Tottenham's one-nil win over Swansea on Sunday had a sense of deja vu to the affair. Not only was the scoreline identical to the same fixture last season, but the victory was their second successive one-nil win thanks to a Roberto Soldado penalty. Considering Spurs failed to win a single penalty in the previous campaign, their fortunes seem to have turned around this season. Whilst the game may appear to have been a tight run affair, was the scoreline flattering on the home team? Or do the Swans find themselves hard done by? Here's how the key battles were won...
Andros Townsend Dominating The Wing
With Gareth Bale on the brink of leaving Spurs, Andros Townsend has stepped up to the plate to stake his claim for a regular run in the first team at White Hart Lane. After various loan spells at Leeds, Birmingham and QPR over the past two seasons the young winger has only ever been sparingly used, notching up just five league appearances for his club, but his recent performances could give Townsend a bigger part in Andre Villas Boas' first team plans. Townsend started the game against Swansea and was a constant nuisance to the Swans' back line. The winger was successful in the majority of his take-on's (five out of six) and contributing heavily to Spurs' persistent threat throughout the tie. However most importantly, it was the battle between Townsend and Jonjo Shelvey that the Spurs player won outright. Shelvey was consistently dragged back to track the player and after a penalty appeal was denied in the first half after Shelvey took down Townsend, the same battle was awarded in Tottenham's favour in the second half. Whilst Swansea fans may feel aggrieved over the decision for the deciding penalty, the initial turned down appeal in the first half should really have gone the other way.
