Richarlison and Kulusevski’s late late show steals Tottenham win over Sheffield United

Some things in life are guaranteed. Manor Solomon, given the chance to run at an opponent will cut infield into his right foot. James Maddison, challenged in the box, will go to ground, sit up, and spread his arms while looking plaintively at the referee. And Tottenham, just as optimism is beginning to sprout, will find a way to lose. Or will they? Perhaps this is the true Ange Postecoglou revolution: it took 15 minutes of added-time, but from somewhere they found two late goals to win it.

Richarlison scored the equaliser and then laid on the winner for Dejan Kulusevski, a remarkable contribution from a player who has seemed so out of sorts for so long, who has admitted his off-field struggles. But it also seemed typical of this new era for Spurs, who have recently become, uncharacteristically, a club to whom good things happen.

Wes Foderingham not merely made a series of useful saves, but also proved a master of slowing the game down. When he was clattered by Micky van de Ven early in the second half, there’s no reason to imagine it didn’t hurt and equally nobody should begrudge the time it takes to perform a proper concussion check. The lengthy delay while he refastened his gloves, though, was harder to fathom. Why had they come off in the first place, just as they had before he received treatment in the first half?

To suggest United were only about time-wasting, though, would be unfair. They also, as they had against City, defended extremely well in a very low block, albeit aided by a curious diffidence about Tottenham. Repeatedly they got in decent positions but the shot was mishit or the cross misplaced. Foderingham made seven saves before the break but probably the only one that was anything other than a block he would be expected to make came as he rushed out quickly to Yves Bissouma after a little shuffle had created space in the box.