Tottenham Hotspur

We suffered late heartbreak in Saturday’s London derby as West Ham United struck an injury-time winner.

In a typically frenetic derby clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a thumping second-half header from skipper Cristian Romero had cancelled out Crysencio Summerville’s early deflected opener for the visitors. But, despite plenty of pressure on the Hammers’ goal, we were unable to find the winner and instead, Callum Wilson netted a close-range strike to snatch the points and end their 10-game losing streak.

The game saw the debut of new signing Conor Gallagher, who produced an industrious performance in midfield, however there was an injury setback for us when Ben Davies was carried off on a stretcher early in the game.

Thomas Frank made three changes from last week's FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa with Romero, new boy Gallagher and Randal Kolo Muani coming in for Kevin Danso, Joao Palhinha and Richarlison. After Mathys Tel had fired over the bar in the fourth minute, the visitors opened the scoring after 15 minutes. Summerville picked the ball up to the left of our box, moved infield past a challenge and hit a shot which flicked off Micky van de Ven, beat Guglielmo Vicario and nestled in the back of the net. Unfortunately, at the start of the move, Davies was injured in a tackle and, after lengthy treatment on the pitch, was stretchered off to be replaced by Djed Spence.

We would have levelled in the 24th minute had it not been for a fine double save from Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who kept out a Xavi Simons close-range header from Tel’s cross and then Spence on the rebound. It was end-to-end stuff, with Taty Castellanos heading over unmarked at the back post for the visitors before Tel arrowed a rising right-foot shot just past the far post.

The Hammers had the ball in the net again on 36 minutes, this one ruled out for offside after Jarrod Bowen had converted from close range but only after Vicario had initially made an excellent save to keep out a Summerville shot that deflected off Tomas Soucek. Our Italian keeper was there again shortly after, at full stretch to tip away a Kostantinos Mavropanos header.

Trailing at the break, we made another change at half-time with Archie Gray making way for Yves Bissouma, who made his first appearance of the season for us. And he was quickly into the action, stinging the palms of Areola with a fierce 25-yard drive. We started to play in more attacking areas as the second period opened up and had West Ham pushed back for the first 15 minutes, although a couple of attacks for the visitors saw Pablo with an acrobatic effort and Summerville denied by a strong van de Ven challenge.

The deserved equaliser finally came in the 64th minute and, in the end, couldn’t have been more straight-forward. Wilson Odobert down the right laid the ball back to Pedro Porro, he whipped in a wonderful cross which Romero met with a powerful header past Areola. Tails were up at this stage as we continued to apply the pressure on the Hammers, sending plenty of balls into the box from crosses and corners although we didn’t force Areola into a meaningful save until the 89th minute when he made an excellent diving stop to push away Xavi’s shot from the edge of the area.

We almost conceded two minutes into stoppage time when Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross found its way to Wilson, only for Pedro Porro to get across and make a superb block. However, from the corner, the ball bounced around the six-yard box with Wilson getting the final touch to poke it home. There was a VAR check for offside, but no reprieve for us. There was still time for us to launch a couple more attacks and a couple more balls into the box, but the Hammers defended for their lives, cleared their lines and held out for the three points.

We can now confirm our starting XI and substitutes for today's Premier League encounter against West Ham (kick-off 3pm).

New signing Conor Gallagher comes straight in for his debut as one of three changes made by Thomas Frank for the London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The midfielder replaces Joao Palhinha who misses out this afternoon.

Cristian Romero is back from serving his one-match suspension served against Aston Villa in the FA Cup last time out and the final swap sees Randal Kolo Muani come in for the injured Richarlison.

On the bench, Lucas Bergvall returns after a one-game absence and Yves Bissouma is involved for the first time this campaign following his recent participation in the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations.

Starting XI: Vicario, Xavi, Tel, Gray, Romero (c), Gallagher, Pedro Porro, Odobert, Davies, van de Ven, Kolo Muani.

We begin our Adobe Women’s FA Cup journey on Sunday when Leicester City visit Brisbane Road for a fourth-round tie.

Here’s everything you need to know…

What time does the match start?

We get underway at 12noon UK time.

What happens if the game ends in a draw in normal time?

If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the match will go to extra time and then penalties if required to determine who advances to the next round.

How can I watch the game?

Tickets are available at Brisbane Road on the day for supporters who wish to come and watch the game in person.

If you’re unable to attend the game, then supporters can watch action live exclusively on SPURSPLAY.

