Leeds draw leaves Tottenham deep in Premier League relegation peril
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Tottenham Hotspur's Mathys Tel celebrates scoring their first goal with Randal Kolo Muani and Conor Gallagher over Leeds United.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto de Zerbi has pledged that his players would “fight until the end”, following a 1-1 Premier League home draw against Leeds United on May 11.
Mathys Tel was the hero and villain as Spurs drew 1-1 in front of their fans – a result that leaves their future in the English top flight hanging in the balance.
The Frenchman broke the deadlock early in the second half to ease the tension at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but then gave away a penalty with a wild attempted clearance.
With two games left, Spurs are now only two points clear of West Ham, who were denied a stoppage-time equaliser by VAR on May 10 in a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal – a potentially season-defining decision at both ends of the table.
That result at the London Stadium ensured that Leeds and Nottingham Forest were safe from relegation while Wolves and Burnley have already been relegated.
“(When) we lost to Sunderland it was impossible to see ourselves two points above the relegation zone with two games to go,” de Zerbi said.
“Now we have to be positive and work. We have the quality to make other points and stay up. I think we deserve to stay up. We will fight until the end.
“When you are fighting relegation you have to fight stronger with the legs than with the head. We have to push until the end. Even if we had won today, it wouldn’t have been finished yet.”
Tottenham did not have it all their own way against Daniel Farke’s team in London as they chased just their third league win at home all season.
But they broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart when Tel controlled the ball instantly after it fell to him following a Pedro Porro corner.
The Frenchman picked his spot, curling the ball past a diving Karl Darlow.
But with about 20 minutes of normal time to go, Tel attempted an overhead kick to clear the ball from his own penalty area, making contact with the head of the onrushing Ethan Ampadu.
Tottenham Hotspur's Mathys Tel fouls Leeds United's Ethan Ampadu before conceding a penalty after a VAR review.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Referee Jarred Gillett ruled that it was a penalty after a VAR check and Dominic Calvert-Lewin made no mistake.
James Maddison was given a rousing welcome by the home crowd when he was introduced as a late substitute – his first match of the season after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Then the referee signalled 13 minutes of added time – a decision that lifted the home crowd further. However, there was no late winner from either side.
The point lifts Spurs to 38 points – two clear of West Ham, who are in 18th spot and with an inferior goal difference.
When de Zerbi was appointed as Spurs boss at end of March to replace sacked interim boss Igor Tudor, Tottenham had gone 13 league games without a win, dating back to December.
The Italian – the third manager during an injury-blighted and shambolic season – was tasked with saving the club from a first relegation since 1977.
His reign started with a defeat at Sunderland and a frustrating home draw against Brighton.
But Palhinha’s late winner at Wolves infused the team with belief and Spurs went on to beat high-flying Aston Villa in their next game.
Spurs still have potentially tough games to come against Chelsea and Everton while West Ham face Newcastle and Leeds. AFP
