Tottenham Hotspur made a return to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday with a 2-1 victory at 10-man Hull City.
The hosts took the lead with just seven minutes played as former Spurs midfielder Jake Livermore found the bottom corner with a strike from the edge of the box.
However, their chances of closing out the game were dealt a blow early in the second half as Gaston Ramirez was sent off for kicking out at Jan Vertonghen.
Tottenham made their numerical advantage count 10 minutes later when Harry Kane equalised with an instinctive effort after Christian Eriksen had hit the woodwork, and the turnaround was complete with just minutes remaining as Eriksen struck from 20 yards.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at a thrilling 90 minutes of action at the KC Stadium.
Match statistics
Hull
Shots: 10
On target: 2
Possession: 27%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 15
Tottenham
Shots: 23
On target: 6
Possession: 73%
Corners: 9
Fouls: 9
Was the result fair?
Tottenham may have looked out of sorts in the first half as Hull dominated, but they seized control of the match after Gaston Ramirez was sent off on 50 minutes. From that moment on, Mauricio Pochettino's team did all that they could to claim the win and they eventually earned a deserved three points.
Hull's performance
The Tigers were superb in the first half as their dogged midfield stifled Spurs, while they also looked dangerous going forward with the likes of Nikica Jelavic and Hatem Ben Arfa providing plenty of bite up front.
However, all of their hard work was undone soon after the restart when Gaston Ramirez was dismissed for his altercation with Jan Vertonghen. After that it was a case of all hands on deck for the hosts, who rarely had the chance to venture forward with their numerical disadvantage.
They struggled from a defensive point of view for the remainder of the match as Tottenham piled on the pressure. It looked like they might have come away with a point as the clock ticked down, though it would have been harsh on the visitors had they not left with the spoils.
Tottenham's performance
Put simply, Spurs were very poor in the first half as they struggled to cope with the intensity of Hull. The hosts were first to everything and better in pretty much every department. It was a different story in the second half though, with Tottenham playing the final 40 minutes against 10 men.
It soon became apparent that they were going to come away from the game with at least a point because they threw everything at Hull in search of an equaliser and then a winner. Their passing was crisper, their movement more adventurous and their sheer hunger to dominate was there for all to see. Mauricio Pochettino still has plenty of creases to iron out in his squad, but this result is sure to give his players lots of confidence heading into a busy period.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Christian Eriksen: Once Spurs got going it was the Dane who was pulling all of their strings from midfield. His vision and movement in and around the penalty area gave Hull plenty to think about, while his finish for the winning goal was expertly done. He also had a hand in his side's equaliser, hitting the post with a free kick before Kane tucked home the rebound.
Biggest gaffe
Gaston Ramirez made a very silly error when he was sent off for lashing out at Jan Vertonghen as he put his side under huge pressure for the remainder of the game. He would have known that he was playing with fire and referee Craig Pawson duly sent him off for the offence. Hull could well have gone on to win the match had he stayed on the pitch.
Referee performance
Craig Pawson had a very busy afternoon out in the middle and his performance is likely to come under criticism, particularly from Hull manager Steve Bruce. The official was right to send off Gaston Ramirez, but there were a few other incidents which he struggled to deal with.
Roberto Soldado could have been flagged for offside in the build-up to Tottenham's equaliser, while Jake Livermore should have been sent off in the second half for a second bookable offence. Those moments aside, Pawson also hindered the flow of the game by blowing up frequently for minor fouls.
What next?
Hull: The Tigers continue their Premier League campaign on Saturday when they make the trip to Manchester United.
Tottenham: Spurs are back in Europa League action on Thursday with the visit of Partizan Belgrade.
Jack Prescott