Our Match Centre here on tottenhamhotspur.com and the Spurs Official app will bring you full live text and audio commentary throughout the match.

Video highlights will be available on club channels 24 hours after the full-time whistle.

What is the team news?

Julie Blakstad is in contention to feature in the matchday squad this weekend.

Cathinka Tandberg and Olga Ahtinen are back in training but Sunday’s clash against the Foxes comes too soon for the pair.

Charlotte Grant remains sidelined, while Luana Buhler, Jess Naz, Ella Morris and Maite Oroz are long-term absentees.

As for the visitors, Missy Goodwin will be assessed ahead of the FA Cup tie after picking up a knock earlier this week, while Hlín Eiríksdóttir, Heather Payne and Katie Keane are all sidelined for the clash.

Celeste Boureille, Denny Draper and Jutta Rantala are all long-term injuries and won't be available for selection.

Who is the referee?

Kirsty Dowle will officiate Sunday’s game at Brisbane Road.

She’ll be assisted by Anastasiya Voloshchuk and Lorraine Catchpole, with Julie Kings as the fourth official.

What kit colours will the teams be wearing?

As usual, we’ll be wearing our 2025/26 home kit, featuring Lilywhite shirts, navy blue shorts and white socks.

Our goalkeeper will be in orange.

Leicester will be in their third kit this weekend, featuring pink shirts with black and white stripes, black shorts and pink socks. Their keeper will be in all-green.

How can I get the matchday programme?

The latest issue of our official matchday programme will be on sale at the stadium on Sunday, priced at the usual £3.50. Copies can also be ordered online here for delivery direct to your door.

Our new number 22, Hanna Wijk, speaks exclusively in our main feature interview in this edition, while Ella Morris gives us the lowdown on her team-mates in the ‘Inside The Dressing Room’ feature and also features a special double-page spread to our former defender Ashleigh Neville.

What will the weather be like?

It’s set to be a cloudy and chilly with temperatures at around nine degrees during the game in Leyton.

Martha Thomas has joined Liverpool on loan for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.

Arriving at Spurs in September, 2023, from Manchester United, Martha scored 10 goals in her maiden campaign in Lilywhite and was at the heart of some memorable moments, including her strike against Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December, 2023, to secure our first-ever WSL win over the Gunners.

In that same campaign, she helped us create history in the FA Cup by heading home the winner in the semi-final tie with Leicester City in N17, with her goal deep into extra-time taking us to the final for the first time in May, 2024. She has made 66 appearances in all competitions for us, netting 13 goals in total.

On the international stage, she has earned 52 caps for Scotland to date, scoring 21 goals.

Dear Supporters,

As we reach the halfway point of our season, I wanted to share an update on our plans for the future.

The joint ambition of our Executive Team, Board and The Lewis Family is clear: to see our Men’s team competing regularly in the Champions League and for major trophies , while significantly raising the competitive level of our Women’s team.

Our focus is sporting success, and in that we share the same ambition as our supporters. We know that words carry little weight without action, which is why recent months have been spent undertaking a thorough review of our operations.

Opportunities for a genuine reset are rare in Clubs of our size, and we have been determined not to waste this moment as we make the changes needed behind the scenes to compete consistently at the highest level.

Football has changed significantly in recent years, and while the club has evolved and achieved incredible things, we recognise that in some key areas we have not always kept pace. We all feel the gap between where we are and where we want to be, and while we know progress takes time, we share your impatience to close it. Our supporters want wins and performances to be proud of, and we know the men’s first team has fallen short of where we want to be so far this season. Significant work is underway, and I wanted to set out the key areas of focus.

Player Trading

We believe in our current squad, but must add more quality, experience, and leadership to compete consistently at the highest level. Doing so requires a more proactive approach to recruitment, alongside a wage structure that supports our ambition.

We are fully focused on strengthening the squad in January where the right opportunities exist, while recognising that the most significant player trading activity typically comes in summer windows. Our priority is to make signings that genuinely move us forward, and we will be disciplined against that aim.

Player trading is also about knowing when to sell and being decisive about moving players on who are not part of our future. Doing so is essential to maximising value and managing our financial fair play obligations. Despite common belief, we are not immune to these rules and must carefully manage our squad development plans against them.

This focus is reflected in the appointment of Rafi Moersen from City Football Group as Director of Football Operations. When he joins later this year, reporting into our Sporting Director, Johan Lange, he will play a central role in shaping and executing our player transactions and supporting the wider football operation.

