed a spark, and thankfully, Postecoglou responded by introducing Dominic Solanke. His linkup with Kulusevski made an immediate impact, adding energy and creativity to Tottenham’s attack. Kulusevski created three chances in just 45 minutes – more than anyone else on the pitch.
It was Kulusevski who levelled the game in the 75th minute. Solanke, showcasing his unselfish side, cut the ball back perfectly for the Swede, who calmly slotted past Jack Butland. Finally, Spurs had some bite in attack.
Yet, even after the equaliser, Rangers remained a threat. Cyriel Dessers came close to restoring their lead, but Forster came up big once again to keep Tottenham’s hopes alive.
Son Heung-min, meanwhile, endured another quiet outing. Rangers’ pressing nullified his effectiveness, and he was often forced to play backwards. With Udogie unable to make his usual overlapping runs, Son looked isolated and struggled to find a way to influence proceedings. For a player of his calibre, the lack of solutions in these scenarios is becoming a concern.
The game ended with the hosts having an xG of 1.49 while we decided to settle with 0.87– Spurs were just not in the mood to give the opponent goalkeeper a hard time today.
This wasn’t exactly the performance Spurs fans wanted to see. A patched-up defence was always going to struggle, but the lack of cohesion and composure in midfield and attack was alarming.
Son’s subdued display is becoming a worrying trend. When he’s not scoring, he seems to fade into the background, and Rangers’ game plan to stifle him worked to perfection. His struggles without consistent support from Udogie highlight the need for tactical tweaks to bring him back to his best.
On the bright side, Kulusevski and Solanke’s partnership showed promise. Ange might have found a blueprint for unlocking defences, provided he uses them a bit earlier the next time.
Fraser Forster deserves a special mention. Despite his shaky distribution, his shot-stopping was impeccable, and Spurs might not have escaped with a point without him.
However, five games without a win is a dire statistic. Tottenham remain eighth in the Europa League table, and while the draw keeps their knockout hopes alive, the pressure on Postecoglou is mounting.
The focus now shifts to the Premier League, where Spurs face Southampton next. With Son struggling, the defence stretched thin, and fans demanding more, Ange has his work cut out. A win is desperately needed to calm the storm.
Or, as Spurs fans are probably thinking, will the doctor need to work overtime this Sunday?
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