Spurs and Sheffield United share spoils amongst VAR controversy

A second-half goal from Heung-Min Son was cancelled out by George Baldock as VAR continued to dominate conversation in the Premier League.

Tottenham made two changes from their win over Red Star in midweek as Serge Aurier and Ben Davies returned to the team, while Sheffield United were unchanged from the team that beat Burnley at Bramall Lane last weekend.

Referee Graham Scott made himself unpopular with the home crowd early on as Eric Dier saw yellow for a poorly timed challenge on George Baldock.

In their unorthodox formation Sheffield United started sharper forcing Paulo Gazzaniga to tip over from Oliver Norwood’s long-range effort.

John Fleck was then presented with a chance after work from David McGoldrick but could only fire into the arm of Gazzaniga as the early warning sides arrived for the home side.

Harry Kane then almost put the home side in front on 15 minutes. Dele Alli played Serge Aurier down the right before the Ivorian whipped a ball in destined for Kane to finish only to see the Spurs captain fire wide.

Tottenham began to build sustained attacks as the half grew on under difficult wet and slippery conditions. The threat from Sheffield United was ever-present however as Baldock’s cross was nearly turned home by John Lundstram.

Lundstram hit the post minutes later as the visitors continued to impress. Patience was the order of the day for Spurs, who created there best opening on 37 minutes when Lo Celso rolled wide a Heung-Min Son cross.

Tottenham had failed to breach the league’s joint-best defence in the first 45 minutes as the scores remained goalless at the break.

Lys Mousset’s twisting run almost found the opener early in the second period after the Frenchman shrugged off the challenge of Davinson Sanchez.

Son’s shot was parried by Dean Henderson not long after as opportunities arose for both teams.

The breakthrough came on 57 minutes from the South Korean and after all their good defensive work it was a mistake from the Sheffield United backline which brought about the goal.

A loose touch in a congested area by a Sheffield United defender presented the opportunity to Son, who poked the ball towards goal and through the legs of Henderson to give Spurs the lead.

The away side thought they had equalised just two minutes later. Sloppy Spurs defending allowed Baldock to avenge for his mistake and cross low for McGoldrick to tap home.

VAR ruled out the goal after a three-minute delay, Lundstrum adjudged to have been millimetres ahead of Dier in the build-up. A harsh decision on Chris Wilder’s men who had been worthy of their equaliser on the balance of play.

Stockley Park’s decision had turned this fixture into a frantic affair, seemingly ruled by technology rather than the referee.

The visitors remained an attacking threat and grabbed the equaliser on 77 minutes as Baldock’s mis-hit cross went all the way through to score.

The Blades had deserved the goal and will feel the nature of the goal, a shot-meant-cross, may atone for the earlier VAR decision against McGoldrick.

Spurs pressed late on, substitute Lucas Moura’s effort spectacularly tipped over by Henderson. Six minutes of added time were played but Spurs were made to share the points with Sheffield United.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Dier, Sanchez, Davies, Sissoko, Ndombele, Lo Celso, Dele, Son, Kane (C)

Tottenham Hotspur unused substitutes: Vorm, Alderweireld, Foyth, Winks, Sessegnon, Eriksen, Lucas

Sheffield United XI: Henderson, Baldock, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens, Lundstram, Norwood (C), Fleck, McGoldrick, Mousset

Sheffield United unused substitutes: Moore, Jagielka, Besic, Freeman, Robinson, Sharp, McBurnie

Attendance: 59,781