Academy

A productive Academy is vital to our future. It provides first-team players without transfer fees and enables investment elsewhere in the squad. Crucially, it also develops players who grow up as supporters and truly understand what it means to pull on a Spurs shirt.

While there has been good progress in recruitment and coaching in recent years, we must deliver greater first-team minutes and transfer returns from our Academy. We have therefore committed additional investment to strengthen the Academy pipeline of players and to support the systems needed for it to flourish.

Player Support and Development

Whilst coaching is of course critical, and we have strengthened Thomas Frank’s coaching staff with the appointment of John Heitinga, maximising performance is about more than coaching alone. We must be world class in performance services, including medical care, sports science, nutrition, and psychology, to ensure players are available and primed to compete at the highest level.

We have made several changes in this area, most notably the appointment of Dan Lewindon as Performance Director, who joins us next month from City Football Group.

Supporters

Perhaps most importantly, we know there is distance between the Club and our supporters, and we are committed to rebuilding that connection. With your input, we have introduced initiatives such as the new Sonny mural, ticketing changes, and a trial singing section, and we will continue to work closely with the Fan Advisory Board.

Making matches more accessible for younger fans is a priority, and we will be reviewing concession policies for junior supporters and young adults ahead of next season. We want Tottenham Hotspur to be a club that feels open, welcoming and connected to the communities it represents.

To strengthen engagement, we appointed Kate Miller as Chief Communications Officer in November and Adam Gardiner as Chief Marketing Officer this month. Along with Rafi, they form part of a newly established Executive Team under my leadership, reflecting a more modern and collaborative structure.

I want to be clear that our ambition extends beyond the Men’s team. We are committed to raising the competitive level of our Women’s team and have invested significantly during the January transfer window, with early signs of progress already evident this season. Growing the support and following for Spurs Women is a key focus for us going forward.

I appreciate this has been a lengthy update, but I wanted to be open about where we want to be and how we are working to get there.

Tottenham Hotspur cannot exist without you, our supporters. We are built on the loyalty, passion, and commitment of those who follow us, and we do not underestimate what supporting our Club means.

Your dedication matters deeply. Thank you for your ongoing support. We are determined to deliver a future that reflects it.

Best wishes,

Vinai

James Rowswell scored his first-ever Premier League 2 goal on Friday night to see us earn a 1-1 draw on the road at Burnley.

In our first-ever meeting with the Clarets in the competition, we fell behind after a bright start from our hosts with Zach Johnson tucking in from close range 17 minutes in.

However, we responded with purpose and had a well-deserved equaliser 18 minutes later with Rowswell in the right place at the right time to slam home his fifth of the campaign (four in the UEFA Youth League), but first in the PL2.

There were few clear-cut opportunities in the second half and, in truth, little to separate the sides come full time but the point continues our impressive run on the road - we have now lost just one of our six away outings this season, winning three and drawing two.

There was a piece of really positive news ahead of kick-off as Maeson King was named in the starting XI for the first time since April, going on to play 68 minutes to mark his return from a long injury lay-off.

In our first outing of 2026, it was Burnley who started brightest at the Lancashire FA's County Ground. Well-disciplined in their pressing, they forced errors, were a threat in the final third - creating a number of good chances - and duly deserved their lead with just 16 minutes gone.

After we partially cleared a long throw from the left, the hosts recycled it well before moving it out to the left and crossing first time. Catching us cold, the whipped ball found its way to Johnson who, after being denied spectacularly by an acrobatic block from the returning King, made no mistake with the rebound.

After that setback though, we responded brilliantly and began to assert ourselves on the game, albeit not really being able to test goalkeeper Charlie Casper. That was until the 35th minute though as, when the Clarets failed to clear their lines with any conviction, we bombarded the box and got a slice of luck as an attempted clearance fell to Rowswell and he slammed home.

After the break, our bright play continued and we came very close to turning the game on its head. Just seven minutes after the restart, neat interplay in our forward line ended with Reiss Russell-Denny teeing up Luca Williams-Barnett to strike first time from the edge of the box, but the versatile attacker was denied by a brilliant diving save from Casper.

Frustratingly, that was perhaps our best chance of the second 45 minutes as the game as a whole lacked any fluidity or rhythm.

Burnley were resolute at the back and found a way back to their early tenacity which had served them so well, while we couldn't quite find that crucial final ball. The hosts, meanwhile, were a threat on the break and were twice denied by the crossbar - the first a 40-yard effort from Tom Tweedy before Charlie Veevers curled onto the bar direct from a corner. In the middle of that, Johnson had the chance to win it for the Clarets, but he dragged wide of the frame from close range with eight minutes to play.

