Swansea 0 - Tottenham 2: Fernando Llorente and Dele Alli seal win
TOTTENHAM moved back above north London rivals Arsenal and into fifth with a gritty victory over Swansea thanks to goals from Fernando Llorente and Dele Alli.
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Even without the lethal Harry Kane in their starting line-up, former Swan Llorente stepped in to score and ultimately Tottenham were comfortable winners as Alli’s 89th minute strike put a fair gloss on the final scoreline.
Carlos Carvalhal’s Swansea did have their chances – particularly in the second half when Mike van der Hoorn struck the post – but ultimately it wasn’t enough.
The Welsh side remain bottom and with a mountain to climb to avoid relegation. Games with the likes of Tottenham won’t define their season, but the matches are beginning to run out.
For Spurs it is a different story and while Mauricio Pochettino will have been relieved to get the three points, he will know his team must be more clinical if they are to reach ensure automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League.
Swansea had improved slightly going into half time, but their problem remained getting support to the isolated Jordan Ayew.
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Nathan Dyer led one home breakaway and when Rangel limped off injured, Carvalhal switched from a five to a four-man defence and introduced winger Luciano Narsingh.
Tottenham nonetheless continued to have the better of the chances, though they were lucky to avoid going down to 10 men just before the hour.
After receiving a first-half booking for a foul on Jordan Ayew, Davinson Sanchez somehow escaped a second yellow for wiping out Martin Olsson and was soon removed from the fray. Victor Wanyama was introduced for his first appearance since August following a knee injury.
Narsingh finally forced Hugo Lloris into a save, but the difference in quality between the teams was summed up when Kane was introduced in place of Llorente.
Still, Swansea had their chances. Ayew rounded Lloris but couldn’t finish and Van der Hoorn struck the post with a header from the resulting corner. That was their chance and it passed them by.
Tottenham rode out the pressure and should have moved further clear. Two wicked Eriksen free-kicks were saved by Lukasz Fabianski and Son side-footed wide. Both sides emptied their benches, Kane appearing in place of Llorente.
Swansea pushed hard for an equaliser, but they were reduced to shots from distance as Tottenham came out on top, Alli breaking clear late on, seeing the ball rebound to him off Fabianksi, and putting the final nail in Carvalhal’s coffin.
