Tottenham v Leeds LIVE: Why two pivotal moments went against Spurs in relegation battle — Independent 12/5/26
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Leeds: Mathys Tel scored a stunning goal but then conceded a second-half penalty, with James Maddison denied one at the death, to leave Spurs just two points above the relegation zone after a dramatic clash
Miguel Delaney at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium & Flo
Clifford
Roberto De Zerbi expects Tottenham relegation fight to go
down to last minute
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi believes the officials
“suffered the pressure” following VAR controversy in the West Ham-Arsenal game
after Spurs dropped crucial points against Leeds in the battle for Premier
League survival.
De Zebri felt the referee Jarred Gillet was “not calm”
during the 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which featured yet more
drama a day after West Ham saw a last-minute equaliser ruled out in the
“biggest decision in VAR history”.
After giving Spurs the lead with a fine finish, Mathys Tel’s
attempted overhead kick clearance struck Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu in the
face, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring from the spot. Then, in the 13th
minute of stoppage time, James Maddison went down in the box but VAR deemed
Lukas Nmecha played the ball.
“I think they were not calm today, maybe they suffered the
pressure of yesterday's Arsenal game,” De Zerbi said when asked about the
decisions from the officials. “For sure we suffered the pressure today. We
didn't play with passion with the ball, too frenetic but also the referee was
not calm today.”
Spurs were bidding to move four points clear of West Ham
with two games to go, but are now just two points clear of the Hammers ahead of
their final two games of the season: an away trip to Chelsea and a home game
against Everton on the final day. West Ham, meanwhile, go to Newcastle and then
host Leeds.
James Maddison sends message to Tottenham fans after making
long-awaited return from injury hell
James Maddison has declared himself ready to tackle
Tottenham’s precarious Premier League position head-on, as he aims to help the
club avoid relegation after a "season to forget".
James Maddison returned to competitive action for the first
time in a year during Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Leeds on Monday
Tottenham have 80 per cent chance of staying up
According to Opta, Tottenham’s survival chances now stand at
80.46%, compared to West Ham’s 19.54%.
Tottenham are two points clear of West Ham, with a superior
goal difference, with two games to go.
Tottenham's winless run at home stretches to 10 games
After last night’s draw with Leeds, who were already safe
before a ball was kicked, Tottenham have now failed to win any of their last 10
home Premier League games. It’s their longest winless run at home since 1994.
Imagine a situation where they need to beat Everton at home
on the final day to stay up?
'It's a big final for us': Van de Ven on Chelsea battle
Micky van de Ven on facing Chelsea in fight for survival.
“It’s going to be a tough game, Chelsea away, London derby,
away at Stamford Bridge. it’s always really difficult. We just need to do what
we need to do. Follow the gaffer. Mentally be strong because it’s a big final
for us and everything can happen after that game obviously. We need to be
mentally focused, train hard until the game and let’s see what’s going to
happen.”
Leeds are safe but will keep on fighting
“We have played an unbelievable season, with an amazing
outcome,” said Daniel Farke. “It says a lot about this team to already be on
this amount of points and safe with three games to go, it is massive. We will
fight until the end for each and every point.”
That could be crucial, as Leeds go to West Ham on the final
day.
Chelsea v Tottenham, Battle of the Bridge: Part II
Ten years on from the Battle of the Bridge, the infamous
night at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea denied Tottenham the title in an
tempered game, Spurs will go to their London rivals on Tuesday bidding to claim
the win that secures their Premier League status.
Depending on West Ham’s result at Newcastle on Sunday, Spurs
could confirm their survival with a win or draw. Or, if West Ham win at St
James’, Tottenham may find themselves heading to Stamford Bridge needing to win
to get out of the bottom three...
It should be fiery.
Is relegation battle going down to the final day? De Zerbi
expects so
If West Ham beat Newcastle on Sunday, it will pile the
pressure on Tottenham ahead of a meeting with Chelsea in midweek. Equally,
though, a defeat at St James’ Park would allow Spurs to secure safety with a
game to spare.
“I think we are in the right way,” De Zerbi said. “It will
be tough until the last minute against Everton, for sure.
“But after the Sunderland game, it was a difficult to
imagine ourselves before the last two games to stay up two points of West Ham.
“I remember very well the game in Sunderland was my first
game and we can’t forget what was the situation just 15 days ago. We can’t
forget after four games in a row we made eight points.
“And West Ham they have to also play Leeds at home. I think
Leeds they will play like today with the same spirit, with the same qualities.”
'Save of the season!': Will Kinsky rescue Tottenham from
relegation?
Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky could have a remarkable
redemption this season after his save rescued a point for Spurs by denying Sean
Longstaff at the death.
Kinsky, humiliated by Igor Tudor in the defeat at Atletico
Madrid, made a stunning reflex stop to tip Longstaff’s near-post shot onto the
bar in stoppage time.
“The save from Kinsky onto the bar from Longstaff is one of
the saves of the season,” Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports.
"The two saves he made, one in the first half, one in
the second half, have made sure his team has got what could be a vital point.
"The only save that I can think that made me go 'Wow'
was Jordan Pickford at Newcastle. That is certainly up there.”
Nmecha 'played the ball' in last-minute Tottenham penalty
claim
Roberto De Zerbi did not want to be drawn on another late
penalty incident after the returning James Maddison went down in the box under
the challenge of Leeds defender Lukas Nmecha.
The incident was checked by VAR and quickly waved away.
The Premier League Match Centre said: “The referee’s call of
no penalty to Tottenham Hotspur was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it
deemed that Nmecha played the ball.”
De Zerbi did praise Maddison’s impact as the midfielder made
his first competitive appearance in 12 months following injury. “Great news for
us. He is a different player as a quality, as a guy and he will be I hope
crucial for us,” De Zerbi said.
