Tottenham Hotspur Women were coming off of three poor results in WSL action — losing big to London City and Chelsea, and a narrow loss to Arsenal due to a poorly-called penalty. It took the bloom off what was an excellent start to the season, and put a serious ding into Spurs’ ambitions to qualify for the Champions League. Today they traveled to the midlands to face newly-promoted Birmingham City, a team that they’ve beaten four straight times in league play but who have showed moments of real danger
against quality opponents this season despite a poor record.
Spurs got the result they and Martin Ho were hoping for, romping to a 1-4 away win and propelling themselves, at least for now, into fourth place in the table. Spurs got goals from Julie Blakstad, Olivia Holdt, Signe Gaupset, and Victoria Pelova in a match that was a comfortable win but nonetheless provided some real entertainment value from both clubs.
Martin Ho started with what is likely his strongest available lineup. The likely season-ending ACL injury to club record signing and world-class defender Alice Sombath hurts, and Ho selected Amanda Nilden alongside Toko Koga in the back line. Olivia Holdt, who scored a brace in the cup win over Bristol City midweek, came into the side for Eveliina Summanen, who started last weekend vs. Arsenal.
The match was also significant for Spurs captain Drew Spence, who became the WSL’s all-time appearance leader. An incredible achievement for her.
Spurs huffed and puffed a lot in the first half and had the majority of the possession but despite a flurry of chances they couldn’t find their way past BCFC keeper Baggaley until late in the first half. In the 37th minute, Signe Gaupset chipped a ball towards goal that was somehow kept out by Baggaley, only for Tandberg to cut the ball back to a wide open Julie Blakstad in the box, who fired home to put Spurs ahead. Birmingham City were not toothless though, and had several first half chances and half-chances, mostly on the counter. Toko Koga did a good job to nullify Hurtré as Spurs took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
BCFC had a chance to equalize straight off the second half opening kick through halftime sub Lily Crosthwaite, but otherwise it was all Tottenham early. Future Ballon d’Or winner Olivia Holdt doubled Spurs lead five minutes into the half from an exquisitely placed free kick into the top corner, and Signe Gaupset made it 0-3 with a rifled shot into the bottom corner at 50’.
Birmingham City pulled a goal back midway through the second half off of a Hurtré corner kick after Neve Herron one-timed the corner past Kop at the near post. Spurs midfield substitute Eveliina Summanen had a short stint before picking up a knock of her own and was replaced by Matilda Nilden.
Spurs continued to pile on the pressure and kept shooting whenever given the opportunity — late in the half Victoria Pelova had a strike smartly saved by Baggaley, only for Kirsty Hanson to put the rebound effort off the crossbar. Pelova got her goal in the end, juking her defender in City’s box and scoring an 83’ goal past Baggaley to put Spurs up 1-4. City nearly pulled another goal back late with a few chances including one shot that went off the crossbar, but the match ended 1-4 with Tottenham the victors.
Match Reactions
- This win was just what Spurs needed after three very tough losses to London City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Birmingham City showed flashes of danger, but Tottenham statistically blew them out of the water.
- Final stats: xG BIR 1.07 – 2.67 TOT, Spurs outshot BCFC 29-13 (11-4 on target), and dominated touches in the box 61-12. A shutout was not out of the question, but neither was a 4-3 win. City have some good offensive players but their defense was pretty poor.
- This match featured Océane Hurtré, Birmingham’s attacking midfielder and the second leading scorer in the WSL, against Toko Koga, one of the best young defenders in the league. Fascinating tactical battle. Koga basically wore Hurtré like a second shirt and kept her mostly quiet, though she had a few dangerous looks on the counter.
- Tottenham really focused on playing through BCFC’s defense — lots of short, accurate passes, crosses, cutbacks in the box. Birmingham focused more on hitting on the counterattack through Hurtré and Lee, and they got some decent attacks out of it.
- I’m super glad Blakstad scored, because for a while there it was looking like it was going to be one of THOSE kinds of matches — Spurs were comfortably better especially after a flurry of late chances in the first half but it felt like there was a force field in front of goal for a while.
- Two really good second half goals put Spurs comfortably ahead — a lovely placed free kick from Holdt to put Spurs up 2-0, and a powerful shot to the bottom corner from Gaupset.
- BCFC’s second half goal was well-taken by Herron, but you feel Kop probably should’ve anticipated it better. It was a saveable chance and Kop just let it past her.
- Really impressed with Tottenham’s passing in this one. They had 467 passes with an 87% pass completion rate, and did really well making short, accurate passes in and around City’s box.
- Sheikira Martinez had the Tom Carroll Assist™ to Pelova for Spurs’ fourth goal, which minimizes the work she did to win the ball back to begin with. Still, cracking goal from Pelova, her sixth of the season.
- With the win, Spurs maintain a three point gap ahead of Arsenal in the table, and are fourth, at least for now.
- Up next: Spurs host Brighton next weekend, host Palace in the cup, and then host Everton in league play by mid-November. All winnable matches, but won’t necessarily be as easy as this one. (Except probably Palace.)
