Tottenham Hotspur slipped to their fifth Premier League defeat already this season as Ipswich Town claimed their first win back in the top flight in north London on Sunday.
It was an abject showing from Spurs, who slipped to a 2-0 deficit as some average and lethargic defending helped Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap net in the first half.
While Rodrigo Bentancur pulled one back with a well-taken header from a corner, the hosts largely spluttered in attack as Ange Postecoglou simmered on the touchline. The Australian coach will once again head into an international break off the back of a loss with another inquest expected after losing a game they never would have anticipated failing in against newly promoted opposition.
Here’s who played their part against Ipswich and who were the instigators of Tottenham‘s downfall.
Rodrigo Bentancur – 7/10
Rodrigo Bentancur’s role in midfield can leave him looking a little stranded. Tottenham’s other midfielders are tasked with pushing forward to create space in attack, but Ipswich so often broke up play and counter-attacked with real purpose.
The Uruguayan did pretty much all he could on a day where few of his teammates showed up, showing great desire to win back possession, even if it was sometimes after an errant pass from his own boot.
Bentancur then ignited hopes of a late comeback by heading in Pedro Porro’s inviting corner. He lit the fuse but Tottenham couldn’t keep the flame burning as Ipswich deservedly held on to claim all three points.
Radu Dragusin – 3/10
Tottenham don’t have too much strength in depth at centre-back, with Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies the reserve options when Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven aren’t available.
Dragusin was brought in back in January earlier this year to act as the main cover for that aforementioned duo, with Postecoglou having to play Davies alongside Emerson Royal at points in 2023/24. However, the Romanian’s performances have not been particularly inspiring so far and, after a difficult outing at Galatasaray on Thursday, Dragusin followed that up with another shaky display here.
The 22-year-old was slightly unlucky when Guglielmo Vicario parried a cross onto his foot, the ball then falling straight to Delap to make it 2-0, but there’s no doubt that Dragusin is not doing enough when he does play to warrant displacing Romero or Van de Ven when they are fit.
Dishonourable mention
Brennan Johnson – 4/10
Brennan Johnson’s positive influence on the Tottenham team is seen clearly when everything is flowing the way Postecoglou wants. The Welshman often arrives on the end of crosses to finish off moves, but when such chances aren’t forthcoming, Johnson can stick out like a sore thumb.
That was unfortunately the case as he struggled to make life difficult for Leif Davis, rarely looking confident when given the chance to run at his opposite number. His best opportunity came in the first half, but he got too firm a connection on Son Heung-min’s cross and it dribbled wide.
It’s been a largely positive past month and a half for Johnson but there is undoubtedly a need for the former Nottingham Forest winger to mix his game up to start troubling defences in a different way when inviting crosses aren’t arriving to his feet.
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