Spurs Come From Behind To Beat Rangers in Glasgow

Saturday 23rd July 2022 - 3:00pm

Match Report

Rangers 1 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow

Competition: Friendly - Walter Tull Memorial Cup

"Pre-Match Thoughts – After a successful tour of South Korea, Spurs face their sternest pre-season test yet with a trip to Glasgow to face Rangers. This is their final game before the Scottish season starts next weekend, so they'll be eager to put on a good display. It's a friendly in memory of Walter Tull who played for Spurs in 1909, and was one of the first black players in the English professional game. He also went on to play for Rangers, so it was fitting to host this match in his honour.

Hopefully we see good performances from our new signings and nobody picks up any knocks. 3-1 Spurs I reckon."

Davies and Skipp were both absent with minor injuries. All six summer signings started on the bench. Conte fielded a very strong team despite that though, which shows how we've built strength in depth this summer.

As expected the Scottish support were in full voice and it made for a great atmosphere, especially for a friendly.

4' Lively start from Spurs, Kulusevski in particular, who created the first chance by bombing down the right side of the box before cutting back onto his left. He couldn't find the gap to get a shot away so he played a quick one two with Son before squeezing in an effort with his right from a tight angle. The Rangers keeper was there to make a save down low at his near post.

12' First sight of goal for Rangers as Tavernier curled a free-kick just over the bar.

24' Goal. Silky run down the right side by Matondo, he beat Sessegnon with a stepover and quick burst of pace before crossing low into the box. A cheeky flicked finish was blocked by Dier but fell into the path of Čolak, who slotted it away from close range. 1-0.

25' Spurs should have been instantly level. Kane bought down a Lloris pass into the centre circle before turning and sending through Son brilliantly. Son broke forward down the left side. It was three against one in Spurs' favour, he slid it right to Højbjerg just before the penalty area, Højbjerg took a touch before trying to find the bottom right corner, but it went wide of the post. Big chance for the Dane.

28' A charging run from Kulusevski then strong hold-up play from Kane to receive the ball with his back to goal in the penalty area and hold off a Rangers defender. He tapped it back to Kulusevski, who shot high at the centre of goal but the keeper did well to tip it over.

29' Son whipped in the resulting corner, Dier flicked it on at the near post and Romero met it right under the crossbar. He couldn't keep it down though and it ended up over the top. It was a promising corner routine that demonstrates the affect our new set-piece coach is having.

32' Dier, who scored a screamer against Team K-League earlier in pre-season, fancied his chances from distance again. He blasted one from 30 yards that the keeper managed to save with his chest thanks to it being straight at him. It was well-struck and had it been either side it probably would have found the back of the net.

34' Kane's first sight of goal came as he found himself with an opening down the left side of the box thanks to a Son flick-on. Under heavy pressure, he slid to get his left-footed finish away but the Rangers keeper was there to make the save again.

45' Kulusevski went to weave his way into the area but was brought down right on the edge of it. The referee awarded a free-kick which Kane and Son both stepped up to take. Sánchez joined the wall as a decoy and Kane smashed it straight at him. He looked gutted to have fluffed the chance. Sonny on the next one?

"Thoughts at Half-Time – Spurs started well but Rangers had a good spell after fifteen minutes or so and they capitalised on it. We've created chances but haven't been able to put any of them away yet. Let's hope to see new signings and goals in the second half."

Bentancur made way for Bissouma at the break, his first outing in a Spurs shirt after signing from Brighton this summer. Moura was also introduced, he came on for Royal and was tested in his new right wing-back role again.

46' Sessegnon fizzed one into Son who knocked it first time to Sánchez on the top left corner of the box. He played a powerful backheel through the Rangers defence and into the path of Sessegnon racing into the box. He tried to toe it past the outrushing keeper from a tight angle but McGregor was there to make another good save.

50' GOAL! Superb strike from Kane. He received it from Son on the top left of the box and teased the defender as he edged slowly inside before shifting it to his right and arrowing a shot across goal into the top right corner. Pure class from Kane. 1-1.

54' A ballooned cross from the left side found Tavernier at the far post. He connected with it sweetly on the volley sending it dangerously across goal but just wide.

55' Kulusevski raced down the right side yet again before going to ground in the penalty area. The referee brandished a yellow card for diving which Kulusevski was visibly furious about.

56' GOAL! Højbjerg popped it into Son who chested it down and volleyed into the path of Kane. Kane looked sharp as ever as he bought it under control under pressure and laced a half-volley at goal that the keeper could only deflect with his leg into the right side of the net. 1-2.

60' It was Perišić's turn to make his first appearance for Spurs, he replaced Sessegnon. Kulusevski also made way for Richarlison.

71' A string of Spurs subs and a trio of first outings for Forster, the new goalkeeper bought in from Southampton, Lenglet, the centre-back in on loan from Barcelona, and young Djed Spence, recently purchased from Middlesbrough.

