Gary O’Neil praised Micky van de Ven and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for the roles they played respectively in Tottenham’s two goals against Fulham.
Tottenham fashioned several chances throughout the game, particularly in the first half, with the Cottagers struggling to cope with the home side’s movement and combination play.
However, both of the Lilywhites’ goals came as a result of them winning the ball high up the pitch, with Fulham caught out trying to play out from the back.
It was Van de Ven who intercepted the ball ahead of the first goal before playing it to Richarlison, who in turn found Son Heung-min, who took a touch to wrong-foot the defender before curling it into the top corner.
Hojbjerg won the ball ahead of the second goal and played it first-time to Son, who found James Maddison, with the attacking midfielder keeping his composure to slot home past Bernd Leno.
(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Gary O’Neil was impressed by Tottenham duo
O’Neil noted how Ven de Ven’s and Hojbjerg’s first passes when Tottenham won the ball back were perfectly weighted.
The Wolves boss said on Sky Sports MNF: “I think the key to both of the goals was the quality on the first pass. Jamie touched on the one at half-time, when the centre back comes in and cushions it in lovely with his left foot, and then the second one, Hojbjerg stepping in, fantastic first pass into the nine and no time for Fulham to recover.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It is quite noticeable that Tottenham have worked quite a lot on their pressing structure and how to maximise three vs three (or similar situations) in the training ground. We have looked quite deadly when winning the ball back in the final third.
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