Tottenham Hotspur played host to defending champions Leicester City, whose London visit proved fruitful at the end of an evenly poised contest. Mauricio Pochettino’s title-hopefuls had to contend with just a point from another stalemate, making this their fifth outing in all competitions without a win.
Spurs are now placed fourth, 3 points behind league leaders Manchester City who cruised to a 0-4 away victory at the Hawthorns. The Citizens are now tied on points with Arsenal and Liverpool with only goal difference separating the three sides.
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In this piece, we take a look at the key talking points from an entertaining game in London.
#5 Ranieri’s charges toil to take a fair share of the spoils
Danny (Drinkwater) and Danny (Simpson) stole the show for Leicester in a team display that finally paid dividends. The understanding which Ranieri’s men have developed as a team helped them put up a resilient performance when it mattered most.
The Dannys, Wes Morgan and even forwards Okazaki and Jamie Vardy epitomised the work ethic instilled into the Foxes by their Italian boss.
Wes Morgan put in a good shift in central defence, and Drinkwater neutralised the Spurs attack through an efficient outing in the centre of the park and Simpson put in the key blocks and tackles.
Leicester dug in well during the first half, preventing much in-roads being made by an attack that is blunt enough without star striker Harry Kane.
Although Robert Huth conceded a spot kick leading to Vincent Janssen’s goal, the visitors came back from the half-time break with intent to play and not just ball-watch.
A determined and persistent showing earned them a well-deserved point against third-placed Spurs, through Ahmed Musa’s strike assisted by last season’s hero Jamie Vardy.
#4 Rose shines, Wanyama poor for Spurs; Vardy draws a blank again
It was not just Leicester’s Dannys who did well; Spurs’ Danny Rose had a good game too. Tasked with keeping the dangerous Riyad Mahrez quiet, the left-back not only excelled at it but also charged forward during attacks.
Mahrez had to wrestle with his man at times in frustration, in an attempt to get the better of him which proves how difficult Rose made it for the Algerian forward.
It was Victor Wanyama ’s error that gifted the Foxes a sniff at goal, and they made the most of it. Vardy wriggled away from Wanyama before crossing for Musa who tapped in the equaliser. Besides the error, Wanyama was average throughout the evening.
Vardy, the champions’ goal-scoring hero from last season, drew a blank in the final third once again. He had no shots on target (in fact, none at all) – a far cry from the clinical goal-scoring outings of last season.
He has managed to score just two goals this season and none since the individual effort against Liverpool, way back in September. If Leicester are to get back on track, Vardy needs to pull on his scoring boots and quickly at that.
#3 Leicester open their away points tally
Leicester City have played Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea away in the Premier League and returned home empty handed. They lost 2-1 to Hull City and by 3-goal margins to the rest of the sides mentioned above.
As a consequence, their credentials as champions were questioned and snide remarks were passed by rival fans labelling them as ‘just a one-season wonder’. However, against Spurs, the Foxes were in no mood to take a beating and put up a well-drilled performance to take home a crucial away point.
They rose to the battle against the toughest defence in the league so far in 2016/17. After a challenge by Robert Huth in the box led to a soft penalty which Vincent Janssen shot home, the visitors equalised soon after the break through a well-taken strike by summer arrival Ahmed Musa. It was a long time coming, but the champions have set the ball rolling during visits.
#2 Spurs defence finally breached from open play
It took ten game-weeks and a visit from the defending champions to penetrate the Spurs defence. They managed to keep a clean sheet against league leaders Manchester City, who have scored the most goals (24) so far this season alongside Liverpool. Commendably, the Londoners had only conceded four times in the league before Ahmed Musa’s second half equaliser.
None of those four came from open play. Ross Barkley (free kick), James Milner (penalty), Ben Gibson (header from a set-piece) and Nacer Chadli (flick from a corner) were the only ones who had managed to put the ball past the Londoners’ backline, thus making them the best defence in the domestic top flight so far.
Jamie Vardy played his part in the build-up play before sending a pin-point cross which Musa sent goal-bound, through Hugo Lloris’ hands. Ahmed Musa’s strike from close range hit the back of the net, sending Leicester fans into a tizzy, as the defensively sharp hosts battled to keep the visitors at bay, especially in the second half.
#1 Harry Kane’s return couldn’t come soon enough for Spurs
If they could only replicate their defensive ferocity in the attacking aspect, Pochettino’s side will indeed become title challengers. It is a fact, and it could hardly be more obvious. The absence of Harry Kane - the Londoners’ most prolific goal-scorer last season - is being keenly felt by a team that lack enough firepower without him.
Despite creating a host of chances, the Argentine manager’s men lacked what it takes to put a game to bed – clinical finishing. Vincent Janssen and Dele Alli missed a couple of opportunities before Vertonghen almost scored towards the end.
The Premier League Golden Boot winner’s finishing prowess and work-rate in the final third was immensely missed by his side as they had to settle for a point against Leicester. Kane plundered 25 goals for Spurs during 2015/16, propelling his team to third place and had scored twice in 5 games this season.
He was stretchered off injured against Sunderland mid-September, and the 23-year-old forward was ruled out of action with ankle ligament damage without much news of his return date. However, ahead of the Foxes’ visit, the Spurs boss noted that his young star could be back in the reckoning for the North London Derby against Arsenal next Sunday game-week.
It is certainly a shot in the arm for the Argentine manager and his young colts as Kane’s presence in the frontline adds a different dimension to the goal-starved side.
