JOIN USSpurs edge Swansea, return to top-four
Belgium international Jan Vertonghen broke the deadlock to send Tottenham Hotspur back into the top four of the Premier League with a 1-0 home win over Swansea City on Sunday.
The former Ajax defender scored in the 75th minute at White Hart Lane with a beautifully-struck right-footed shot after a Kyle Walker free-kick from the right was nodded on by the Swansea defence.
Spurs leapfrogged Everton to take fourth place, level on 29 points with third-placed Chelsea who have a game in hand.
In the day’s other match, West Bromwich Albion stayed sixth after being held to a goalless draw by 11th placed West Ham United at The Hawthorns. Manchester United have 42 points and are six clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.
Spurs, without the injured Gareth Bale but with England midfielder Scott Parker returning as a late substitute for his first appearance of the season after Achilles surgery, enjoyed most of the possession but were frustrated by a flowing Swansea side that proved solid in defence and dangerous on the break.
“We had so many chances, so many opportunities to put the match to bed even earlier,” said Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas. “We were very solid today...it would have been extremely unfair if we hadn’t got the win today.”
Walker had Tottenham's best chance of the goalless first half in the 40th minute when he blasted the ball at goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel from 25 metres.
Tremmel had barely time to raise his hands, with the ball ricocheting off his shoulder without Spurs being able to capitalise.
Swansea’s Michu then tried an opportunistic lob from the halfway line two minutes later that dipped over the bar as Hugo Lloris scrambled back to cover.
The game ended in controversy after Michu was felled by Lloris when the goalkeeper tried to punch the ball clear. With the Swansea player still lying in the area, and others beckoning for assistance, Tottenham played on to consternation from the visitors.