Tottenham Destroy West Brom's Frustration Football

There was a time when teams like West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City came to Spurs ground and would frustrate Tottenham teams, but today was different to years past, the team that began the destruction of Spurs title ambitions last year, got humbled and cut apart today.

The financial muscle of the Premier League has served to make teams like West Bromich Albion far more competitive and even a Tony Pulis managed team is capable of scoring more than one goal while they suffocate teams to get past what is usually a resilient defensive system. The irony then is that it is Tottenham who have the best defensive record so far in the league and in a game like this, where Spurs have not beaten West Brom at their home ground for the last five years, the smell of another 0-0 stalemate was in the air.

It would have been a 0-0 stalemate but for a scintallating and gorgeous first half display from Tottenham. Following their 2-0 victory over league leaders Chelsea, one could fear complacency creep in and history repeating itself, but it did not and by 76 minutes as Spurs extended their lead to 3-0, this was no longer the Tottenham teams of old - who used to delight one week and horrify fans the next. Had it not been for a great display in goal from West Brom keeper Ben Foster, West Brom could have been counting a far worse beating.

Credit goes to Tony Pulis's tactical changes at half-time to shift to a more offensive line up, but that simply evened the game up a little more, which by itself was a stark contrast of West Brom simply being spectators to a superb first half Tottenham display. The other thing to fear about playing teams like West Brom and Stoke City is losing players to injury, and that did happen as Jan Vertoghen left the field with a twisted ankle, but Spurs depth and cover is now evident and when Ben Davies came on to replace Vertoghen, it was only business as usual - the only difference being that Spurs had doubled their lead by 80 minutes and for Spurs supporters, seeing successive games of the team scoring more than three goals against what should be inferior competition, is a statement by itself.

This was Tottenham's seventh straight win in all competition, though calling the FA Cup a competition is laughable. There were 9 changes in last week's cup tie at White Hart Lane as Spurs disposed of Aston Villa 2-0 and this sets up another interesting test for Spurs as they go to Manchester City next week - a ground where they won last year, so does not hold the fear one would usually expect after big money gained City some of the world's best players. It is also a reality check for City boss Pep Guidola who arrived at City this year with expectations that he will immediately guide them to the title, which is an expectation of City's ownership, backed up with cash spend.

These are great days down at the Lane and a couple of signings to cover Harry Kane, who got his hat-trick today and an attack minded midfielder (perhaps a swap with Everton to bring Ross Barkely to Tottenham in exchange for Sissoko) would set up the rest of the year with a real shot at winning the title. For Spurs it would be even better to win a title in the year that Tottenham finally finished above Arsenal in the league, which is a case of "he who laughs last, laughs longest".
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