Report: Tottenham Hotspur 0 Swans 0

16th September
First team

The Swans dug in for a precious and hard-earned point after a determined defensive display at Wembley Stadium.

Spurs dominated for most of the game as the visitors had to defend in numbers to come away with a clean sheet.

The Swans made just one change to the side that lost at home to Newcastle last Sunday with Mike van der Hoorn coming in for Leroy Fer as boss Paul Clement switched formation to three centre-backs.

Spurs made three changes to the team that started against Borussia Dortmund in midweek with Kieran Trippier in for Serge Aurier, Moussa Sissoko for Mousa Dembele and Dele Alli for former Swan Ben Davies who was on the bench along with Fernando Llorente.

Swansea started the game with confidence as they made the very early running with Tom Carroll, Jordan Ayew and Tammy Abraham looking to link up.

But the home side soon settled and started to apply the pressure as they gained the upper hand in the possession stakes, especially down Swansea’s right.

The game’s first real effort came from Harry Kane in the ninth minute as Lukasz Fabianski superbly  tipped his free kick around the post.

Swansea, despite struggling to hold on to the ball, were keeping their shape well though defensively as Spurs tried to work the little pockets of space in and around the penalty area.

The visitors’ patience nearly paid off two minutes before the beak as Carroll swung in a corner which Mike van der Hoorn headed over.

Spurs were soon back on the attack though as Jan Vertonghen tried his luck from distance with a shot which Fabianski saved well before referee Mike Dean call time on a first half the home side dominated.

The second half started where the first had left off with Spurs dominating and pushing hard for the opener as the Swans had to defend deep and with numbers.

The home side had a good shout for a penalty in the 55th minute as the ball looked to have struck Martin Olsson’s hand, but the referee waved played on before Kane thundered a shot against the bar as the Swans were riding their luck.

With their back to the wall, Fabianski was standing strong with a near post save from Son and then a superb tip over from a Kane header with 65 minutes gone.

Spurs had another penalty appeal turned down in the 75th minutes, again for a handball claim against Olsson, but it would have been extremely harsh this time.

With Wilfried Bony on for Abraham, the striker was trying hard to take the pressure off by holding the ball up.

Carroll did deliver a dangerous free kick into the Spurs area on a rare attack, but Spurs were soon flooding forward again as Kane fired inches wide.

Spurs: Lloris (capt), Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Dier, Sissoko (Aurier 64), Eriksen, Son (Llorente 74), Alli, Kane.

Subs: Vorm, Davies, Winks, Foyth, Dembele.

Swans: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez (capt), Mawson, van der Hoorn (Routledge, 85), Olsson, Clucas, Carroll, Sanches (Fer 58), Ayew, Abraham (Bony 72).

Subs: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Mesa, Narsingh.

Referee: Mike Dean