Tottenham failed to score against Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday for the first time in their last ten meetings, slipping to a 1-0 defeat that exposed familiar attacking frailties. It was the first time in nine matches that Spurs had drawn a blank against Leeds, and the performance offered little grounds for complaint.
The display was among the most timid attacking efforts of the season, with Spurs lacking any cutting edge in the final third. That lack of threat gave Leeds the encouragement to push forward and break the deadlock with just over 10 minutes remaining.
De Zerbi critical of spirit and physicality
Roberto De Zerbi was scathing in his post-match assessment, criticising his players' spirit, character and physicality as the game slipped away in the second half. Tottenham had weathered an early Leeds onslaught and began to piece together some fluid attacking moves towards the end of the opening 45 minutes, but it was clear that something was missing.
Despite having 62 per cent of the ball, Spurs managed just seven shots in total, with a combined expected goals (xG) figure of 0.72. Leeds, by contrast, had 16 shots from just 38 per cent possession and generated an xG of 1.96. In essence, Leeds should have scored more than once, while Tottenham would hardly have been deserving of an equaliser.
Reliance on set-pieces remains a concern
Results have improved over the last month, but Spurs' inability to create consistent clear-cut chances from open play was always likely to come back and bite them. In-swinging crosses from the left flank have been a productive route to goal this season, with Dominic Solanke away at Manchester United and Jan Paul van Hecke at home to Crystal Palace both scoring from such situations, but De Zerbi's side remain too reliant on set-pieces to generate chances.
The fix on paper is simple, but the reality is less so. Tottenham need James Maddison fit and ready to start. Maddison is the only player in the squad with the poise and precision to play between the lines and connect a functional midfield with a frenetic frontline.
Maddison fitness concerns grow
The problem is his availability. Maddison has started just twice this season and has not featured since coming off with a suspected groin issue during Spurs' 2-0 victory away to Chelsea last month. At the time, De Zerbi downplayed fears of a serious injury, and he has since named him in the last two matchday squads.
However, in neglecting to bring him off the bench against both Palace and Leeds, there is growing concern that Spurs are back to square one with Maddison's fitness. The 29-year-old has been unable to train consistently in the last few weeks, and while fit enough to be made available for selection, De Zerbi clearly has reservations about his sharpness. So much so that Dejan Kulusevski, who only recently returned after nearly a year-and-a-half out with a serious kneecap injury, has jumped ahead of him in the pecking order.
Kulusevski was one of three ineffectual changes De Zerbi made just past the hour mark against Leeds to try to wrestle back control. In reality, Tottenham needed Maddison's ability to find space and dictate the tempo.
The international break has come at a good time for Spurs and Maddison, who will surely be targeting minutes at home to Ipswich in their first game back. The longer they continue to struggle to create chances, though, the less patience there will be for Maddison and his patchy fitness record.
