There were mixed feelings for Tottenham as the final whistle went and this London derby against West Ham ended 1-1, after Pedro Obiang and Son Heung-Min had exchanged long-range rockets inside the final 20 minutes. On the one hand Spurs, who somehow found themselves behind, had avoided the apocalyptic scenario of a second successive home defeat against their London rivals, who had eliminated them from the League Cup in October.
On the other hand, a tie still felt like scant reward after a match that Tottenham utterly dominated, having mustered 31 shots compared to the Hammers' three. With that disparity in mind, frustration probably overwhelmed any feelings of relief.
Positives
Son continues to give Spurs a regular goal threat, having now scored six times in nine games. Without his super strike this result could have been even worse. Serge Aurier also had a good game and is looking increasingly comfortable and confident after a slow start to his Spurs career.
Negatives
This was an opportunity to close the gap on fourth-placed Liverpool to a single point but it went begging -- the story of Spurs' evening.
Manager rating out of 10
4 -- Mauricio Pochettino should have realised early on that he did not need two holding midfielders against such a defensive team and he should have done something about it, swapping the ineffective Moussa Sissoko for a more creative player. After all he had Harry Winks, Mousa Dembele, Erik Lamela and Fernando Llorente on the bench. Instead, the manager left Eric Dier and Sissoko as his midfield pairing until the 74th minute, only acting when Spurs fell behind. His failure to make an earlier attacking change was a key factor.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Hugo Lloris, 6 -- Conceded from West Ham's only shot on target but, in fairness, it was quite a strike.
DF Serge Aurier, 8 -- Solid defensively, showed his physical strength and set up a good chance for Harry Kane after running in behind and heading the ball across the box. A good all-round display and, like his fellow defenders, he was robbed of a clean sheet by Obiang's rocket.
DF Davinson Sanchez, 7 -- Saw an early shot blocked and generally defended well, particularly when he stopped a dangerous through ball to Javier Hernandez in the first half. The Colombia international was beaten too easily by Andre Ayew late on but was otherwise assured.
DF Jan Vertonghen, 8 -- Excellent again, making well-timed challenges and using the ball well, especially when he found Aurier with a superb ball over the top. The Belgium international also had a shot blocked as he sought to assist Spurs' efforts in the final third.
DF Ben Davies, 7 -- Got stuck in while varying his balls into the box to give the Hammers different problems, but the visitors had too many men guarding their goal.
MF Eric Dier, 6 -- Didn't have to do much defending so he was left to focus on giving the ball to Spurs' creative players, which he did with a mixed degree of success.
MF Moussa Sissoko, 4 -- Simply wasn't needed next to Dier and looked unsure what to do. The low point was a first-half pass intended for Aurier, who was no longer there, which rolled out of play to a chorus of groans from the home fans.
MF Christian Eriksen, 7 -- Probed urgently for openings and created a good chance for Kane with a neat through ball, while also forcing an acrobatic save with a deflected shot of his own.
MF Dele Alli, 6 -- Tried repeatedly to get a shot past West Ham's defenders and Adrian, and had a penalty appeal turned down. But he was repeatedly crowded out and was sometimes guilty of attempting to do too much, especially when he was outnumbered on the halfway line, declined to pass and was robbed, giving the Hammers a chance to break.
MF Son Heung-Min, 8 -- Saw a few attempts blocked or saved before producing his crucial moment of magic and finding the top corner from 25 yards.
FW Harry Kane, 6 -- Posed a threat despite a lack of space, but he could perhaps have done better with a couple of chances. The striker tried to control Aurier's header rather than shooting first time and then took too long to get his effort away when Eriksen played him in, allowing Pablo Zabaleta to slide in.
Substitutes
MF Erik Lamela, N/A -- Managed a rare feat by getting in behind the visitors, dancing to the by-line. He should have been introduced sooner than the 74th minute.
MF Victor Wanyama, N/A -- Replaced Dier with 16 minutes to go and had a good sight of goal, but got his shot all wrong.
FW Fernando Llorente, N/A -- Came on for the final eight minutes and nearly got his head to the ball at the far post. Again, could have been introduced earlier.