It was a contender for shock result of the season. Nobody had given Tottenham any hope after the Premier League disaster here against West Ham on Saturday, one which came coated in vitriol for Thomas Frank. The fans had demanded his immediate removal as the manager, only for him to stagger on.
The execution was stayed. But here were Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga’s second-placed team, who had lost only three games all season, to apply the final cut.
Frank could see the bones of his squad – 13 players unavailable, only 11 established outfielders from which to select. Yet Spurs rebelled. Frank rebelled. And when it was over, he could reflect on having taken a huge step towards direct qualification into the Champions League’s last 16.
It was a fourth home win out of four for Spurs in the competition – and a fourth clean sheet into the bargain. Wasn’t this stadium supposed to be a problem?
Xavi Simons was the star turn, shrugging off the pain of the swollen ankle he sustained against West Ham, and he had support around him. Starting with the excellent Wilson Odobert.
The game was shaped in part by Daniel Svensson’s harsh red card for Dortmund in the 24th minute but Spurs were ahead by then courtesy of Cristian Romero. When Dominic Solanke – on his comeback to the starting XI after an injury-ravaged season – looked as though he had fluffed a straightforward finish only for the ball to rebound home off his trailing foot, Spurs felt it would be their night.
Frank has a distance to go to convince a sceptical fanbase of his worth and it was noticeable that there was not much applause for him as he departed the pitch. He will probably settle for no boos. The road ahead continues to look precarious – on to Burnley on Saturday. It feels that Tottenham cannot dispense with him before that.
“I’m very happy,” Frank said. “Two big glasses of red will be necessary. But I am very aware we need to keep this consistency. The big thing is to build on this with a performance and win against Burnley.”
Frank changed his system again, lining up with three central defenders, mirroring how Dortmund set up. It was Destiny Udogie, who was back from injury, on the left of the trio, Djed Spence at left wing-back. They would emerge with honours.
It looked like an inspired move at the outset. Spurs tore out of the blocks, with Spence throwing down the gauntlet to the Dortmund right wing-back, Yan Couto. Spence had the size, strength and skill to trouble him while Simons and Odobert were determined to make their moves; to be direct. Simons’s first-time passes were especially easy on the eye.
The breakthrough goal swelled an unexpected feelgood factor. Spence won a corner after another surge around Couto and when Serhou Guirassy could only half clear, Odobert swung at the dropping ball and missed. He was quick to react, quicker than Julian Brandt and blasted over a low ball. It was made to measure for Romero, who swept home.
It was a golden first half for Frank and Spurs, everything going their way. From the red card to Solanke’s lucky finish. Svensson knew what was coming when the referee, Glenn Nyberg, a fellow Swede, was advised to go to the pitchside monitor. Svensson had taken a heavy touch and he stretched out a leg in a bid to recover the ball. He swiped and missed, going into the side of Odobert’s knee instead. It was one that looked worse on the replays.
The Spurs fans rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Guglielmo Vicario took a poor touch on 21 minutes and had to clear for safety but Spurs were winning so no harm done. There were cheers upon the half-time whistle, the knowledge that Frank’s team could have been further ahead. Simons had two decent sightings before the interval.
Solanke could smile broadly after his first goal of the season. Odobert had danced away from his man to cross low and Solanke had a tap-in. Except he got himself into a tangle, the attempted flick going into his front foot, bouncing back off his trailing one and ricocheting in.
Niko Kovac made changes for the second half, introducing Julian Ryerson at left wing-back and Emre Can into central midfield. The 10 men stabilised. It was possible to feel a few nerves among the home support and Frank did not need to lose Lucas Bergvall to injury. On came the 17-year-old Jun’ai Byfield for his debut at right wing-back. Pedro Porro moved into midfield. Byfield was safe and solid.
Spurs dug in because the fatigue levels rose, Simons leading by example. He launched into one tackle on Couto and whipped up the crowd. When he later bought a yard inside the area to work Gregor Kobel, there was a smile on his face.
Randal Kolo Muani, on as a substitute, was denied one‑on‑one by Kobel but it was about whether Dortmund could do anything at the other end.
Apart from a stoppage-time header from Nico Schlotterbeck which Vicario tipped over, they created nothing. Porro could not finish when he ran clear at the very last. Spurs had done more than enough.
