Tottenham vs West Ham: Mike Dean predicts further action as Mohammed Kudus sees red
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Tottenham are a team steeped in entertainment under Robert Vilahamn. But after keeping a clean sheet in their season opener against Crystal Palace, no team has shipped more goals than Spurs' eight.
It's a pattern that unsettles full-back Ash Neville, the club's tough-tackling defender and current longest-serving player. "When we concede we can't let it become a downhill spiral," she says, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports ahead to facing champions Chelsea this weekend - a team best known for their ruthless scoring prowess.
Spurs have enjoyed a topsy-turvy start to their second campaign under Vilahamn: the league's third-highest scorers, with the second-worst defensive record. Their most recent outing, a 3-0 defeat to Man United, presented one of those frustrating realities where a contradiction exists between performance and scoreline.
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Shaw's incredible strength in numbers revealed
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"We started so well at Man United, and it's easy to say, but the game is different if we put our early chances away," Neville says. Sounds obvious, but she's right. Spurs have really grown into their image as a front-footed team since Vilahamn's appointment in July 2023 and are all the better for it.
They overwhelmed Man United in almost every attacking metric on Sunday, registering more shots at goal, more touches in the opposition box, higher possession share and a greater number of final third passes, spending far more time in the offensive half of the pitch than their hosts managed.
The real difference ended up being Elisabeth Terland's expert finishing from two pinpoint Celin Bizet crosses - particularly dispiriting given Bizet's prior association with Spurs. But lessons are being learnt.
"Week by week, we're finding new things to work on," Neville continues. "The losses are hard to take when you feel like the performance has been ok.
"We're in the habit now of players having the bravery to speak up. The question we ask is always 'How can this be better?'
"For fans, I'm sure it's exciting, there are loads of goals and momentum turns in games. But for us, if we take the lead we have to control games. If we go behind, it's about sticking to the game plan and staying relaxed."
Staying relaxed is especially hard against Chelsea, though. Including injury time, Sonia Bompastor's well-drilled charges have spent 73.7 per cent of games in winning positions this season, the second-highest ratio behind only Man United.
Not to be deterred, Neville respects Chelsea's near-perfect start under new boss Bompastor but isn't fazed by their objective lack of weakness. If anything, it acts as an incentive.
"Chelsea have had a really bright start. They are champions of this league and the team everyone wants to beat," she says. "They have pure quality, but I go into every game wanting to beat the opponent. There is no pressure on us, it'll be about what happens on the day."
What are Chelsea's biggest threats, then? "Mayra Ramirez," Neville replies with haste. "She was unbelievable against Arsenal last weekend. They have a great frontline and Ramirez will be a tough one to stop.
"But sometimes we focus too much on the other team, our strength is what we can do, and how we can hurt teams. We work hard on our game plan, and then it's about executing it. I'm a believer in anyone can beat anyone on the day."
This more evolved, dynamic style Spurs understand better how to cope with the demands posed by the league's top sides, but, like most, have a less than favourable record against Chelsea.
Confidence can be gleaned from the fact Tottenham have won four of their last six WSL London derbies, though (albeit not against the Blues, whom they have never beat).
The renewed sense of identity is nevertheless clear and steering the Spurs ship towards improved stability as they enter a crucial run of fixtures, which includes three capital-based rivalries - Chelsea, West Ham and then Arsenal.
"Last year, being Robert's first, we just wanted to do better than the relegation battle of the season before," Neville adds. "But now we need to push. We're invested in the way Robert wants to play and his vision, so we're building in a non-pressured way. It feels positive."
Spurs' trajectory certainly feels fast-tracked, making it all the way to the FA Cup final last season, and earning a highly respectable sixth-place finish. The measure of said progress will face stern examination by Chelsea this weekend - just about the toughest test in town.
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Bunny Shaw scored two second-half goals, including a stunning stoppage-time winner, as Manchester City came from behind to maintain their unbeaten start in the Women's Super League with a 2-1 victory at Liverpool, moving them top of the table.