The point moves us up into the league's top seven with a trip to Stoke City next up on Friday 23 January (kick-off 7pm).

We’ve another London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon as we take on West Ham United.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of our meeting with Nuno Espirito Santo’s men...

What time does the match start?

Kick-off is at 3pm.

How can I watch the game?

The match has not been selected for live television coverage in the UK.

Supporters based overseas should check our Spurs on TV page to see if the game is live in your area.

As always, our Match Centre here on tottenhamhotspur.com and the Spurs Official app will bring you full live text and audio commentary throughout the game, keeping you fully up-to-date with the action as it happens.

Video highlights will be available across club channels from two hours after the full-time whistle, with a full match replay available on SPURSPLAY from midnight.

What is the team news?

New signing Conor Gallagher could make his debut, Cristian Romero is available again after suspension while Thomas Frank is hopeful that Lucas Bergvall can play a part in the match.

Richarlison unfortunately joins our list of injury absentees – along with Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison – while Pape Matar Sarr is still away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Yves Bissouma has returned from that tournament, though, and is available for selection.

West Ham are missing El Hadji Malick Diouf because of AFCON duty while Dinos Mavropanos is being assessed over a neck problem.

Who is the referee?

Jarred Gillett will referee the game, assisted by Constantine Hatzidakis and Scott Ledger.

The fourth official will be Gavin Ward.

VAR duties will be handled by James Bell and assistant Steve Meredith.

Which kit colours will the teams be wearing?

We’ll be wearing our usual home kit, featuring Lilywhite shirts, navy blue shorts and white socks.

West Ham will be in claret shirts, white shorts and claret socks.

Our goalkeeper will wear blue, with the Hammers’ stopper in lime green.

How can I get the matchday programme?

Another jam-packed issue of our official matchday programme will be on sale at the game on Sunday, including a main feature interview with new signing Conor Gallagher.

Priced at the usual £4, it’ll be on sale from various points around the stadium, while copies can also be ordered online here for delivery direct to your door.

What will the weather be like?

It’ll be cloudy with light winds, with temperatures at around nine degrees in north London on Saturday afternoon.

What is the travel information?

If you’re coming to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to watch the match live in person, the latest travel information can be found here.

On Sunday, we’re competing in our 12th Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth round tie since the 2014/15 campaign – and we pose quite a strong record at this stage of the competition.

Since reaching the fourth round for the first time in 20 years in 2014/15, we have successfully progressed to the next round of the competition on seven occasions.

Following a thumping 5-1 win over Preston North End in the third round, we featured in the fourth round for the first time since the 1994/95 campaign and have since won seven of those ties over the last decade.

That included a 3-0 victory over Derby County at Asterdale Bowl – with goals from Katie O’Leary, Lucia Leon and Avilla Bergin - to progress to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since the mid-1990s.

Facing the Foxes in consecutive matches – winning 1-0 at Brisbane Road last weekend – this is the second meeting with our opponents in this competition and at the fourth-round stage, previously going head-to-head in the 2021/22 season.

Although, it will be one that the Rick Passmoor’s side will remember the most, as they came from 1-0 down to eventually beat us 3-1 after extra time at The Hive.

But we do have fond memories the last time we faced the Leicestershire outfit in the Women’s FA Cup, when Martha Thomas’ late extra time winner secured a 2-1 win in the semi-final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, 2024 to book our place in the final for the first time in our history.

In our 12 previous encounters across all competitions, we’ve won 10 of our clashes with the Foxes, including a current 10-game unbeaten streak, scoring 20 goals in total.

"West Ham United are without a league win in more than two months, so can one fit-again winger and two new strikers save them from the drop? Vulnerability from set-pieces has been a problem – one Spurs can exploit..."

Rob Daly, official club commentator, presenter and pundit

What has happened at West Ham?

In late September, Graham Potter was sacked with the Hammers sitting 19th, boasting just three points from five games. Nuno Espirito Santo’s subsequent appointment seemed a smart one – a manager more tactically aligned to previously successful boss David Moyes. West Ham drew 1-1 at Everton in Nuno’s opening game, a credible start, and while losses to Arsenal, Brentford and Leeds followed, they then beat Newcastle and Burnley in early November. However, there has been no league win since, 10 games without victory, as Nuno chops and changes tactics and personnel to try to find the right formula. The former Spurs boss had tremendous joy playing three at the back at Forest – but has mainly used a 4-2-3-1 at West Ham. Regardless, they just haven’t been able to shore things up at the back.

