Tottenham Hotspur

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Micky van de Ven was "fortunate not to have suffered a debilitating injury" from a challenge by Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, a Football Association regulatory commission has said.

Mateta was sent off for the foul, which came in the 13th minute of the Eagles' 2-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on 31 October.

The France international was initially shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver, which was upgraded to red after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Palace's appeal was turned down by the regulatory commission last week, with the written reasons now published.

The verdict of the three members of commission was unanimous, with strong feelings about the nature of the foul.

In their evidence, Palace argued that "their player's challenge was controlled, directed solely at winning the ball, and did not involve excessive force, brutality, or any action that endangered the safety of his opponent".

The South London club also believed that Van de Ven's movement was a contributory factor, and the VAR review was unnecessary because Oliver had "the best evidence of the true speed and intensity of the challenge".

In reaching its judgement, the commission said that Mateta "reached for the ball with a lunging action along the ground with a straight leg and his studs showing" which caught the Netherlands international "with gathering momentum".

In the written reasons, it was added: "The commission did not accept that the player's contact with his opponent was because of his opponent's movement and, if anything, felt the opponent was fortunate not to have suffered a debilitating injury."

It also said there was "no circumstances this incident could in any way be deemed truly exceptional" to reduce the suspension from three matches.

Mateta missed Sunday's home loss to Liverpool, and will also sit out the upcoming games against Coventry City and Hull City.

Tottenham are monitoring Dinamo Zagreb and Croatia striker Dion Beljo, 24. (Teamtalk), external

Mikey Moore says he decided not to return on loan to Rangers because of Danny Rohl's exit as head coach, but the 19-year-old - currently at Cologne from Spurs - hopes to one day be back at Ibrox to win trophies with the Scottish Premeirship club. (Daily Record), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Leeds fans

Paul: Leeds fully deserved the win and it should have been by more than one goal. We just don't put the chances away, and you don't get many in the Premier League. Solid at the back and in midfield but need more quality in the forward areas to put more of these chances away.

Ken: Fantastic performance. Surrendered possession, but dominant up front, and a well-deserved victory. Cracking goal by Noah Okafor, with James Trafford player of the match.

Mark: Top performance by our boys! What nonsense gets spoken about not having won recently, confidence low, manager at risk, Spurs on great form. Well we took all of that, held our belief and showed the rest of the league and some of our supporters that we are here to stay!

Thomas: I think you have to be brutally honest and say, up to the goal, Leeds were very poor. Lot of hard working players but lacking in any quality to break down the Tottenham backline. Leeds have a good defensive side to them but need to get quality players that can change a game - Okafor obviously that type of player.

Micky: A huge result. We desperately needed a positive result to awaken us from our apparent stupor. Jayden Bogle did rather get away with that challenge - accidental or not, it should really have been a red. Also delighted to see Harry Wilson get an assist off the bench, clean sheet for Trafford and another towering display from Tarik Muharemovic.

Tottenham fans

John: There were no positives to take from Spurs' performance, or lack of. The starting XI is a puzzle, and I was at the game watching an anonymous forward line. Until this is redressed then Spurs are going nowhere.

Peter: Woeful, inept, and completely without cutting edge. We started slowly and got even slower. Where is the hunger for another three points? Where is the bravery with the ball? All so, so tame.

Kevin: Leeds were very aggressive and Spurs didn't match them. You could argue they weren't able to by some awful refereeing. We will continue to struggle against the physical teams until we get a quality striker and learn to stretch opposition defences quicker. Too slow in the build up. On positive side, still far better than past two seasons!

Robert: Only one place to start: the clear red card that wasn't given. Why VAR spent four minutes debating it and then failed to send the ref to the monitor is, frankly, embarrassing and questions need to be asked. As for the performance, it was poor, lacklustre and lacking in energy and ambition. We looked happy with a point, which we didn't get. A decent striker in January is a must.

Scaley: It's simple...WE NEED A STRIKER!

Tottenham, Chelsea, Brentford, Fulham, Manchester City and Newcastle United are among a number of sides monitoring 21-year-old French defender Ismaelo Ganiou, who plays for Lens. (Teamtalk), external

Spurs, Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea have all been in contact with the representatives of former Barcelona forward Vitor Roque, 21, with the Brazil international valued at £42m by Palmeiras. (Bolavip via Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Jayden Bogle was certainly very lucky to escape even a booking.

The foul happened in strange circumstances. Bogle was positioning his body to challenge Mathys Tel with his right foot, and in trying to plant his left foot he stood on the ankle of the Spurs player.