The Jamaican striker rose to head home the equaliser from a Lauren Hemp cross in the 58th minute after Olivia Smith had put the hosts ahead just before the break at Anfield.
The formidable Shaw then hit a post as City pressed for a winner in the latter stages and finally broke through with a ferocious strike into the roof of the net in injury time.
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Shaw told Sky Sports: "It's a very important win because we know how tight this league is. Fine margins will decide the championship. We knew it was going to be tough but we wanted to stick to what we know we are capable of doing.
"It was very difficult as they went with five at the back. Credit to Liverpool. We spoke at half-time about how we can cause problems with balls into the box. I got the goal so it worked!
"For me, I knew where the goal was and so I positioned myself in between the ball and the defender. I just focused on hitting it as hard as possible and getting it on target."
The result means Liverpool are still without a win when playing at Anfield.
Man Utd 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United's excellent start to the WSL season continued as they beat Tottenham 3-0.
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Marc Skinner's team had won all three of their games in all competitions, without conceding a goal, prior to welcoming the north London side to Leigh Sports Village - and they extended that to four games.
Spurs pressed aggressively from the off, forcing United back and almost capitalising on errors when playing out from the back. The hosts weathered the storm, though, and grabbed the opener after 44 minutes.
Celin Bizet swung in a cross from the right, with Elisabeth Terland beating Molly Bartrip to the punch and smashing a volley in off the underside of the bar, which was worthy of winning any game of football.
In the fourth minute of first-half stoppage-time, Bizet and Terland combined again. This time, Bizet's cross was met with a deft header that beat Becky Spencer in the Tottenham goal. The double turned the momentum of the game.
Early in the second half, a timely stop from Spencer prevented Terland completing her hat-trick, but there was no way back for the visitors once Maya Le Tissier had coolly converted a penalty just before the hour after a handball by Ashleigh Neville.
Crystal Palace 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Bruna Vilamala's controversial first-half goal was enough to see Brighton win 1-0 at Crystal Palace and continue their good start to the season as they recorded their third victory of the new campaign.
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However, Palace were furious the on-loan Barcelona forward's effort was allowed to stand after Eagles No 1 Shae Yanez appeared to be fouled by Brighton striker Nikita Parris as the shot stopper came to claim a high ball into the box.
But after dropping the lofted ball, Vilamala was there in the right place to tap home into the unguarded net, with the closest Palace coming to equalising being in stoppage time, only for Brighton 'keeper Sophie Baggaley to dive full length to tip over Annabel Blanchard's long-range strike.
Aston Villa 0-0 Leicester City
Aston Villa and Leicester played out an eventful goalless draw at Villa Park as they both continue their wait for a first league victory of the new campaign.
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The home side went closest to claiming all three points, only for Leicester 'keeper Janina Leitzig to first turn over Villa substitute Adriana Leon's angled strike, before producing an even better stop to keep out Anna Patten's close-range injury-time effort.
As for the visitors, they were largely subdued and happy to play for a point, although Sophie Howard nearly netted from a tight angle after a rare second-half counter-attack.
Everton 1-1 West Ham United
Camila Saez's second-half own goal earned Everton a deserved point against West Ham at Walton Hall Park, although both sides remain winless in the WSL so far this season.
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The Hammers took a 10th-minute lead thanks to Anouk Denton's close-range finish after good approach play from Viviane Asseyi.
However, the hosts' pressure finally told when Melissa Lawley saw her cross from the right deflect in off unfortunate West Ham defender Saez.
It was the turn of Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears to take over London as they powered past the sorry Jacksonville Jaguars to clinch a 35-16 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Cole Kmet and Keenan Allen scored two touchdowns each to sink the Jags to 1-5 as the Bears won their third straight game to improve to 4-2, increasing the pressure on Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson ahead of next Sunday's meeting with the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium.