The multitude of changes disrupted the flow of the match, but it was good to see the new signings in action.

77' Gil's corner came off a Rangers defender's back as he tried to head clear and it provided the opportunity for Perišić to attempt an acrobatic scissor-kicked effort from a tight angle that was close to finding the top corner.

79' Rangers corner this time, it came off the shoulder of one of their men and fell kindly to another inside the six-yard box. He couldn't get the direction on it though and nodded straight into the the gloves of Forster.

90'+1' A late glimpse of what Perišić can do as he beat his man down the left with a stepover and burst of pace before sending a cross over to Richarlison. Spurs' new number 9 rose to meet it well but his effort landed on top of the net.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – A second half turnaround saw Spurs produce another win, and there were certainly positives to take back home. It was good to see so many new faces embedding into the side, and now we look ahead to our final pre-season encounter against Mourinho's Roma a week today."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 6 – Didn't have much to do and didn't have much of a chance with their goal.

• 6. Davinson Sánchez – 6.5 – Played a lovely back heel to see Sessegnon in on goal in the second half. Helped keep them at bay with his defending at times.

• 15. Eric Dier – 6.5 – Struck a powerful shot from distance that tested the keeper, it looks like something he's been working on. A bit sloppy at times in the first half, but decent on the whole.

• 17. Cristian Romero – 7 – The rock we've come to know. No nonsense tackles dealing with the danger whenever it came his way. Čolak did tap home from his side of the defence though, so maybe it was his man.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 6 – Failed to prevent the cross coming in for the first goal. Looked fit and fast when bombing forward. Good movement to break in early in the second half but was denied by the keeper.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 6.5 – Put in a trademark perfectly timed slide tackle while tracking back in the middle. Nice play to set-up Royal for a chance.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 6 – Finishing clearly isn't his strong point as he put his big chance to score wide of the mark. Worked hard in the middle of the pitch and played the ball into Sonny that led to Kane's second.

• 12. Emerson Royal – 5 – Same old story with Royal... Defended well but twice passed up good shooting opportunities and was largely wasteful in the final third.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 7 – Lightning fast on the counter. Teed one up for Højbjerg who should have done better. Played it into Kane for both of his goals.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 8 – Bought a lot of energy down that right side. Constantly looked to bomb forward with it then cut back onto his left for a cross or shot. Came close with a few efforts.

• 10. Harry Kane – 9 – He's clearly enjoying life at Spurs again and is looking so sharp. Smashed in an excellent first goal followed by a very well-taken second. Showed good link-up play dropping in deep to receive it and playing his usual pinpoint balls forward. Hopefully his reputation as a slow starter to seasons is a thing of the past, that's 5 goals in 3 pre-season games now, so let's hope he hits the ground running from the off this campaign.

Substitutions:

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur ⬅ 45' ➡ 38. Yves Bissouma – 6 – Didn't get to see a whole lot of action from him, more to come!

• 12. Emerson Royal ⬅ 45' ➡ 27. Lucas Moura – 5 – Came on in the right wing-back position Conte has been trying him out in. Didn't see a whole lot of the ball there then moved to out to the left wing after 70 minutes where he attempted a couple of dribbles.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon ⬅ 60' ➡ 14. Ivan Perišić – 7.5 – Looked to make an impact with a flying scissor-kick that he was unlucky not to find the net with. Beat his man and delivered a dangerous cross at the end.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski ⬅ 60' ➡ 9. Richarlison – 6 – You can tell he's keen to find his first goal in a Spurs shirt and he almost found it with a header in stoppage time.

• 15. Eric Dier ⬅ 67' ➡ 22. Joe Rodon – 6.5 – Missed the tour through illness. He seems to have had no luck since joining Spurs. Has even given his number 14 shirt to Perišić. Didn't have a lot to do but looked sharp when he was on it.

• 1. Hugo Lloris ⬅ 71' ➡ 20. Fraser Forster – 6 – The former Celtic goalkeeper was treated to a chorus of boos from the Rangers support on his first outing as a Spurs player. Made one decent save from a close range header.

• 6. Davinson Sánchez ⬅ 71' ➡ 34. Clément Lenglet – 6 – Looked eager to get involved and didn't do anything wrong.

• 10. Harry Kane ⬅ 71' ➡ 24. Djed Spence – 6.5 – Made a lovely tackle in the box as he got a long leg in there to win the ball cleanly from behind. Keen to get going down the right side and showed some good touches.

• 7. Son Heung-min ⬅ 71' ➡ 11. Bryan Gil – 6 – Full of energy but struggled to get on the ball.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg ⬅ 82' ➡ 29. Pape Matar Sarr – N/A – A short run-out for the youngster.

• 17. Cristian Romero ⬅ 82' ➡ 25. Japhet Tanganga – N/A – A few minutes for the man linked with a move to Milan.

Man of the Match – 10. Harry Kane