Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Swansea City 1.
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur2SwanseaSwansea City1
Tottenham moved back to within two points of Premier League leaders Leicester after battling back from behind to beat a dogged Swansea side.
Alberto Paloschi gave the visitors the lead after Angel Rangel's shot fell to him via team-mate Jack Cork.
Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made a series of superb saves, before Nacer Chadli deflected in Kyle Walker's shot to equalise with 20 minutes left.
Danny Rose then drove in the winner after Swansea failed to clear a corner.
Spurs show title character
Hopes have been growing at White Hart Lane of a first league title since 1961, but the pressure was on to beat struggling Swansea after Leicester opened up a five-point lead with a victory over Norwich on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino's side were utterly dominant - managing 34 shots at goal to Swansea's 10 - but were frustrated by determined defending and brilliant goalkeeping.
Spurs could have forgiven for thinking it was not going to be their day, particularly when the outstanding Fabianski dived acrobatically to his right to claw out Christian Eriksen's free-kick early in the second half.
Fabianski had earlier made an excellent stop to deny Harry Kane from close range, but was finally beaten as substitute Chadli struck and Rose added his first goal of the season.
For Pochettino, it was a sign that his players have the character to force victories when fortune appears to be against them.
| Comeback kings |
|---|
| Tottenham have won 17 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season - the most in the division |
| By contrast, Swansea have dropped a joint-league high of 14 points from winning positions this season, alongside Bournemouth |
Dele drama
Pochettino's side secured a sixth successive league victory to keep the pressure on Leicester - on a day when neighbours Arsenal lost ground with a defeat at Manchester United.
The concern for Tottenham's manager is that his key players steer clear of injury as the attempt to juggle domestic demands with the Europa League.
England forward Kane was patched up to play in a face mask after missing Thursday's victory over Fiorentina with a broken nose.
There was concern too before kick-off as midfielder Dele Alli, an inspirational figure for them this season, turned his ankle in the warm-up.
Alli was able to play the full game, but did not look at his best. Pochettino must hope that the midfielder is in better shape for Wednesday's trip to West Ham.
Swansea show fight
Francesco Guidolin will have been cheered with the spirit his side showed - which was just the pick-me-up that the Swansea manager needed as he battles a chest infection.
His side showed attacking guile on their occasional breaks forward, while Paloschi took his goal smartly to score for the first time since his move from Chievo in January.
That came after Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris made a superb early save to tip over Gylfi Sigurdsson's shot from six yards, and the France international was alert too late in the game to beat out another Paloschi shot.
Guidolin, though will feel a sense of frustration that his team were unable to get anything from the game after leading with 20 minutes left.
It means that, after four league games without victory, Swansea remain only three points above the relegation zone. Matches against Norwich, Bournemouth and Aston Villa in March will go a long way towards deciding their fate.
Man of the match
What they said
Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino: "Fabianski was great. He was man of the match. Sometimes football is difficult. You play well but find it hard to score. The good thing is that the team fight. It is a fantastic win.
"Our mentality is to look to the next game and go step by step. Now we need to focus again. We have a strong squad and we will try to manage it in the right way."
Swansea first-team coach Alan Curtis: "Fabianski made some fantastic saves. We thought maybe it would one of those days when we would ride our luck. Lukasz kept us in the game for a long time.
"We got in front and created a couple of decent opportunities but the pressure was relentless. We almost got something but it wasn't quite enough."
The key stats
- Alberto Paloschi became only the seventh Swansea player to score in the Premier League this season
- Paloschi scored was with only his second shot on target in Premier League football
- Tottenham's starting line-up had an average age of just 24 years and 103 days - the second youngest in the Premier League this season
- Spurs also had the youngest line up - with an average of 24 years and 39 days against Manchester City in September
- All four of Danny Rose's Premier League goals for Spurs since the start of last season have come at White Hart Lane
- Spurs have won six successive Premier League matches for the first time since December 2011
What next?
Both sides are in Premier League action on Wednesday; Swansea will stay in north London to prepare for their trip to Arsenal, while Tottenham cross the capital to visit West Ham.
Line-ups
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lloris
- 2WalkerBooked at 90mins
- 4Alderweireld
- 27Wimmer
- 3RoseBooked at 56mins
- 15Dier
- 23Eriksen
- 7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forMasonat 75'minutes
- 20Alli
- 11LamelaSubstituted forChadliat 63'minutes
- 10KaneSubstituted forOnomahat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Bentaleb
- 8Mason
- 13Vorm
- 16Trippier
- 22Chadli
- 25Onomah
- 33Davies
Swansea
Formation 4-3-2-1
- 1Fabianski
- 22Rangel
- 33Fernandez
- 6WilliamsBooked at 28mins
- 3Taylor
- 24Cork
- 7BrittonSubstituted forFerat 75'minutes
- 4Ki Sung-yuengSubstituted forGomisat 83'minutes
- 10A AyewBooked at 58mins
- 23G Sigurdsson
- 9PaloschiBooked at 42minsSubstituted forBarrowat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Amat
- 8Fer
- 13Nordfeldt
- 15Routledge
- 18Gomis
- 26Naughton
- 58Barrow
- Referee:
- Mike Jones
- Attendance:
- 35,922
Match Stats
Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamSwansea
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home34
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home15
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Swansea City 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Josh Onomah (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Kyle Walker following a fast break.
Booking
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).
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André Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City).
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Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Dele Alli.
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Attempt blocked. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur).
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André Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Modou Barrow replaces Alberto Paloschi.
Post update
Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by André Ayew (Swansea City).
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Attempt missed. Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Federico Fernández (Swansea City).
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Josh Onomah replaces Harry Kane.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Mason.
