Another frustrating 90 minutes
Tottenham stretched their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign on Wednesday evening but they were unable to claim all three points at West Ham following a 1-1 draw. Taking the lead through Thilo Kehrer's own goal 11 minutes before half-time after a swift counter, Tomas Soucek restored parity for the Hammers in the 55th minute with a low shot beyond Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham did have a couple of openings on goal after that, but it was the hosts who went closest to winning it as Jarrod Bowen's shot in the closing minutes flashed across the face of goal. Speaking in his post-match press conference after the game, Antonio Conte said a point is good at West Ham but they did have the opportunity to get all three.
"In the end I think that we had the opportunity to get three points today, and for this reason, we have to be a bit disappointed for the final result on one hand. On the other, it is not easy to play against West Ham - especially in this stadium, with this atmosphere," said the 53-year-old.
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"In my opinion, West Ham are a really good team. They are strong physically. We knew the capacity of West Ham to be dangerous from corners, set pieces, throw-ins, and I think we prepared very well and trained very well. but you can pay attention for 95 minutes but only once you don't pay attention and you concede a goal that you can avoid. Because I repeat we conceded a goal that we could have avoided. And in the end one point is good, especially I repeat away against West Ham."
Starting the game brightly as they looked to trouble West Ham, an overturned penalty decision after Aaron Cresswell was adjudged to have handled Harry Kane's header sparked David Moyes' men into life.
The game took on a familiar theme with the other team causing Spurs problems and Conte's side looking threatening on the counter. That's exactly how the visitors opened the scoring as they raced upfield after Eric Dier had coolly passed to Kane when others may have hoofed the ball clear, with Tottenham's No.10 then playing a one-two with Dejan Kulusevski and putting in a fine ball that Kehrer could only put into his own net.
It really was mouth-watering play from Spurs, with Moyes hailing the move in his post-match press conference. "The quality of the goal Tottenham scored as a counterattack very quickly, and it was nearly done to perfection," said the Scotsman.
Spurs were then the architects of their own downfall for West Ham's equaliser as Dier played a ball back to Lloris, who in turn got his kick all wrong as it sailed out of play. Seconds later it was 1-1 as a quick throw-in was taken and Soucek got on the end of some brilliant work from Michail Antonio to fire home.
Tottenham did have opportunities in the final third after that but never quite looked like scoring. Son Heung-min, who was quiet once again, went close with a deflected effort and the introduction of Richarlison for the final 15 minutes, unfortunately, didn't result in the Brazilian having another telling impact off the bench.
Far from their best this season but getting maximum points on three occasions, Spurs just couldn't repeat the trick at the London Stadium. The football they served up was frustrating at times and they need to offer much more if they are going to still be challenging towards the top come May.
West Ham of course must be praised for their display, yet the Lilywhites should be winning if they have aspirations of pushing the likes of Man City and Liverpool at the summit. Tottenham's next task is about getting the results but with the eye-catching performances the fans are desperate to see.
After all, they do have the players to wow those watching week in, week out. Saturday does represent a new opportunity, though, with Fulham visiting Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Spurs supporters need to see a 90-minute performance.
One substitution
Tottenham fans wanting to see Conte make a handful of changes to his starting XI at West Ham would've been disappointed when the team news dropped at 6.45pm. There was only one alteration from Sunday's win at Nottingham Forest as Yves Bissouma replaced Rodrigo Bentancur in the team.
The Uruguayan was absent altogether because of the head injury he sustained at the City Ground, but Spurs were boosted by the return of Oliver Skipp from injury to take his teammate's place. Admitting that he will make changes in the weeks ahead because of the hectic schedule coming their way, one thing supporters did question was his decision to only make one substitution as Richarlison entered the fray in the 76th minute.
"I think that moment I didn't want to change the balance of the team," said Conte when asked about only making one change over the course of the 90 minutes. "Skippy was the first time with us. He trained with us only two days and I wanted to give him the possibility to come on the bench and breathe the atmosphere and risk to play because Hojbjerg received a really bad tackle.
