Tottenham Hotspur won 4-1 at Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and here are our Spurs player ratings from the match.
Ange Postecoglou made three changes to his line-up with a Wednesday night match against Manchester City also on the horizon. Pedro Porro was handed a rest with Djed Spence switching to the right and Destiny Udogie coming in at left-back. Archie Gray came in for Ben Davies, who missed out, while Brennan Johnson replaced James Maddison, with Dejan Kulusevski moving back into a deeper role.
Spurs suffered a couple of early scares, with Liam Delap sending a header against the left-hand post before the visitors took the lead before the 20-minute mark when Archie Gray put Son Heung-min away down the left and his low cross was stabbed home by Brennan Johnson.
It wasn’t long before Johnson netted his 14th goal of the season. This time Rodrigo Bentancur sent Son away again down the left and the captain cut inside this time and found the unmarked Johnson to strike a low shot past the keeper.
Ipswich grabbed a goal back before the break. Spurs were slow to get rid of a ball and former Tottenham winger Jack Clarke picked out Omari Hutchinson to curl a shot inside the right-hand post.
The hosts pushed for a leveller but it was Tottenham who scored next with a bit of fast feet from Maddison before the substitute got the ball to Djed Spence who hit a deflected effort past Alex Palmer to make it 3-1.
Another goal followed following a great header on from Dane Scarlett into the path of Dejan Kulusevski who ran on, cut inside and curled an effort in off the left-hand post. Ipswich fans had wanted play stopped for a head injury as Scarlett’s flick-on involved a clash of heads with Jacob Greaves.
Here are our Spurs player ratings from the victory:
Guglielmo Vicario
Saved from Delap in the opening minute. Couldn’t get near Hutchinson’s curling strike inside the right-hand post. Didn’t have much to do beyond that as the defence dealt with much of what happened ahead of him. 6
Djed Spence
Started on the right and his confidence is clear right now with his footwork and driving runs. He switched to the left for the final half hour and scored Spurs’ third goal with a deflected effort. 8
Archie Gray
Started on the right of the two centre-backs and Delap was a handful for him early on but he grew and grew into that battle. The 18-year-old played a lovely ball over the top into Son’s path in the build-up to Johnson’s first half goal. It goes under the radar sometimes just how much he’s learning sometimes during games as well as with each passing month. 8
Kevin Danso
Started well enough on the left but had a part to play in Ipswich’s first half goal, losing the ball when he seemed to be taking charge. More than made up for it though. He’s a warrior and seemed to picking up whacks all over the place but soldiered on. A great signing and the fans were singing his name at various points as ‘Super Kevin Danso’. 9
Destiny Udogie
A bright first half with plenty of raids down the left and through the middle, giving Son more room to work. Came off on the hour mark after a solid return. 7
Lucas Bergvall
A really impressive hard-working display in the centre of the pitch with plenty of quality in his defensive work and use of the ball. Made a great run in the second half that should have ended with Johnson’s hat-trick. 8
Rodrigo Bentancur
Started the game a little sluggishly but warmed up and played a good ball into Son’s path in the build-up to the second goal. Ran into the box just before half-time only to be denied by the keeper. Played his part in the second half as well. 7
Dejan Kulusevski
Didn’t look like it was going to be the Swede’s day with a lack of quality in his final product. That all changed late on when he collected Scarlett’s flick-on, ran on and curled a lovely strike in off the left-hand post. 7
Brennan Johnson
Got into his trademark position to stab home Son’s low cross and then found himself unmarked to fire home his 14th of the season not long after. Had a chance to seal the hat-trick in the second half but a last-gasp Ipswich block stopped him. Came off soon after with an hour under his belt and two goals. 8
Mathys Tel
A tough day at the office with plenty of chasing and very little of the ball. Didn’t do too much with it when he did finally get it, spurning one great chance to break with Kulusevski in the second half. 5
Son Heung-min
Looked lively in the early stages and after teeing up Bergvall for a blocked shot, he used his skill to get to the byline and pull a low ball across for Johnson to score. He was the provider again soon after when he cut inside and picked out Johnson again to score. Didn’t get as much space to operate in the second half but still came with two excellent assists. 9
Subs
James Maddison
Came on and made an impact with quick feet and assist for Spence’s goal. 7
Pedro Porro
Replaced Udogie on the hour mark and was solid enough for the remaining half hour. 6
Dane Scarlett
Another who made an impact from the bench with a brave flicked-on header to assist Kulusevski’s goal. 7
Wilson Odobert
Got some more late minutes in his legs. 5
