Many thanks to Declan Mulcahy for his report:-

Saturday 22 February 2025, 3:00pm
Premier League
Ipswich Town (1) 1 Tottenham Hotspur (2) 4

Ipswich scorer:-
Hutchinson, 36

Spurs scorers:-
Johnson, 18, 26
Spence, 77
Kulusevski, 84

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Kieran McKenna
31 A Palmer; 44 B Godfrey (6 L Woolfenden 45), 26 D O'Shea (c), 24 J Greaves, 3 L Davis; 12 J Cajuste (14 J Taylor 52), 8 K Phillips (5 S Morsy 80); 29 J Philogene, 20 O Hutchinson, 47 J Clarke (33 N Broadhead 68); 19 L Delap (27 G Hirst 79)

Subs not used: 1 A Muric, 18 B Johnson, 22 C Townsend, 23 S Szmodics

Booked: Clarke (32 foul on Spence), Godfrey (40 foul on Son)

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3):
1 G Vicario; 24 D Spence, 14 A Gray, 4 K Danso, 13 D Udogie (23 Pedro Porro 65); 21 D Kulusevski, 30 R Bentancur, 15 L Bergvall (8 Y Bissouma 85); 22 B Johnson (10 J Maddison 64) 11 M Tel (44 D Scarlett 74), 7 H-M Son (c) (28 W Odobert 74)

Subs not used: 31 A Kinsky, 3 S Reguilon, 29 P Sarr, 47 M Moore

Booked: Johnson (15 foul on Davis)
Captain's Armband: Son (Maddison 74)

Portman Road, Attendance: 30,003
Referee: Tim Robinson, Assistant Referees: Simon Long, Steven Meredith, Fourth Official: David Webb, VAR: Chris Kavanagh, Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood

A Hat-trick for Spurs!

Thanks to Greg Smith for this image

Ipswich Town offered far more resistance than the score would suggest. This was a fine team effort from Spurs. In the last thirteen minutes Spurs extended the margin of victory to a comfortable level. It was the first time they had won three consecutive Premier League matches since December 2023.

Ange Postecoglou made three changes from the team which beat Manchester United last weekend. Destiny Udogie replaced Pedro Porro with Djed Spence moving to right back. Archie Gray came in for Ben Davies. The latter wasn't on the bench with Reguilon replacing him which might suggest that Davies is injured. Last week's match-winner James Maddison had to be content with a place on the bench. His replacement Brennan Johnson scored Spurs first two goals so the change was effective. It was his first start since being injured.

Ipswich Town made four changes from the team that gained a good draw away to Aston Villa last weekend. Axel Tuanzebe was suspended following a red card. Julio Enciso was injured and Conor Townsend and Ben Johnson dropped to the bench. They were replaced by Leif Davis returning from injury, Ben Godfrey, Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke.

Clarke was on Spurs' books for three seasons between 2019 and 2022. He spent most of that time out on loan and his only competitive first team appearance for Spurs was when he came on in the 86th minute of a home Europa League match in October 2020 against Linzer ASK (LASK) when Spurs were winning 3-0.

Ipswich made a great start to the game. Spurs lost the ball in the Ipswich half. Ipswich counter-attacked. Jens Cajuste set up Liam Delap whose shot from the left was saved by Vicario. Jaden Philogene followed up but his shot was blocked. The pressure on the Spurs defence was then relieved by an Ipswich player being offside.

Shortly after that Delap made another run and unleashed a shot which went right across the Spurs goal and narrowly wide.

Udogie played Son in towards the Ipswich box. His shot was saved by Alex Palmer. He received a knee from one of his own players and needed treatment.

After five minutes Ipswich were awarded a free kick just outside the Spurs box. Phillips took it and set up Delap whose header hit the post. Philogene had two attempts one of which was high and wide and the second one blocked. Ipswich could have scored one possibly two goals during this period and would regret their profligacy.

Son created a chance for Bergvall but his shot was blocked. Spence went down with an injury but recovered without needing treatment. The first booking came when Johnson pulled back Davis as he attempted to start a counterattack.

After 18 minutes Spurs went ahead a little unexpectedly. Gray in his own half played a superb pass to Son who rounded Godfrey and went to the bye-line. He sent a cross across the goal and Johnson on the right got there before any of the Ipswich defenders to score with a shot.

Ipswich had some more opportunities. Hutchinson crossed from the right but Vicario saved Clarke's header. A Delap shot was deflected but after the corner Philogene's attempt was too high. Delap had another effort which was easily gathered by Vicario.

Eight minutes after the first goal Spurs increased their lead in similar circumstances. This time Bentancur started the move. Again Son rounded Godfrey and was in the box. Instead of going to the bye-line he crossed the ball around the middle of the box. Again he found Johnson who had Ipswich players in front of him but he passed the ball into the net. Brennan Johnson's father David is a former Ipswich player. Brennan very sportingly didn't celebrate his goals out of respect for his father's connection with Ipswich.

