Tanguy Ndombele is a sublime talent – now he can ease Tottenham’s reliance on Harry Kane and Heung-min Son

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Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP17 January 2021

Tanguy Ndombele scored a goal-of-the-season contender as Tottenham outclassed Sheffield United in a 3-1 win at Bramall Lane.

Moments after David McGoldrick halved Spurs' lead on the hour, raising the possibility of another familiar collapse for Jose Mourinho's side, Ndombele produced an outrageous piece of skill to restore their two-goal advantage.

There seemed little immediate jeopardy for the Blades as Ndombele ran out onto Steven Bergwijn's scooped pass but, sandwiched between two defenders and facing away from goal, the Frenchman managed to find the bottom corner from a ridiculous angle with the outside of his right foot.

You initially had to wonder if Ndombele meant it but there was no doubt he did. There are few players in world football who would even have attempted it.

It was a one-off strike but in many respects it has been coming. Ndombele was Spurs' brightest player in the draw with Fulham on Wednesday and he was full of trickery and invention again here, at one point releasing Serge Aurier, who opened the scoring, with a beautiful disguised pass, again with the outside of his boot.

Watching him every week, you feel he has been building up to a big moment which would make the rest of the top flight sit up and take notice of his sublime talent.

It was Ndombele's second goal in four League matches – and third in the top-flight this season. With Spurs so reliant on Harry Kane, who doubled their lead in the first half, and Heung-min Son for firepower, it will make a huge difference if the 24-year-old can start regularly chipping in with goals – even if few will be as spectacular as this one.

Spurs rewarded for building on early lead

Spurs' have not struggled to start games well and they led inside five minutes. The returning Bergwijn forced Aaron Ramsdale into a save with a fierce drive and from Son's resulting corner Aurier scored a rare headed goal.

The question, though, was whether Spurs could build on their lead after the draw with Fulham followed a frustratingly familiar pattern.

Tottenham's ambition has tended to drain with alarming regularity when in front and three times since December 13 – against the Cottagers, Wolves and Crystal Palace – they have been pegged back and eventually succumbed to pressure to draw 1-1.

Spurs nearly scored a second immediately with a trademark link-up between Kane and Son but the South Korean's dink over Ramsdale struck the outside of the post.

Driven forward by Sergio Reguilon, who was excellent on the counter-attack, and the unpredictable Ndombele, Spurs continued to hunt for a second goal.

They were rewarded shortly before half-time when Kane shrugged off a swarm of defenders and surged to the edge of the area to net a superb low finish.

The goal removed the fear of another deja vu, although Spurs were briefly concerned when McGoldrick got between Eric Dier and Ben Davies to nod home on the hour.

Ndombele's magic ensured there was to be no nervy finish and ultimately Spurs were rewarded for pushing for more goals after taking such an early lead. The way they attacked at times made their seeming reluctance to go for the jugular in the past month look even more costly.

While a more enterprising approach was a welcome change, being more adventurous against Sheffield United, who remain rooted to the foot of the table, is one thing but doing it against a top side is quite another. Tottenham's challenge is now to make ruthlessness a habit. Next up in the Premier League? Liverpool.

Switch to a back three helps Mourinho's defenders

Mourinho was indirectly critical of his defenders following the draw with Fulham, saying the "individual ability" of centre-backs Davinson Sanchez and Dier was to blame for the Cottagers' late equaliser.

In response, the Spurs manager switched to a back three, with Sanchez paying the price by dropping to the bench and Wales internationals Ben Davies and Joe Rodon coming in.

Making on his second Premier League start, Rodon was impressive and made a crucial covering challenge on McGoldrick at 1-0.

There is a week-and-a-half until Spurs' next League game, at home to Liverpool, but the 23-year-old would be unlucky to lose his place based on this assured display.

On paper, five defenders at Bramall Lane looked conservative but the system brought out the best in Spurs back five, with Davies and wing-back Reguilon looking particularly comfortable in the system.

The one concern was another goal conceded from a cross, with McGoldrick's header not to dissimiar to Fulham's equaliser as he glanced home Fleck's swinging ball from the left.

Still, there is plenty to like about Spurs in a back three, particularly with Rodon included, so it may be a set up Mourinho considers on a more regular basis going forward.

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