Caleb Williams out-duelled Trevor Lawrence in a battle of No 1 pick quarterbacks as the rookie finished 23 of 29 for 226 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Lawrence meanwhile went 23 of 35 for 234 yards, two touchdowns and a pick before being replaced by Mac Jones with the game over in the final three minutes.
Gabe Davis cut Chicago's lead to 11 points in the third quarter before Allen's second end zone trip stretched Chicago's advantage. Lawrence was then intercepted by Josh Blackwell before D'Andre Swift put the game out of reach for good with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Matt Eberflus and Eric Washington's Bears defense starred once more as Elijah Hicks recorded two pass breakups in the end zone as well as recovering a fumble, while DeMarcus Walker recorded a sack and two quarterback hits and a flying Kyler Gordon produced seven tackles with a tackle for loss before leaving with a hamstring injury.
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Kmet's double had put the Bears in command with a 14-3 lead at half-time, before disaster struck for the Jaguars on the opening play from scrimmage in the third quarter when Evan Engram fumbled under pressure from TJ Edwards, with Hicks recovering.
Williams punished emphatically with a nine-yard scoring strike to Allen to make it 21-3 moments after the duo had connected to move the chains on third-and-eight.
It prompted the Jaguars' best drive of the game, with Engram converting on third-and-five before Lawrence's pass intended for Brenton Strange was broken up brilliantly in the end zone by a back-peddling Kevin Byard.
Lawrence refused to be denied again three plays later, rolling out to his left and firing a 21-yard pass to Davis inside the pylon to make it an 11-point game after the extra point.
The Bears quashed hopes of a fight back as Williams orchestrated a 10-play 70-yard drive culminating in Allen's three-yard touchdown catch after runs of 17 and 19 yards from Swift.
Chicago had entered the game with a third-most takeaways in the NFL, and racked up another as Blackwell intercepted Lawrence on the ensuing drive, by which point the Bears party had begun.
The noise levels were amplified again when the outstanding Swift punched in a one-yard rushing touchdown after DJ Moore had been stopped short on the previous play.
Davis added a consolation touchdown mid-way through the fourth quarter when he held onto Lawrence's pass in traffic for a four-yard score.
Stats leaders
Jacksonville Jaguars
Passing: Trevor Lawrence, 23/35, 234 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: D'Ernest Johnson, 6 carries, 28 yards
Receiving: Evan Engram, 10 catches, 102 yards
Chicago Bears
Passing: Caleb Williams, 23/29, 226 yards 4 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: D'Andre Swift, 17 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Cole Kmet, 5 catches, 70 yards, 2 TDs
Cam Little kicked the Jags into an early lead with 30-yard field goal after a 14-play drive lasting eight minutes in the opening quarter after Davis' would-be touchdown catch was broken up in the end zone by Hicks.
Kmet was on hand to issue Chicago's response when he exposed a blown read at mid-field to haul in Williams' pass before breaking through two tackles on the way to a 31-yard touchdown catch-and-run.
The Jags woes nearly continued seconds later when Tremaine Edmunds knocked the ball out of the hands of Brian Thomas Jr, only for a review to rule it an incomplete pass.
Jacksonville threatened to swing momentum in their favour when Andre Cisco intercepted Williams at the goalline during a deep-shot intended for Moore. The Tottenham crowd seemed to spot the open Bears receiver seconds before the rookie quarterback, who eventually let rip only to see the Jaguars safety scurry across to make the pick.
Gordon then continued his fine game by stuffing Evan Engram on third down to prevent the Jaguars from punishing the Williams interception.
Williams then sought to make amends for his pick by leading a 10-play 85-yard touchdown drive ending in Kmet's two-yard grab after the former Heisman Trophy winner set the march in motion with a 23-yard scramble.
Scoring summary
What's next?
The Jaguars will remain in London as they prepare to host the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium, playing back-to-back games in the UK for the second year running. Chicago meanwhile head into a bye week before visiting the Washington Commanders in Week Eight.
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