View: Tottenham Women lack cutting edge once again in third consecutive 1-1 draw
After a flurry of goals at the start of the season, Tottenham Women recorded their third consecutive 1-1 draw on Sunday 19 November, this time against Leicester City Women at the King Power Stadium.
The only difference between this game and the previous two 1-1 draws with Everton Women and Liverpool Women was that Robert Vilahamn’s side were away from home, and had to come back from going a goal behind, having taken the lead in the last two.
Other than that, pretty much every other detail remained the same for Tottenham Women. The scoreline, the absence of a Martha Thomas goal and most importantly the overwhelming feeling that it is two points dropped, not one point gained.
That feeling demonstrates how quickly Vilahamn has transformed the club, and showcases that if his side can just be that bit more clinical in front of goal, they could be fighting higher up the WSL table this season.
There is no doubt that the north London outfit should be six points better off at this moment in time, which would have them sitting second, a point behind Chelsea Women.
Across their past three games, Spurs have had the majority of the ball as well as the higher quality chances in each and every one of them, and they will once again be left scratching their heads as to how they did not leave the Midlands with all three points.
Spurs had 11 shots on target compared to Leicester’s three, and these were by no means half chances, with nine of those shots on target, including the goal, coming from inside the box (Sofascore).
The hosts took the lead through Janice Cayman in the 18th minute, as they looked to record a first win in four matches, and it took until the 56th minute for the visitors to get back on level terms when Thomas played Celin Bizet in for her second goal in as many games.
From this point forward, it looked as if it would be Spurs who would go on to win the game, but it was the same old story as they failed to convert their chances and once again found themselves up against a goalkeeper in inspired form.
During the 1-1 draw with Everton, Courtney Brosnan made ten saves and earned a 9.5 match rating in the process, and this time it was Jenina Letizig who spoiled the Tottenham party, also making ten saves with eight of those saves coming from shots she faced from inside the box.
Although she didn’t get herself on the scoresheet, the WSL’s leading scorer Thomas was in great form, setting up the goal for Bizet, while playing two key passes, winning four of her five ground duels and having two shots on target herself.
The prospect of playing Beth England alongside Thomas upon the former’s return from injury will certainly have Vilahamn excited, and that pairing could be the answer to Spurs’ troubles in front of goal.
What will please the Spurs boss most is that the performances have still been dominant, and as long as they continue in the same vein, the goals will certainly start to flow again sooner rather than later.
In other Tottenham news, one Spurs expert believes the club’s board must now prove themselves to Ange Postecoglou.