Tottenham 2-1 Leeds: Player ratings as Spurs come from behind to win
By Sean Walsh
From Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - Spurs did well to battle from a goal down to earn a 2-1 win at home to Leeds on Sunday.
Antonio Conte's side were put under serious pressure by Marcelo Bielsa's men but moved to within four points of a top four place with this gritty victory.
Leeds controlled the opening stages and went close through Stuart Dallas, with his low drive from 20 yards just sailing wide of Hugo Lloris' goal.
Spurs were struggling to get out of their own half for much of the opening 45 minutes, and their best chance came when Sergio Reguilon's cross looked destined to be headed in by Harry Kane, but Liam Cooper got a vital touch to divert it away from the striker.
Adam Forshaw had a shot from distance whistle narrowly past the post as the visitors remained the only side intent of attempting to score a goal.
And Leeds were rewarded when Dan James gave them the lead on the stroke of half time. Jack Harrison skipped past Emerson Royal and delivered a great low ball for the Wales international to tap home.
Spurs should have been level almost immediately after the restart, but Kane was unable to beat Illan Meslier from close range.
At the other end, James nearly grabbed his second with a clever toe poke, and Lloris had to get down quickly to deny him.
Son Heung-min had a cross deflected onto the bar as Spurs finally began to show signs of life, and the hosts were furious when the South Korean wasn't awarded a penalty following a challenge by Kalvin Phillips.
Joe Gelhardt had a couple of sighters saved by Lloris before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg grabbed a scrappy equaliser, just about turning home Lucas' cutback.
That goal changed the outlook of the game as Tottenham rose into the ascendancy. Kane nearly managed to find the net after superbly turning through the challenge of Cooper.
Spurs deservedly took the lead not long after when Reguilon was on hand to tap it in after Eric Dier's deflected free kick rattled the post.
Leeds never really threatened Tottenham in the closing stages and Spurs held on to earn their first Premier League win under Conte.
Here are your player ratings from north London...
Tottenham player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Hugo Lloris (GK) - 7/10 - Made several good stops to keep Spurs in the game.
Japhet Tanganga (CB) - 7/10 - Solid defensively but didn't look comfortable on the ball.
Eric Dier (CB) - 7/10 - Assumed the role of Spurs' most senior centre-back well, but again was a liability in possession.
Ben Davies (CB) - 5/10 - Doesn't offer a lot at either end of the pitch. Conte was screaming at him to get forward more.
2. Midfielders
Emerson Royal (RM) - 4/10 - Far too easily beaten for James' opener by Harrison. Looked timid going both ways and rarely beat the first man with his crosses.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM) - 5/10 - All over the place at times. Continually gave the ball away under little pressure and didn't provide his usual intensity until Spurs equalised. And yet he still grabbed a goal - it's a funny old game.
Harry Winks (CM) - 6/10 - Had a shaky start to the game but grew into it and in the end was a net positive in place of the suspended Oliver Skipp.
Sergio Reguilon (LM) - 6/10 - The groan when Reguilon failed to play the easiest pass to set Emerson through on goal was loud. Made up for that with a goal of his own.
3. Forwards
Lucas Moura (RW) - 4/10 - Lucas' problem is he thinks he's Son but he most definitely isn't. Couldn't keep possession by way of passing or dribbling. Baffling how he grabbed an assist.
Harry Kane (CF) - 5/10 - Everything bounced off him at first when trying to hold up play and he seemed shot-shy. Grew into the game but couldn't find a way through.
Son Heung-min (LW) - 6/10 - Probably the only Spurs player who had the drive and technique to make chances on a consistent basis and not by way of fluke.
4. Substitutes
Davinson Sanchez (CB) - 7/10 - Recovery pace and aerial threat proved useful.
Ryan Sessegnon (LM) - 5/10
Dele Alli (RW) - N/A
Leeds player ratings
5. Goalkeeper & defenders
Illan Meslier (GK) - 3/10 - Flapped at a couple of crosses and looks like the shortest 6'5" person in the world.
Diego Llorente (RB) - 4/10 - Gave away possession needlessly a few times but wasn't massive troubled by Spurs' pacy left side.
Kalvin Phillips (CB) - 6/10 - Exceptional on the ball in the first half but Spurs exploited his lack of physicality in the second.
Liam Cooper (CB) - 6/10 - Made to look imperious on occasion by Lucas and Kane.
Pascal Struijk (LB) - 5/10 - Ironically played better out of position at left-back than when moved back centrally.
6. Midfielders
Stuart Dallas (RM) - 5/10 - Combined well with James down the right wing but faded out of the game too often.
Adam Forshaw (CM) - 7/10 - You wouldn't believe that Forshaw has barely played a game over the last three seasons. A top battling performance in midfield.
Mateusz Klich (CM) - 5/10 - Similarly gritty and was okay floating between the lines.
Jack Harrison (LM) - 6/10 - A constant thorn in the side of Spurs. Leeds should have brought him into the game more often.
7. Forwards
Dan James (CF) - 7/10 - Drifted from right wing to centre forward seamlessly and was good value for his tap in.
Joe Gelhardt (CF) - 7/10 - Unbelievable technique but lacked a physical strike partner for that to make more of a difference, especially when coming up against three centre-backs.
8. Substitutes
Junior Firpo (LB) - 3/10 - His introduction coincided with Lucas and Kane vastly improving.
Tyler Roberts (CM) - 5/10
Stuart McKinstry (CF) - N/A