Premier League: Gomis scare as Spurs maintain top four chase
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 SWANSEA CITY 2
TOTTENHAM manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted a hangover from Sunday’s Capital One Cup final defeat to Chelsea had threatened to engulf the club before his side maintained their Champions League aspirations with victory over Swansea.
There were concerns for Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis, a player with a history of fainting, who required lengthy on-field treatment and oxygen after collapsing. Swans boss Garry Monk later confirmed the 29-year-old was “fine”.
Midfielder Ryan Mason scored his first league goal to restore Tottenham’s lead in the second period after Belgium forward Nacer Chadli, with his 10th goal this term, and Swansea’s Ki Sung-yeung had traded first-half blows.
England winger Andros Townsend gave the hosts a two-goal cushion before ex-Spurs star Gylfi Sigurdsson set up a tense finish on an evening when Tottenham paid tribute to double-winning captain Dave Mackay, who died on Monday.
“The three points and victory were very important, to feel like a winner again after the game,” said Pochettino. “It was difficult after the final to lift the players and supporters but we showed character and played well. It was a great performance.”
Spurs stayed seventh in the Premier League after enduring a dispiriting run of five winless matches across all competitions, which saw their quest to end a seven-year trophy drought fade as well as a Europa League exit.
The home side were indebted to an exquisite save from keeper Hugo Lloris in stoppage time to repel Federico Fernandez’s header, and Pochettino was quick to extol the virtues of his French stopper. He said: “It was a great save in the last minute. He is one of the best in the world and we’re lucky we have him.”