Spurs had a two-goal lead. They had taken their opportunities while Ipswich had failed to convert theirs.

Ten minutes later Ipswich reduced the deficit. Phillips passed to Clarke in the box and he in turn set up Hutchinson who scored with a shot from the left. A few minutes later Hutchinson was through again but his shot was saved by Vicario.

Bentancur robbed Hutchinson and made a run into the Ipswich box but his shot was saved.

Spurs led 2-1 at half-time. Ipswich took off Godfrey at the interval. It wasn't a surprise as Son had dominated him during the first half. Woolfenden came on in central defence with the captain O'Shea moving to right back. They had to make another change soon after when Cajuste was injured and Taylor replaced him.

Shortly before the hour mark Ipswich were awarded a free kick just outside the Spurs box. The ball was blocked by the wall but bobbled around. Woolfenden fired the ball home. Video replays showed he was offside and the goal was disallowed.

Johnson had a chance in the box to complete his hat-trick but it was blocked by Davis. O'Shea and Danso had a coming together in the Ipswich box but VAR decided it wasn't a penalty.

Postecoglou made his first substitutions with Pedro Porro and Maddison replacing Udogie and Johnson. Maddison is a former Norwich player and was booed every time he touched the ball.

Spurs maintained their one-goal advantage but Ipswich weren't out of the game. Postecoglou made two more changes with Wilson Odobert and Dane Scarlett replacing Son and Mathias Tel. Son gave the captain's armband to Maddison. Tel was fairly quiet today but he is still adjusting to the Premier League. He may be better suited to playing off a No. 9 than playing as the No. 9.

After 77 minutes Spurs had the ball in the Ipswich box. Maddison played a short pass to Spence. His shot was deflected off Woolfenden who was close by and it looped over goalkeeper Palmer into the net.

This was Spence's first Premier League goal.

There was now a sense that a result should be beyond Ipswich. Given what had gone before the Spurs supporters in the ground took great delight in reminding their Norwich counterparts that Maddison had set up the goal.

Seven minutes later Ipswich had the ball in or around the Spurs box. Danso gained possession. Instead of playing the ball out he hit a long ball down the right touchline. Scarlett and an Ipswich player contested it around the halfway line. Scarlett won the ball and flicked it on to Kulusevski. He made a good run down the right entered the box and scored with a trade-mark curling left-footed shot towards the far post. Ipswich felt the game should have been stopped because of a head injury to Jacob Greaves but it didn't appear to be too serious.

Fifteen minutes remained - six of normal time and nine added on. Spurs were in control almost throughout. Ipswich's only hope came when Kulusevski and Broadhead collided in the Spurs box but replays showed there was no case for a penalty.

Though under pressure at times Spurs prevailed and won by a three-or-more goal margin away from home in the Premier League for the fourth time this season. Two of the other occasions were in Manchester and the third in Southampton.

This really was a team effort. Spence and Son were probably the two best players. Spence for his performance throughout the match and scoring the third goal. Son for creating the first two goals. Johnson came close to those two by scoring two goals.

The other players deserve praise too. Gray and Bergvall tackled and passed well. Gray was the initiator of the first goal. He did have a shaky period against Delap in the opening few minutes but grew into the game. Danso was solid at the back and started the move for the fourth goal. Kulusevski scored a spectacular goal. Bentancur set Son up to create the second goal and made another good run later. Vicario was capable at the back. Two of the substitutes made significant contributions too. Maddison set Spence up for his goal. Scarlett was the intermediary in a goal started by Danso and finished by Kulusevski.

This is the first time that Spurs have beaten Ipswich Town in a Premier League game since the opening week of the 2000-2001 season in August 2000 at White Hart Lane. Venus scored an early goal for Ipswich but Spurs won 3-1 thanks to Darren Anderton (a penalty), Stephen Carr and Les Ferdinand. Spurs have lost the last four games including the earlier home game this season. It's the first win at Portman Road since August 1994 again winning 3-1 with Jurgen Klinsmann scoring twice.

Ipswich are in a relegation battle with Southampton, Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the last named being the most likely at this stage to avoid relegation. Ipswich are the only Premier League team not to have won a game in 2025. They are being hampered by their poor home form and have only won once at home this season in the Premier League surprisingly against Chelsea.

Spurs are still competing in two competitions.

Friday's draw for the remainder of the Europa League is probably as favourable as it could be.

The Premier League position is more challenging. Spurs are currently 12th, four points behind eleventh placed Brentford and probably nine points off what would likely bring European qualification. With only 12 matches remaining nine points is a big gap to close. The Europa League may represent the best chance of qualifying for Europe next season.

Spurs are at home to Manchester City on Wednesday in the Premier League. City's only hope of qualifying for the Champions League next season is through their final position in this year's Premier League, so they will certainly be up for the game. They will have a day less to recover as they host Liverpool tomorrow in the Premier League. It would be quite an achievement if Spurs could record a hat-trick of wins against both Manchester clubs this season!

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