How the Hammers concede...

West Ham have the league’s leakiest defence (43 against) while there’s been a huge vulnerability from crosses into the box. They’ve conceded from the most headers (11) and set-pieces (18) in the Premier League. This is good news for Spurs, having scored the opener from a corner against West Ham back in September through Pape Matar Sarr, before Lucas Bergvall made it 2-0 with a special header of his own. In fact, no team has scored more goals from corners in the Premier League this season than Spurs (11).

Can Summerville save West Ham's season?

Having joined for £25m from Leeds in August 2024, Crysencio Summerville’s signing looked a coup for West Ham – the then-reigning Championship Player of the Year. However, a hamstring injury ended his season in January 2025, and Nuno has been slowly integrating him back into the team recently. "He's still looking for that goal… he’s a talented player that needs to exploit his actions better,” the manager said before last weekend’s cup tie with QPR. The Dutch winger delivered with a thumping first half strike, further well saved attempts before producing a remarkable pirouette away from his full-back in extra-time to set up Taty Castellanos’ winner. “I just try to do my best in the games and I’m trying to show the fans what they’ve been missing in the nine months without Crysencio Summerville,” he said post-match.

Two new strikers...

The Hammers have made moves to change their frontline options, with Niklas Fullkrug loaned out to AC Milan, while Callum Wilson seems out of the picture, with the club spending £47m total on two new strikers. Pablo Felipe scored 10 goals in 13 league games this season for Portuguese side Gil Vicente – a penalty box finisher, good in the air, and he’ll look to press the centre-backs when Spurs play out. The 27-year-old Taty Castellanos meanwhile is more experienced, having made his Argentina debut in 2024. He scored 22 goals in 98 games for Lazio, including two this season, while his FA Cup winner last week, in just his second game for West Ham, was a powerful header. "Every match is a battle, and I'm here to contribute that, to try to bring that energy, that fighting spirit I have inside, so that every match is as important and as tough as possible.” That’ll be music to West Ham fan’s ears – and with only seven different scorers this season (a Premier League low) they need the new signings to hit the ground running.

Last time we met...

A pioneering new programme from Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, inspiring young women in Enfield to build confidence, creativity and resilience, was visited by local MP Feryal Clark today.

This Girl Can Skate is a 12-week programme combining skateboarding and creative workshops, aimed at secondary schoolgirls who may be at risk of disengaging from education.

The initiative is run in partnership with Enfield Council’s public health team, funded by the London Marathon Foundation and delivered by Everyone on Boards.

Girls at Oasis Academy Enfield took part in their final session today. A community skate jam – designed and hosted by some of the 160 girls who are taking part across eight schools – is to follow.

Ms Clark said: “It’s fantastic! Some of the girls have never had a chance to skate and I’m absolutely delighted Spurs Foundation, along with partners, are providing this opportunity. It’s incredibly important to introduce young people to a variety of skillsets. I’ve had a go on a board myself and it’s not as easy as it looks, so the girls have clearly learnt a lot and built their confidence, whilst having lots of fun.”

One of those who demonstrated how to skateboard for Ms Clark was 14-year-old Joyce, who is now hoping to continue the activity.

She said: “Over the course of the programme, we’ve learnt the basics, then some tricks and gradually we’ve gotten to the point where we can cruise around. It’s brought something different to our curriculum – it’s been exciting and fun!”

Each workshop runs for one hour during school time and is supported by a holistic wellbeing approach to help participants build resilience and promote positive mental health.

Hane Alaya, assistant principal, said: “At the start, the girls were nervous to try getting on a board, but they’ve enjoyed it and they’re really confident now. Outside of the sessions, we’ve definitely seen them be more willing to put themselves forwards for other opportunities. Initiatives like this are really important for us because a lot of our students come from disadvantaged backgrounds and having people come in to work with them is amazing for their development.”

This Girl Can Skate builds on the Foundation’s work to empower secondary schoolchildren at risk of not reaching their potential, with its delivery of the Premier League Inspires programme – using the power of football to help develop personal skills and positive attitudes – having engaged 950 young people across 38 schools since it launched in 2019.

Simon Wears, Foundation health and wellbeing manager, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the progress these young women have made through This Girl Can Skate. By combining physical activity with creativity and wellbeing support, the programme creates a safe space for girls to express themselves, try something new and grow in confidence. Seeing their enthusiasm and ambition shows just how powerful opportunities like this can be.”