Tomas Soucek’s red card may have come moments after Pape Sarr gave Tottenham Hotspur the lead away at West Ham United but, as Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith put it, his early exit gave Graham Potter ‘a mountain to climb’.
In the end, as the excellent Lucas Bergvall doubled Spurs’ advantage almost immediately and Micky van de Ven swept in a third, Potter barely got out of base camp, let alone ascending the cliff face with sights on the summit.
The West Ham United boss opted to keep the faith with the team which stunned Nottingham Forest before the international break.
Crysencio Summerville was the only alteration, replacing pre-match injury doubt Niclas Fullkrug and rewarded for his fabulous cameo at the City Ground.
But after frustrating Thomas Frank’s visitors in a tight first half – Max Kilman was confident West Ham could keep Mohammed Kudus quiet and they did, for the most part – three Tottenham goals and a Tomas Soucek red card in the space of just 17 minutes ended a previously competitive match as a contest.
Alan Smith defends Tomas Soucek after West Ham United red card in Tottenham Hotspur loss
There was clearly not even a hint of intent.
Soucek merely stretched desperately for a loose ball and was beaten to it by Joao Palhinha. And as soon as referee Jarred Gillett spotted Palhinha’s torn shin pad, there was only one direction West Ham’s Czech giant was heading.
Though Smith, in his usual co-commentary role for Sky Sports, could not help but feel a pang of sympathy for a footballer without a vicious bone in his body.
This was Soucek’s first red card in half a decade, after all, and only his second ever.
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“It’s just that competitive nature,” the former Arsenal striker explained.
“You want to get to the ball before your opponent and, when you don’t, when you catch your opponent, there is only one end to this.”
Just days after confirming that West Ham decided against accepting Everton’s offer during the final stretch of the summer window – The Toffees reportedly made a bid worth an initial £15 million for the David Moyes favourite – Graham Potter will have to do without Soucek for the next three matches.
Former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson says Soucek can have ‘no complaints’
With London derbies against Crystal Palace and Arsenal sandwiching a trip to the aforementioned Everton, life seems unlikely to get much easier for Potter.
“This is a horrible place to be as a team, 3-0 down and down to 10-men,” Paul Robinson, the one-time Tottenham goalkeeper, told BBC Sport. “You just want to get off the pitch. I have been in this position a number of times and it is very difficult.
“[Soucek can have] no complaints. Oh dear, it is a bad challenge. The ball has got away from Tomas Soucek, Joao Palhinha is quicker than Soucek.
“Soucek had no intent in the challenge, it was just frustration.”
For the second time in two home matches, Robinson saw the Hammers fans head for the exit in their droves long before the final whistle.
“You normally see people leave early to avoid the traffic, but it might be worth staying after the final whistle for five minutes as the traffic will have gone by the time we get out!” the former England international quips.
“Most people have gone – it is incredible!”