🔗 Share this article Spurs Relieve Strain on Frank as Simons Rounds Off Comfortable Win Over Slavia Prague The South Korean star's emotional homecoming to Tottenham Hotspur he represented for a decade was somewhat dimmed by a contest that was devoid of competitive edge. Extracting meaningful insights from this revamped European format before the knockout stages commence remains a challenging task. This encounter was largely a one-sided affair in terms of competitiveness, rendering it a mistake to presume Tottenham have morphed into a unstoppable machine on their home turf. They encountered a moderate challenge from Slavia Prague and did not have to exert themselves fully to secure the three points. An Evening of Modest Opposition Slavia Prague, arriving without a victory from their initial six league phase fixtures, presented little danger. The Czech Republic title holders gave away a peculiar own goal in the first half before surrendering two debatable penalties after the half-time break. "We were very happy we continued the momentum from the weekend victory," Frank remarked. "The team is coming together more and more." In spite of the uneven nature, Frank is right to focus on signs of improvement after a difficult start to his tenure in North London. He will be unconcerned by the close to 15,000 unsold tickets at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Son's Touching Return The sparse attendance in the higher stands perhaps highlighted a lack of excitement about the visiting team's caliber, despite a tremendous roar greeted Son Heung-min during his official farewell appearance before the start. The goal came from Son who scored the first goal at this arena after the club's relocation in 2019. Although his impact diminished last campaign, he will forever be revered as a club legend. His presence certainly enhanced the mood, even if the current crop of stars also played their part. Game Summary The opening goal arrived in the first half when Cristian Romero flicked on a Spanish full-back set-piece, leading to Slavia's David Zima directing a strange header past his own keeper. The Ghanaian midfielder made it 2-0 from the penalty spot early into the second period, after Youssoupha Sanyang was ruled to have fouled Porro. With the result safe, Spurs could manage the game. Xavi Simons then capped off the scoring by earning and scoring a second penalty later on. Important Takeaways Positive Form: The win followed the recent success against Brentford, easing the immediate scrutiny on head coach Thomas Frank. Xavi Simons' Confidence: Finding the net once more will enhance the talented attacker's confidence considerably. Defensive Setback: Micky van de Ven's unnecessary yellow card rules him out for the pivotal next Champions League fixture against Borussia Dortmund. Overall, it was a efficient display from Spurs against inferior opposition. The atmosphere around the club has shifted, and the heat on the manager has temporarily eased.
The South Korean star's emotional homecoming to Tottenham Hotspur he represented for a decade was somewhat dimmed by a contest that was devoid of competitive edge. Extracting meaningful insights from this revamped European format before the knockout stages commence remains a challenging task. This encounter was largely a one-sided affair in terms of competitiveness, rendering it a mistake to presume Tottenham have morphed into a unstoppable machine on their home turf. They encountered a moderate challenge from Slavia Prague and did not have to exert themselves fully to secure the three points. An Evening of Modest Opposition Slavia Prague, arriving without a victory from their initial six league phase fixtures, presented little danger. The Czech Republic title holders gave away a peculiar own goal in the first half before surrendering two debatable penalties after the half-time break. "We were very happy we continued the momentum from the weekend victory," Frank remarked. "The team is coming together more and more." In spite of the uneven nature, Frank is right to focus on signs of improvement after a difficult start to his tenure in North London. He will be unconcerned by the close to 15,000 unsold tickets at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Son's Touching Return The sparse attendance in the higher stands perhaps highlighted a lack of excitement about the visiting team's caliber, despite a tremendous roar greeted Son Heung-min during his official farewell appearance before the start. The goal came from Son who scored the first goal at this arena after the club's relocation in 2019. Although his impact diminished last campaign, he will forever be revered as a club legend. His presence certainly enhanced the mood, even if the current crop of stars also played their part. Game Summary The opening goal arrived in the first half when Cristian Romero flicked on a Spanish full-back set-piece, leading to Slavia's David Zima directing a strange header past his own keeper. The Ghanaian midfielder made it 2-0 from the penalty spot early into the second period, after Youssoupha Sanyang was ruled to have fouled Porro. With the result safe, Spurs could manage the game. Xavi Simons then capped off the scoring by earning and scoring a second penalty later on. Important Takeaways Positive Form: The win followed the recent success against Brentford, easing the immediate scrutiny on head coach Thomas Frank. Xavi Simons' Confidence: Finding the net once more will enhance the talented attacker's confidence considerably. Defensive Setback: Micky van de Ven's unnecessary yellow card rules him out for the pivotal next Champions League fixture against Borussia Dortmund. Overall, it was a efficient display from Spurs against inferior opposition. The atmosphere around the club has shifted, and the heat on the manager has temporarily eased.