Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has been left frustrated after the game against Nottingham Forest on the weekend.
It was three points and a job well done for Tottenham on Sunday after a slight scare inside the first half of their game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Ange Postecoglou‘s side took the lead once again but found themselves level before the break after Chris Wood leveled the proceedings.
Spurs were forced to rely on two of their defenders in Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro to provide the goals in the second half to earn the points.
But they now have a trip to Newcastle United to look ahead to this weekend with the Lilywhites having revenge to take after last season’s debacle.
Spurs were left embarrassed at St. James’ Park last season after being drubbed 6-1 by the Magpies.
But it is a much different Spurs going into this game on Saturday and they know maximum points would take them three clear of Unai Emery’s side.
James Maddison was left annoyed even though Spurs took the points
Three points took Spurs into the top four ahead of Aston Villa, but it was apparent James Maddison was not left overly pleased after the game.
Postecoglou spoke about the England midfielder recently after he’d recently seen some criticism come his way for withdrawing Maddison towards the end of games.
The 27-year-old has been battling to return to full fitness following his injury issue which kept him out for a lengthy period of time.
And Postecoglou provided a very blunt response when asked whether Maddison was hooked off against West Ham due to an injury.
“He’s not carrying a knock. If he was carrying a knock he wouldn’t be playing. He’s fine, yeah,” he told the media.
However, it was something else which has left the midfielder frustrated when he was speaking after the game on Sunday.
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Although Spurs may find themselves in the top four now they are only 11 points off the lead.
And this comes with Spurs having been riddled with injuries throughout the season with some key players missing for long periods of time.
With this in mind, Maddison feels frustrated by the way Tottenham’s season hasn’t offered more with the title race not too far out of sight.
Speaking on the Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham podcast, journalist Alasdair Gold has provided some insight on the midfielder’s annoyance after the game.
“I love the fact that not only is he [Postecoglou] so disappointed where Spurs are in the table but so are the players. Like Maddison was talking about it after the game and he is genuinely really annoyed and frustrated that Spurs are in fourth.
“And I love that! I love the fact that if you’d offered Spurs – by the way you’re going to lose Kane this season, you’re going to completely change your manager, completely different style that’s got to be implemented, real rebuilding season – we’ll give you fourth place… you’d have gone, ‘oh yes please! That would be amazing’. And yet they’re really unhappy about it.”
Dermot Gallagher issued interesting verdict on Maddison’s ‘punch’ on Ryan Yates
Although Maddison was left frustrated after the game, it seems he should have felt slightly fortunate to have played for as long as he did.
Forest’s Ryan Yates went down in his own box after claiming to have been punched by Maddison inside the first half.
Referee Simon Hooper did not see the incident and VAR waved play on after reviewing it. However, Sky Sports’ Dermot Gallagher felt Maddison was very lucky not to have been sent off.
“The VAR came to the conclusion, his words and I quote verbatim was, ‘no evidence of violent conduct’. That’s his choice. What I would say is the referee has to be guided by him,” Gallagher said.
“I think he’s really lucky. I think if you do that on a football field and you get sent off, you haven’t got a leg to stand on.”