A year to remember for Albion ended on a suitably spectacular note with a wonderful win over Spurs.
Both teams were severely depleted but they served up a cracking contest settled by Albion’s superior finishing skills despite a late rally by the visitors.
Jack Hinshelwood’s second goal in three Amex outings in the Premier League gave us an early lead which Joao Pedro doubled from the penalty spot midway through the first half.
Albion also hit the woodwork twice but Spurs had their chances before Pervis Estupinan, who made his return after injury as a half-time substitute, made it 3-0 with a brilliant left-foot strike into the top corner from 30 yards – a goal to match Julio Enciso’s stunner against Manchester City at the end of last season.
Joao converted his second penalty to make it 4-0, but Spurs to their credit never gave up. Substitute Alejo Veliz and Ben Davies pulled goals back in the last ten minutes and Albion had to negotiate 11 minutes of stoppage time, during which time Spurs hit the post. It made things more uncomfortable than it ought to have been but 2023 ended as it should have with a light show and lap of honour by Albion’s delighted but exhausted players. Bring on 2024!
Goals seemed guaranteed between an Albion side who have failed to score just once since February and a Tottenham team with more away goals (20) than any side this season.
And Danny Welbeck should have drawn first blood on six minutes. Guglielmo Vicario had already parried one effort from the striker when Albion won the ball back on the left. Pascal Gross found Facundo Buonanotte, and the Argentinian’s shot was blocked into Welbeck’s path eight yards out. His right-foot shot was firmly struck but close enough to Vicario to plunge to his left to make a superb save.
No matter, Albion went in front on 11 minutes with a fine goal. Joao skipped past four opponents, none of whom made a challenge, when he cut across the top of the box from the left and picked out the unmarked Hinshelwood, who lashed a right-foot shot into the roof of the net from ten yards.
Vicario made another smart save, after Joao had once again cut in onto his right foot but the Brazilian wasn’t to be denied when Albion doubled their lead on 20 minutes. Jan Paul van Hecke hit a close-range shot after Pascal Gross found him from a corner and Dejan Kulusevski tugged Welbeck’s shirt as he tried to volley the loose ball in. Referee Jarred Gillett was alerted by the VAR, Kulusevski was booked, and Joao coolly stroked the penalty into the corner.
Albion’s were purring in possession while their energetic press had Tottenham on the back foot. The woodwork rescued them again on 32 minutes when James Milner hit a right-foot shot from inside the D that struck the post with Vicario helpless.
Spurs were still a threat though. Igor got caught by a long ball down the inside right channel but recovered to block Brennan Johnson’s shot then Dunk did the same, this time to deny Son Heung-Min. But every time Albion surged forward there was danger and Welbeck clipped a lovely ball from the right to Buonanotte who finished superbly – only for the offside flag to cut short his celebrations.
Joao should have been celebrating again just before the break when he intercepted Pedro Porro’s errant back pass and was in on goal, but Vicario clawed away his shot and Spurs nearly profited at the other end. Johnson broke away and found Richarlison, whose shot kissed the outside of the post before Son’s right-foot curler flashed wide of the far post – another warning that the job was far from done given the quality of Tottenham’s front four.
Estupinan made his return after nearly three months out at half-time in place of Igor but Spurs controlled the start of the second half. Richarlison twice had the ball in the net but was offside and he had a great chance from another promising position only to drag his effort inches wide. A combination of van Hecke and Jason Steele then prevented Kulesevski from bundling home a loose ball.
Albion’s lead was under serious threat but then on 64 minutes it was 3-0. When he wasn’t closed down Estupinan let fly with his left foot from 30 yards and the ball arrowed into the top right-hand corner with Vicario helpless. Albion had some much needed breathing space and the night was to get even better 11 minutes later.
Two substitutes combined as Jakub Moder found Evan Ferguson, who was tripped by substitute Giovani Lo Celso. The rest was never in doubt – make that eight penalties - more than any player in Europe's top five leagues - and 13 goals this season for Joao.
A first clean sheet for 23 games would have been a bonus but Alejo Veliz bundled home Son’s cross with ten minutes to go and Ben Davies headed home at the far post in the 86th minute. Suddenly Spurs had all the momentum and deep into stoppage time only the woodwork prevented Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from making it 4-3 with a curling effort. All more anxious than it should have been but Albion got there in the end and are up to eighth going into the new year.
Albion: Steele, Hinshelwood, Dunk, van Hecke, Igor (Estupinan 45), Buonanotte (Baleba 59), Gilmour, Milner (Moder 69), Joao, Gross, Welbeck (Ferguson 69).
Subs: Verbruggen, Dahoud, Lallana, Baker-Boaitey, Barrington.
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Attendance: 31675