At full speed it looked innocuous, which is probably why referee John Brooks chose not to show a card after giving the foul.

Once the slow-motion replays were looked at it became apparent that the nature of the contact on Tel was very ugly, with the twist of the ankle.

It could easily have resulted in the VAR, Tony Harrington, sending Brooks to the pitchside monitor for an on-field review for a red card.

Harrington spent far too long looking at the replays, probably feeling he had more time while Tel received treatment. But longer reviews only tend to cause doubts about process.

Harrington eventually told Brooks: "I'm confirming the on-field decision of no red card. There's a lack of speed going into the challenge and he's stepping into the tackle. Confirming a reckless challenge."

A reckless challenge is a yellow card, but the VAR is unable to intervene and advise that Bogle should be booked.

Something else Harrington said is important - "stepping into the challenge".

It does not mean a player cannot be sent off, but this is far less likely to result in a VAR review for a red card because such challenges naturally come with less force.

How about comparisons with Jean-Philippe Mateta's VAR red card against Spurs last week?

There is an argument that Mateta, who was booked on-field, made less forceful contact on the ankle of Micky van de Ven. Yet it is the nature of the challenge that is crucially different.

Mateta made a lunging, stretching tackle with studs leading, the kind generally considered to come with a higher degree of force and potential danger to the opponent.

That said, and even though Bogle was not really making a challenge, the nature of the contact means many may feel there should have been a VAR review for a red card.

Read more here

Tottenham starting XI:

Antonin Kinsky: Very safe handling and excellent save from Sean Longstaff. No chance with the goal. Anxious moment when he took too long over a goal-kick and a corner was awarded. 7

Pedro Porro: Always willing to join the attack. Loves a tackle but probably taken off to avoid a red card. 6

Micky van de Ven: Dependable presence at the heart of the Spurs defence. One vital second-half clearance. Booked for hauling back Jayden Bogle. 6

Jan Paul van Hecke: One of his best games for Spurs. Powerful in the air and composed with the ball at his feet. Almost saved a point at the end. 7

Andrew Robertson: Solid defensively and always energetic in lending weight to attack. 6

Archie Gray: Some nice touches against his old club but generally quiet. 6

Sandro Tonali: Anonymous. Needed to do more. 5

Mateus Fernandes: Very quiet. No influence at all. 5

Mohammed Kudus: Lots of endeavour but little end product. 5

Omar Marmoush: Poor. Lacked physical presence against Leeds' defenders. 5

Mathys Tel: One or two lively moments but unable to continue after Jayden Bogle's poor first-half challenge. 5

Tottenham substitutes:

Dominic Solanke (on 43, Tel): Crucial block from Dominic Calvert-Lewin. No attacking effect. 5

Conor Gallagher (on 65, Porro): Shot inches wide. 5

Rodrigo Bentacur (on 65, Mateus Fernandes): Little impact. Missed chance in the final seconds. 5

Dejan Kulusevski (on 65, Omar Marmoush): Kept at bay by Leeds. 5

Luca Williams-Barnett (on 83, Mohammed Kudus).

Subs not used:

Luca Gunter, Marcos Senesi, James Maddison, Ben Davies.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It could have been a very different outcome for Spurs had the officiating gone their way in the first half.

Referee Brooks' decision not to send off Jayden Bogle was one that could have handed Tottenham a significant advantage.

Instead, Roberto de Zerbi's side, who lost Mathys Tel to injury as a result of the challenge, were left on the back foot and seemingly unable to recover.

Of course, there was more to Spurs' first defeat in four games than a single decision during a 90-minute match. However, it was a decision that appeared to rile De Zerbi and his players, with the visitors subsequently losing control of the game.

What will concern the Italian more is the fact that his side failed to create any chances of note during a toothless second-half performance, while Leeds looked capable of scoring almost every time they surged forward.

After three consecutive Premier League wins, De Zerbi will certainly be disappointed with how easily his side fell to defeat.

Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi to BBC Match Of The Day: "The second half we didn't show the same spirit. We didn't show the hunger we need for these types of big games. In the first half we played well, we were working hard in these days and knew before the game the intensity of Leeds but we were not capable of playing better. We have to analyse. Many games like this can be a problem for us."

On Jayden Bogle's tackle on Mathys Tel: "I was surprised on the yellow card for Pedro Porro because it was clear. The potential red card, I couldn't say. We have full confidence in the referee and VAR. I cannot sat nothing more. Tel has a bad injury on his ankle, but I don't know how long [he will be out] yet."