"Then I wanted to make only one change with Richy because in that moment we needed energy, strong energy. Other situations I prefer to keep the balance in that moment and also because in two (sic) days we have to play against Fulham and for sure I will make rotations. My players know very well, but they are ready and we are ready to face this many games in a row, in two or three days."
Conte certainly wasn't blessed with attacking options to call upon from his bench at the London Stadium with injury ruling both Lucas Moura and Bryan Gil out. Ryan Sessegnon and Djed Spence were perhaps the only other two attack-minded players on there as well as Richarlison but they weren't called upon by the boss.
With West Ham starting to up the pressure on Spurs after their equaliser as it gave everyone a huge lift, it became clear to see that the visitors did need to freshen things up sooner rather than later. The first change came 20 minutes after Soucek's striker, however, and it would be the team's only one of the night.
The head coach has plenty of options to choose from now after the club's summer business but attacking choices were extremely sparse to say the least because of the injuries. All eyes will be on Conte's team and substitutions on Saturday afternoon if they find themselves in a similar position once again.
Contrasting displays from the new signings
One Tottenham player who did make quite the impression in the 1-1 draw was Ivan Perisic. Starting the last three league games, the Croat is now demonstrating exactly why Conte was so keen on bringing him to the club.
Making it clear in the first few weeks that Perisic is not yet the version of the player he had at Inter Milan, the experienced star now appears to be pretty much there after shining in east London. Putting in the cross that resulted in referee Peter Bankes pointing to the penalty spot before he later changed his mind after looking at the screen, Perisic caused issues for West Ham's right side with his forays forward.
Taking on and beating his opponent numerous times as well as putting in some tantalising crosses, Perisic impressed with some really clever pieces of play and always seemed to pick the right option. One blip was perhaps switching off for a split second as he turned his back for the quick throw that resulted in West Ham's equaliser, but on the whole he was excellent and left Tottenham fans wanting more.
Bissouma, on the other hand, struggled on his full Spurs debut and looked a shadow of the player who wowed at Brighton & Hove Albion. Certainly not helped by picking up an early yellow card after throwing the ball to the ground, the Mali international was walking a tightrope after that and potentially one foul away from receiving his marching orders.
While of course it will take the new addition time to adapt to Conte's ways and his new teammates, his play was sloppy at times and he let Soucek run off him too easily for the equaliser. Game time is what the player needs and he will get that over the coming weeks.
He needs to offer more than he did against the Hammers though if he wants to become Conte's first-choice midfielder moving forward.
Transfer deadline day
Clubs now just have a matter of hours left in the transfer market to finalise their summer business. Having until 11pm on Thursday evening before the window slams shuts, Spurs fans will have their fingers crossed that there is a bit of movement in terms of incomings in N17.
Conte will be hoping that is very much the case as well as he gets his plans in place for the next few months. As Japhet Tanganga now looks set to stay in north London amid plenty of speculation all summer regarding a switch to Italy, eyes will be firmly fixed on Spurs' attacking plans in the final few hours of the window.
Linked with a late move for Leeds United's Daniel James, whether they are successful or not in bringing in a new winger will impact Gil. Valencia boss Gennaro Gattuso admitted over the weekend that the Spain U21 international's loan return to Los Che is 99% done but it all rests on Spurs bringing in a replacement for the youngster.
If not, Gil will have to remain at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they cannot leave themselves too short in attack with so many games coming up. Wednesday's draw at West Ham highlighted the need to have a couple of extra attackers on the bench.
Speaking to the media on Monday as he previewed the showdown against the Hammers, Conte did outline that he has made his feelings clear to Fabio Paratici, Daniel Levy and the club ahead of deadline day. Managers and fans always want more and many will see his comments as him telling the key figures that he clearly wants some more business to be done.
"I spoke with the club. I spoke with Paratici, with Daniel Levy, I said to them my opinion," he admitted. "But as you know very well, the most important thing is for the club to know my opinion. If we do something or not, it’s ok."
Adding six new players to his squad this summer, as well as signing Cristian Romero on a permanent deal and signing Destiny Udogie for the future, an extra incoming could give everyone a lift and top off a good window for the club. It is now down to Paratici to give his fellow countryman his final transfer wish before the clock strikes 11pm.
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