Electric going forward - but fishier at the back than Billingsgate market.
Tottenham are the great entertainers of English football, and in another rip-roaring ride at Big Ange’s fairground, they went from thrills on the rollercoaster to scares on the ghost train. When the carousel stopped spinning, Spurs were still on course to reach the Europa League’s knockout stages. But Ange Postecoglou was frustrated by German veteran Mats Hummels’ stoppage-time equaliser as Tottenham slipped to ninth.
It was great fun - even if your cardiologist may not agree - and if truth be told, defeat would have been desperately harsh on one of European football’s godfathers.
At 73, Roma coach Claudio Ranieri returned to the front line earlier this month - he must be mad. The Tinkerman’s legend is forever secure in English football after he led Leicester’s 5,000-1 no-hopers to their title miracle in 2016.
But Age Concern’s helpline should have been going into meltdown with callers fearing for a septuagenarian chilled to the bone on a north London touchline. Instead of having his feet up with a nice glass of Chianti, the Emperor Claudio was prowling in his technical area and urging his men forward like an orchestra conductor.
In his last 38 games as a Premier League manager, incorporating his last seven matches at Leicester and short shrift at Fulham and Watford, Ranieri took just 23 points - relegation form by any yardstick. But his career has enjoyed a renaissance back in Italy, where he saved Cagliari from relegation in Serie A last season, prompting Roma to bring him out of short-lived retirement for a third stint in the eternal city.
Ranieri’s thermals had barely warmed his toes when Hummels felled Pape Sarr in the box - an obvious penalty, although it took referee Glenn Nyberg ages to give it after VAR intervention - and skipper Heung-min Son fired Spurs in front from the spot. The South Korean poster boy’s fourth goal of the season, after just five minutes, sent Roma keeper Mile Svilar the wrong way.
And it should have given Tottenham the confidence to catch the wave again after their astonishing demolition of champions Manchester City last weekend. But they lapsed back into slipshod, careless ways and a familiar weakness soon resurfaced.
Paulo Dybala’s free-kick was glanced in off the bar by Evan N’Dicka’s fine header, and two minutes later Spurs were only spared by a borderline offside call ruling out Stephan El Shaarawy’s volley. Then Fraser Forster, all 6ft 7in of him, plummeted low to keep out Dybala’s skimming effort before Tottenham restored their lead after 33 minutes.
Brennan Johnson swept home Dejan Kulusevski’s cut-back with a glorious first-time finish for his ninth goal of the season and a minute later Son spooned the rebound over the top from eight yards after Kulusevski’s shot hit the far post.
Pushing their luck again, Spurs survived two more goals disallowed for offside before Roma shuddered the bar - all within 15 minutes of the restart. Pedro Porro returned serve by skimming the woodwork, and Dominic Solanke’s close-ranger header also knocked on wood.
But Tottenham were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur’s poor challenge on Alexis Saekermaekers brought Ranieri rushing to the touchline picketing for a red card. And justice was done when Hummels turned home Angelino’s driven cross-shot with the hourglass running short of sand.
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