Key events
3 mins: Some lovely passing from Spurs, who string about 20 passes together. At no point do they get the ball more than 40 yards from their own goal, though, and eventually they pass back to Kinsky, who pumps it forwards and gives it away.
1 mins: An early long throw from Leeds causes a modicum of chaos. Eventually James re-crosses and Struijk heads wide.
1 min: Peeeeep! Leeds, clad all in black (well, black and some funny blurry shapes), get the game going.
The players are out! The display of flags was a little underwhelming, only partly because if you’re watching on TV it was mostly covered up by a sequence of graphics.
Right then. The Spurs players are in the tunnel, currently on their own. Kick-off in four minutes, give or take.
Daniel Farke now gets a grilling:
Of course I’m proud [that Leeds have stayed up]. Fantastic achievement for us. I enjoyed a little bit the feeling yesterday evening when it was confirmed, but there’s an important game for us tonight and for that I am concentrated. I can’t waste 1% of energy to be over-emotional or to be in a good mood, we need to be fully focused tonight.
We have important players missing out today but it’s a chance for some others to shine and hopefully they can grab the opportunity today. They have my faith and I’m sure we can be competitive tonight.
Tottenham’s Kevin Danso has a quick chat:
To win always does the team good. We need the same today as we’ve shown the past two games and if we continue to do so we can get the three points today.
And what has De Zerbi done to turn things around?
Tweaks in everything. The mentality, buildup, the way we defend. He’s a fantastic manager, he’s proven it at many clubs, it’s just down to us to do what he asks on the pitch.
Sky are busy chatting about Arsenal’s win at West Ham yesterday, so I’m entirely reliant on still images to know what’s going on at Spurs. So, here’s Leeds doing important bouncing practice:
Looks like lots of All Together Always flags have been distributed behind one of the goals tonight, so look out for an eye-catching display when the teams come out in about half an hour.
Roberto De Zerbi has a chat with Sky:
We played very well in Birmingham [beating Aston Villa 2-1], and I think the whole idea was to keep the same first XI. But I’m lucky also on the bench I have good players.
We have to forget the last two wins. We have to keep just the same spirit, the same style of play, because we need to play football if we want another win tonight. And to be positive, but we can’t forget what the situation was two weeks ago.
He’s asked if the fact Leeds are now safe might make his team’s job a little easier:
Nothing changes, especially in the Premier League. You see Burnley against Villa yesterday – all games are very tough. To win we have to play our best, to fight, to run, to work, but to play according to our qualities. For sure, the first 10 minutes we have to start strong to [keep] the fans with us. But we have to play 90 minutes and extra time, because we are not in a condition to think we can close the game inside 90 minutes.
The teams
No messing about, here are today’s teams:
Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie, Joao Palhinha, Bentancur, Muani, Gallagher, Tel, Richarlison. Subs: Austin, Dragusin, Bissouma, Maddison, Gray, Bergvall, Spence, Sarr, Souza.
Leeds: Darlow, Justin, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Stach, Ampadu, Tanaka, James, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson. Subs: Lucas Perri, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Bornauw, Byram, Gnonto, Chadwick, Lienou.
Referee: Jarred Gillett.
Hello world! Yesterday, as a result of Arsenal’s victory over West Ham, Leeds United secured another season of top-flight football. Their battle against relegation is over. And today, freed from the stress of uncertainty as well as the drive of desperation, they visit one of now just two clubs still vying to avoid the drop. Will they now relax, and if so will that enable them to find a new, higher plane on which to play, or just drain them of all motivation?
Spurs would pick option two, thankyouverymuch. After winning their last two league games, both away from home, they are one point above West Ham, with significantly better goal difference, and with one game (this one) in hand. That goal difference means that if they manage to win today, West Ham are likely to need victories in both of their remaining fixtures, and for Spurs to win neither of theirs while losing at least one, if the Hammers are to be reprieved. It really feels like tonight might be decisive. But if it isn’t, you may need to know the two teams’ fixtures after today:
Tottenham
19 May: Chelsea (a)
24 May: Everton (h)
West Ham
17 May: Newcastle (a)
24 May: Leeds (h)
Plus those of Leeds, because they’re actually playing tonight so it would be rude not to:
17 May: Brighton (h)
24 May: West Ham (a)
Pre-match reading
Here’s David Hytner on Antonin Kinsky, the goalkeeper whose attitude has helped Spurs in fight for Premier League survival:
When Antonin Kinsky had his Madrid episode, there was an assumption that he would not play again for Tottenham this season. And maybe not the next one, either. The 23-year-old goalkeeper would have to rebuild himself elsewhere, probably on loan. Perhaps, given the scale of the horror against Atlético in the Champions League last 16 first leg on 10 March – and there really is no need to rake over the details – a permanent transfer may have been an option.
Kinsky’s comeback has been extraordinary; an inspiration to everybody at the club. With the first-choice selection, Guglielmo Vicario, undergoing hernia surgery towards the end of March, Roberto De Zerbi has counted on the Czech in each of his four matches in charge. The manager has not been let down.
Much more here:
