Match Reports

Trossard sinks Spurs in Albion late show

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Super Seagulls enjoy another afternoon to remember in North London.

By Charlie Hanson • 16 April 2022

By Paul Hazlewood
The Belgium international scored for the second game running.

Leandro Trossard's stunning late goal ensured Albion made it back-to-back wins in North London with a 1-0 victory over Spurs.

On his 100th Albion appearance, Trossard produced a superb finish past Hugo Lloris in the 90th minute as Albion backed up their win over Arsenal with a deserved success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

It was no more than they deserved. Albion kept Tottenham at bay for long spells with a disciplined defensive performance and they created chances of their own before Trossard sealed the deal in the closing stages. 

Graham Potter made one change to the team that beat Arsenal as Tariq Lamptey came in for Danny Welbeck.

Spurs seemed to have found some early momentum after Emerson Royal got in down the right and saw his low cross put behind by Rob Sanchez for a corner, but that was as good as it got for Antonio Conte’s men in the first half.

Enock Mwepu’s drive from 18 yards was deflected wide before Joel Veltman’s low effort from the resulting corner was blocked.

By Paul Hazlewood
Leandro Trossard struck late on to secure back-to-back wins for Albion.

Alexis Mac Allister’s raised boot couldn’t get on the end of Lamptey’s right-wing cross and the Argentinian’s misfortune continued from a corner a moment later as the ball was taken off the end of his toe at the back stick via a deflection.

Small acts of frustration saw a spate of bookings, notably Dejan Kulusevski’s intentional elbow into the chest of Marc Cucurella which might have warranted a card of a different colour while Rodrigo Bentancur would have no doubt considered himself equally lucky for a lunging tackle on Yves Bissouma.

It wasn’t just Tottenham players who were flashed the yellow card by referee Craig Pawson though, as Mwepu’s booking followed by a couple of fouls by the Zambia international saw the home support baying for blood, although Pawson didn’t bow to their demands.

By Paul Hazlewood
Lewis Dunk went close with this second-half header.

That saw the home fans’ dissatisfaction vented at the referee on the half-time whistle, but no doubt it was equally aimed at their team with Albion arguably the better side in the opening 45 minutes.

Mwepu’s run-ins with Pawson was enough to force Potter into taking off the midfielder at half-time, with Welbeck on to lead the Albion frontline.

Spurs started the second half at a better tempo and Joel Veltman had to make an important block from Heung-Min Son's volley.

But it was a rare moment of alarm for Albion, who looked a threat at the other end with Mac Allister testing Hugo Lloris before firing over from outside the box. 

By Paul Hazlewood
Albion players celebrate their late winner.

Lloris also kept out Lamptey's effort while Welbeck headed over and Lewis Dunk forced the Spurs' keeper to save his header at a corner.

Tottenham had run out of ideas at this stage and Albion got their rewards in the 90th minute. Trossard created space with a wonderful piece of skill inside the box and as Lloris came out to narrow the angle he fired a right-foot shot across him and inside the far post. 

It moves Albion onto 40 points and maintained their unbeaten Premier League record in six visits to the capital this season. What an afternoon! 

Line-up: Sanchez, Lamptey (March 83), Cucurella, Dunk, Bissouma, Mac Allister, Trossard, Mwepu (Welbeck 45), Gross, Caicedo (Lallana 77), Veltman.

Unused subs: Steele, Webster, Maupay,  Offiah, Ferguson, Sarmiento.