Premier League
SwanseaSwansea City2TottenhamTottenham Hotspur2

Swansea City 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

By Phil DawkesBBC Sport
Christian Eriksen scores
Christian Eriksen's goals were his first of the season

Tottenham extended their unbeaten Premier League run to seven games as two superb free-kicks from Christian Eriksen earned them a point at Swansea.

Andre Ayew's header gave the Swans the lead before Eriksen levelled with a swerving effort from 25 yards.

Tottenham's Harry Kane sliced Jonjo Shelvey's corner into his own net to restore Swansea's advantage.

But Eriksen found the top corner from range to lift Spurs to within two points of the top four.

Swansea, who move up a place to 11th, remain without a victory in nine attempts against Spurs, dating back to their first season in the Premier League.

Deadly Eriksen

Spurs owe a huge debt of gratitude to Eriksen, who had not scored this season prior to Sunday but put that right in clinical fashion.

Christian Eriksen's goals
Carbon copy: Eriksen's free-kicks were nearly identical in range and direction

After starting well but falling behind to Ayew's goal - an angled header from Jefferson Montero's cross following a lovely, flowing move down the left - the visitors were in need of inspiration and found it in their Danish midfielder, who beat Lukasz Fabianski with a fine strike.

He repeated the trick midway through the second half, to again equalise, this time getting his left-sided free-kick to dip over the wall and into the far corner of the net.

He almost completed a hat-trick and snatched victory for Spurs when, given space on the edge of the box, he dragged a low shot just past the post.

However, that would have been harsh on Swansea, who gave as good as they got in an entertaining and often end-to-end encounter.

Kane's unwanted second goal of the season

Harry Kane scores an own goal
Harry Kane scored his first Premier League goal of the season in last week's 4-1 win over Manchester City

That Eriksen was required to rescue his side a second time was down to the misfortune of striker Kane, who scored for the second game in succession but not in the manner he would wish.

He looked to have a simple job to clear Shelvey's 31st-minute corner at the near post, but miscued his kick and sliced the ball into his own net.

However, the 22-year-old continued to get into good attacking positions, suggesting that goals - at the right end - will come in what has been a difficult second season for the England international.

He had a couple of opportunities to rectify his error - the best a close-range shot which Fabianski did well to save - before he was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining.

Motoring Montero

Heat map
Kyle Walker's heat map (right) shows how much time he spent monitoring the threat of Jefferson Montero (left)

Swansea's most dangerous player was winger Jefferson Montero, whose direct running at speed proved a constant problem for Spurs defender Kyle Walker.

Montero provided the assist for Ayew's opener but was often let down by his final ball.

Walker often reverted to fouling the Ecuadorian to stop him and was fortunate referee Mike Dean held off from booking him until the 88th minute.

An earlier yellow card could easily have altered the complexion of their duel and potentially the match.

What the managers said...

Swansea are back on track - Monk

Swansea boss Garry Monk: "We were much more like ourselves. We talked all week about getting back to our level, and you could see the passion and the desire we had to win the game was massive.

"We have performed fantastically in many games already this season, but we've had a couple where we were well below our standards.

"According to some people, a three-game run is a blip, but I know my players have quality.

"It's just a question of getting that out of them on a consistent basis. We saw it here and hopefully now we can go from strength to strength."

Spurs dominated game - Pochettino

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: "He [Eriksen] is a very important player for us and if you give him chances to shoot he can have an impact on the game.

"He is one of the best at dead-ball situations, it is hard to say he is the best but he is one of the best.

"We have maybe dropped two points. We are disappointed with the result but not the performance or effort.

"We did not win the game because of an own goal but Harry does not need to worry about it. He does a lot for the team."

Line-ups

Swansea

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Fabianski
  • 22Rangel
  • 33FernandezBooked at 26mins
  • 6Williams
  • 3Taylor
  • 4Ki Sung-yueng
  • 8ShelveySubstituted forCorkat 86'minutes
  • 10A Ayew
  • 23G SigurdssonSubstituted forBarrowat 75'minutes
  • 20Montero
  • 18Gomis

Substitutes

  • 13Nordfeldt
  • 14Tabanou
  • 15Routledge
  • 17Macedo Lopes
  • 24Cork
  • 27Bartley
  • 58Barrow

Tottenham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Lloris
  • 2WalkerBooked at 89mins
  • 4Alderweireld
  • 5VertonghenBooked at 83mins
  • 33DaviesBooked at 53mins
  • 15DierBooked at 79mins
  • 20Alli
  • 11LamelaSubstituted forTownsendat 57'minutes
  • 23Eriksen
  • 22ChadliSubstituted forN'Jieat 64'minutes
  • 10KaneSubstituted forDembéléat 81'minutes

Substitutes

  • 13Vorm
  • 14N'Jie
  • 16Trippier
  • 17Townsend
  • 19Dembélé
  • 27Wimmer
  • 28Carroll
Referee:
Mike Dean
Attendance:
20,845

Match Stats

Home TeamSwanseaAway TeamTottenham
Possession
Home46%
Away54%
Shots
Home11
Away19
Shots on Target
Home2
Away11
Corners
Home5
Away6
Fouls
Home8
Away19

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Swansea City 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Swansea City 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Federico Fernández (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Ki Sung-yueng with a cross.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur).

  5. Post update

    André Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Clinton N'Jie (Tottenham Hotspur).

  7. Post update

    Federico Fernández (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ben Davies.

  9. Post update

    Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Jefferson Montero (Swansea City).

  11. Booking

    Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

  13. Post update

    Jefferson Montero (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mousa Dembélé.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur).

  16. Post update

    Modou Barrow (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Swansea City. Jack Cork replaces Jonjo Shelvey.

  18. Post update

    Offside, Swansea City. André Ayew tries a through ball, but Ashley Williams is caught offside.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur).

  20. Post update

    André Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City86021971218
2Arsenal8512137616
3Man Utd8512128416
4Crystal Palace8503117415
5Leicester84311715215
6West Ham84221711614
7Everton8341128413
8Tottenham8341117413
9Southampton83321310312
10Liverpool8332810-212
11Swansea82421010010
12Watford824267-110
13Norwich82331214-29
14Stoke8233810-29
15Bournemouth82241012-28
16Chelsea82241217-58
17West Brom8224611-58
18Aston Villa8116813-54
19Sunderland8035818-103
20Newcastle8035617-113
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