Perhaps the most heartening thing for Tottenham Hotspur about this performance – even more than the eye-catching contribution of the 19-year-old Dele Alli – was that it should have strengthened the club’s determination to sign new players soon.
Mind you, the impotence at the King Power Stadium of Érik Lamela, the club’s record signing who drifted around the pitch harmlessly in place of the injured Christian Eriksen, was a reminder that extravagant purchases come with no guarantee of success. But Spurs are likely to be busy over the next week, all the same.
“Our performances don’t reflect the table, we have played much better than our opponents,” Mauricio Pochettino claimed after his side’s third winless match this season. “The other thing is the targets for the transfer window that we have and may happen in the next few days.”
Tottenham have been linked with more midfield muscle, notably Southampton’s Victor Wanyama, and also look in need of better support for Harry Kane. Clinton N’Jie, the £12m acquisition from Lyon, can be expected to help once his international clearance comes through and will certainly add much-needed speed up front, but Spurs could do with more sharpness and are likely to intensify their efforts to land a striker such as West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino.
At least Kane is not the type to complain. Other forwards forced to survive off scraps might grumble about the poverty of service to them but Kane says he is untroubled about not finding the net so far this term and is satisfied that the team are heading in the right direction.
“I’m not worried about the goals, I know I’ve got goals in me,” said the 22-year-old who struck 21 last season. ”I’ve just got to keep working hard for the team. It’s not the ideal start to the season but we’ve been playing well. We’re not too concerned. We’re still working on things. If we can get that win, we’ll push on from there.”
At Leicester City, Kane’s best chance to open his account was created by himself, as he bustled past two defenders before firing a shot that a third defender half-blocked before the goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel completed the save. Other than that Spurs struggled to get adequate supply to Kane, although they did take the lead in the 81st minute when a Nacer Chadli cross that seemed to be intended for the striker found its way to Alli instead and the teenager headed in his first goal for Spurs. Under Claudio Ranieri, as under Nigel Pearson, Leicester have a resolve that Spurs seem to lack and the visitors relinquished the lead quickly and carelessly, allowing the outstanding Riyad Mahrez to equalise within less than a minute.
Alli, at least, showed he could play a significant role in the season ahead. Spurs signed the midfielder from MK Dons in January but loaned him to the then League One side until the summer and he has impressed since joining. He made more of an impact in a 25-minute substitute appearance at Leicester than Lamela did in 65 minutes. As well as energy and technique, he showed a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Pochettino says that precocious savviness is Alli’s best trait. “Last season I went to see him against Manchester United in the Capital One Cup and it was 4-0: he played centre midfield and was a 17-year-old playing like a 30-year-old and this is his best quality.”
Man of the match Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
