Tottenham star Brennan Johnson was forced off in the 53rd minute vs Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur hosted Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday in what promised to be a gripping encounter between two rivals in contrasting form.
Spurs managed just one win from their last four games, while the Blues arrived on a high having won their previous four matches across all competitions. The stakes were high, with the Lilywhites desperate to get back into the top half of the table and the West Londoners aiming to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool.
Tottenham began brightly, stunning the opposition with two quick goals and leaving the fans in an ecstatic mood. However, the game quickly unravelled for Tottenham when Cristian Romero, who surprised almost everybody with his inclusion in the starting XI, limped off after 15 minutes. Chelsea took advantage quickly after Romero’s departure and made it 2-1 via Jadon Sancho.
Things got from bad to worse when Brennan Johnson was withdrawn in the 53rd minute, moments after he seemed to pick up a knock. Despite their early promise, the North Londoners endured a forgettable evening as they eventually lost 4-3 and saw their injury list grow.
During the post-match presser, Postecoglou was asked to provide an update on Brennan Johnson. The boss stated (h/t Football London):
“Brennan just didn’t feel well. He didn’t feel well at half-time, but he wanted to give it a go, but he just wasn’t feeling 100% so I had to take him off.”
Tottenham have been extremely unfortunate with injuries this season. Their inability to avoid injuries has become a recurring theme, with both defence and attack hit hard. Johnson not picking up an injury is a relief but his departure early in the second half against Chelsea was a big blow for Postecoglou’s side.
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The Welshman has been one of the rare bright sparks in an otherwise torrid campaign for Spurs. He is the club’s top with 10 goals in all competitions, becoming a key player for Big Ange this term. The 23-year-old helped the team enjoy a bright start on Sunday, delivering with a fine cross for Dominic Solanke’s goal.
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It was a real shame Johnson wasn’t 100 per cent and couldn’t continue in the second half. His directness, pressing and energy could have come in handy when we were chasing the game. Spurs fans can only hope Johnson recovers from his illness quickly and make himself available for the trip to Rangers in the Europe League on Thursday.