Did you know?

• Tottenham had won their last three away Premier League games against Leeds before today, with this the first time that they've failed to score in any league game against the Whites since February 2000 (17 games since).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Leeds' performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Leeds v Tottenham (12:30)

• Arsenal v Hull City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated.

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Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

Out-of-form Leeds United take on a buoyant Tottenham side that arrive at Elland Road having won their past three matches. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes going into Saturday's game.

How best to judge Leeds' season so far? A glass-half-empty view of only two league wins from nine games and only nine goals scored…or a positive spin on just two defeats from nine matches and a mere eight goals conceded?

Either way, momentum for Daniel Farke's side has definitely slowed of late and their last league victory came almost two months ago when they demolished Newcastle. Since that 4-1 win on 14 September they have scored the joint fewest goals (two), have the second lowest xG - both overall (4.96) and in open play (2.61) -, plus the worst final third passing accuracy (58.4%) of any top-flight side.

How to unlock the goalscoring potential of their side remains an ongoing mission with the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Lukas Nmecha and Harry Wilson yet to find the back of the net. Their win over Newcastle is the only league game they have scored two or more goals in, and only Dominic Calvert-Lewin has netted more than once.

But losing just three of their past 18 league games is a superb achievement and Farke's side will look to continue their impressive streak of not having lost consecutive league games since February and March last season.

Five of their nine matches so far have been away so they will be delighted to return to Elland Road, where they are unbeaten in eight and last lost a league game eight months ago.

After Spurs have been and gone their next visitors are promoted sides Coventry City and Ipswich Town. Home points will be crucial given their next four away are at Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Tottenham carrying all the momentum

While Leeds' form has stalled, the same cannot be said for resurgent Tottenham. Without so much as a goal after four matches of the season or a win after six, three victories on the spin have propelled them from the bottom of the table and above the likes of Leeds into ninth.

Looking far more like a Roberto de Zerbi side, they were utterly dominant against 10-man Crystal Palace last weekend. The 79.4% possession they enjoyed was their second highest in a top-flight match since records began in 2003-04.

Up against the worst defence in the league, their much-maligned attack had a whopping 34 shots, which may have been their most in a top-flight game for a decade but the fact that only two of them went in again shined a light on their lack of clinical edge. They have the lowest xG per shot of any side this term of 0.08.

But they certainly seem to be benefiting from having a more settled side. De Zerbi made 24 changes to his starting XI across their first seven games of this season but has made just three since they picked up their first league win of the season against Coventry.

Tottenham always seem to do well against Leeds United - they have only lost one of their past 15 meetings in the Premier League, going back almost 25 years.

I am a little bit of a believer that some teams always do well, or badly, against certain opposition or on certain grounds.

I had the same as a player when I had bogey teams or stadiums, as well as lucky ones. For example, while I always used to score against Everton at Goodison Park, I always had a stinker at Highfield Road, Coventry's old home, despite getting plenty of goals against them in home games for Blackburn.

So, I am definitely not going for Leeds to win this - but do I back Tottenham to win again and continue their good run?

Roberto de Zerbi's side have rocketed up the table on the back of three wins in a row, although they were helped out a lot by Jean-Philippe Mateta's red card in their victory over Crystal Palace last time out.

Tottenham are flying at the moment, and their confidence is up - we are seeing a bit of a Spurs swagger for the first time in a long while. So, while I don't think they will make it four wins in a row, I don't see them being beaten, either.

It's likely to be a very tight game. Leeds were a bit unlucky to lose to Bournemouth last week, but their lack of goals is becoming an issue.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tottenham fan Kish Patel has given a tactical analysis of why he feels Leeds United are a good team for Spurs to be playing this weekend.

"Leeds are a good match-up for Spurs because it is so hard in the modern day to take control of games in the Premier League now," he told BBC Radio London.

"This wasn't the case six years ago when a lot of lesser teams against the big boys would sit in and hope for moments.

"Now every team backs themselves to be aggressive and go man-to-man. Leeds, at home, will want to be aggressive, and they will want to press high.

"That is what Daniel Farke has built the home form on, and this will suit Spurs. Now we have Mateus Fernandes in midfield, we are equipped to play through that press.

"If James Maddison plays, then he will ask one of the centre-backs to follow him, and that drags people around.

"Leeds are not in the best place. If you're trying to be aggressive and there is not a 100% buy-in from the players and the crowd, then sometimes your distances can be off.

"I am hoping for a convincing win in this game for Spurs."

Listen to more from Patel above or on BBC Sounds here