Spurs seal Europa League as they fend off late Chelsea charge to clinch fifth place
ANGE POSTECOGLOU claimed he suffered “the worst experience,” of his managerial career while losing 2-0 to Manchester City.
This 90 minutes was a long way from restoring his faith in his club and will not linger long in the Aussie’s memory.
But at least it delivered the three points Spurs needed to secure fifth place and guarantee they will be playing in the Europa League next season.
Oh and Arsenal LOST the Premier League to send Tottenham‘s travelling army home happy!
In truth, Postecoglou’s boys barely got out of second gear but, against the Premier League’s weakest link, they didn’t need to.
Dejan Kulusevski scored with their first shot at goal and, as the Blades faded, they picked them off with a Pedro Porro screamer after the break before Kulusevski added a third.
They will now be able to crack open a few tinnies on their long-haul flight to Melbourne where a post-season friendly with Newcastle United awaits.
In truth they will probably get more of a workout Down Under than the Prem’s rock bottom team were able to give them here.
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Blades bid farewell to five of their stalwarts before kick off as long-serving defender Chris Basham (388 appearances) was given a warm send-off along with Ollie Norwood and George Baldock.
Quite what goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and left-back Max Lowe made of it is anybody’s guess as they were selected for the last time and took their final bow at Bramall Lane before joining the action.
There is every chance some of the Spurs squad were also drinking in the last-chance saloon under Ange.
However the fate of stars like Emerson Royal, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil has yet to be confirmed by the hard-nosed Aussie who intends to change the culture of the club over the summer.
He certainly wouldn’t have been happy at the start his side got off to here as they surrendered a few chances which better opposition would almost certainly have punished them for.
The Blades often start home games on the front foot – even if they tend to finish them defending desperately as the goals fly in.
Spurs started sluggishly and Radu Dragusin was short with an attempted header to Micky van de Ven.
Ben Osborn nipped in and knocked the ball on to Ben Brereton Diaz who broke forward purposefully before lashing his shot wastefully over.
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Unfortunately for Osborn he took a knock winning the loose ball and had to be replaced by Vini Souza with just five minutes on the clock.
Spurs were lethargic and Gustavo Hamer bent the ball around the Spurs wall but Guglielmo Vicario had read his thoughts and gathered safely.
Chris Wilder’s men then came within a fraction of seizing the lead when the Blades broke at pace and Hamer picked out Brereton Diaz with a laser-accurate cross.
However the Chilean international’s volley struck the post and Spurs breathed a huge sigh of relief before swiftly scoring with their first attack.
Jayden Bogle dithered in possession out on the right touchline and was nailed by Van de Ven who centred for James Maddison who laid the ball off to Heung-min Son.
He played in Kulusevski and the Swedish international stabbed his shot beyond Foderingham and the ball bounced in off the far post.
In truth it was more than Spurs deserved but at least it stirred Postecoglou’s men into action.
Kulusevski had a low shot well saved by Foderingham before Rodrigo Bentancur swept in an effort which beat the Blades goalie but bounced to safety off the inside of the post.
Foderingham saved from Son and Romero fired wide of a gaping goal before Porro was frustrated by another brilliant diving save.
Spurs’ day was getting better and better as news filtered through that Manchester City were 2-0 up and Arsenal had conceded against Everton.
Their travelling army let rip, gleefully chanting: “Doo-doo-doo, shame about the Arsenal.”
This time even Postecoglou couldn’t begrudge them their celebrations!
Otherwise this was bog standard end of season fare as the Blades bowed out of the Premier Division leaking goals and losing.
Porro lashed home Spurs’ second after Foderingham could only push out Van de Ven’s attempt and Brennan Johnson recycled the ball to the rampaging Spaniard.
Kulusevski then added his second and Spurs’ third when he steered Maddison’s low cross past Foderingham.
There was a bizarre moment when ref Andy Madley red carded sub Andre Brooks for trodding on Son’s toes at a Spurs corner.
But after VAR advised him to review the incident on the pitchside monitor he performed a U-turn and Brooks earned a reprieve.
The same cannot be said for the Blades who will return to the Championship on the back of 14 games without a win.
Wilder’s team have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 22 fixtures – their worst run for 49 years.
They have conceded 104 goals this season – only Darwen (112) have conceded more in the top flight …. way back in 1891-92.
Ouch!