Tottenham Hotspur's resurgence continued as they beat Ipswich Town 4-1 on Saturday in the Premier League at Portman Road.
Spurs took the lead courtesy of a tap-in from Brennan Johnson before the 20th-minute mark after good work from Archie Gray to play behind the hosts' backline to Son Heung-min quickly turned defence into attack.
The duo would combine again for the visitors' second of the afternoon, with Son once again getting in behind on the left flank before looking for Johnson in the box.
Though Omari Hutchinson pulled one back for Ipswich in to halve the deficit before the half-time whistle, Djed Spence and Dejan Kulusevski responded with second-half goals to give the visitors a three-goal lead.
The defeat means that Ipswich end the day in 18th place with 17 points, five fewer than 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Spurs have now won three consecutive Premier League games and end the day in 12th place with 33 points.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
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Ipswich's chances of survival look bleak considering they are now five points behind Wolves with just 12 games left to play, and while few predicted that they would stay in the top flight, relegation seems increasingly likely.
Ange Postecoglou has often claimed that his side's results would improve once his injured stars returned to the pitch, and to his credit, he has so far been proven right.
Though the top four looks beyond the Londoners, Spurs could look to try to win the Europa League as a means of securing Champions League football.
IPSWICH TOWN VS. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR HIGHLIGHTS
18th min: Ipswich Town 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Brennan Johnson)
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Gray intercepts a pass from Ipswich in his own half and immediately looks to play Son in behind the hosts' backline, and the Spurs captain excellently waited for reinforcements to arrive in the box before his cross to the back post is met by Johnson.
What a pass from Gray!
26th min: Ipswich Town 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Brennan Johnson)
Rodrigo Bentancur carries the ball forward past the halfway line and slides a pass down the flank for Son, who arrives in the box and cuts inside before laying off a pass to Johnson on the right, and the winger sweeps home into the right side of the net.
Another assist for Son, another goal for Johnson!
36th min: Ipswich Town 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Omari Hutchinson)
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Kevin Danso loses possession in his own half just ahead of his own penalty area, and Jack Clarke receives the ball out wide on the left before cutting back to Hutchinson, who strikes across goal from the left of the box into the right side of Guglielmo Vicario's net.
Ipswich are back in this!
77th min: Ipswich Town 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Djed Spence)
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James Maddison dances through Ipswich's defence on the left side of the box and lays a pass off to Spence, who sets himself up to strike at goal and sees his effort deflected past goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
That must be game over!
84th min: Ipswich Town 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur (Dejan Kulusevski)
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Kulusevski races away down the right flanks and moves inside into the box before bending into the bottom-left corner to score his side's fourth of the game.
Three points for Spurs!
MAN OF THE MATCH - DJED SPENCE
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Spence's goal was just reward for his performance, and though he benefitted from a deflection, he has surely nailed down a spot in the starting XI.
The defender won five of his seven ground duels, completed both of his dribbles and his five recoveries were the most of any Spurs player.
IPSWICH TOWN VS. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MATCH STATS
Possession: Ipswich Town 41%-59% Tottenham Hotspur
Shots: Ipswich Town 17-10 Tottenham Hotspur
Shots on target: Ipswich Town 5-6 Tottenham Hotspur
Corners: Ipswich Town 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur
Fouls: Ipswich Town 15-14 Tottenham Hotspur
BEST STATS
Son Heung-min has set up both of Brennan Johnson's goals today.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 22, 2025
That takes him to nine assists for the 2024-25 Premier League season; he's just one away from equalling his personal record of 10. pic.twitter.com/hKHIBPaGgL
WHAT NEXT?
Ipswich next take to the pitch against Manchester United in the Premier League on Wednesday and then play Nottingham Forest on March 3.
Meanwhile, Spurs face Manchester City on Wednesday before taking on AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 clash on March 6.
Lewis Nolan
