Jan Vertonghen Performance Report

Jan Vertonghen Performance Report


Opponents: Partizan Belgrade
Competition: UEFA Europa League
Venue: Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia (UEFA Category 3 Stadium)

Jan Vertonghen Performance Report


Jan Vertonghen had a good solid game in difficult conditions and with a new centre-back partner. He has not played much with Ben Davies either so there was the potential for a banana skin but he and Fazio looked as if they had regularly played together and the pairing did much to ensure we came away with a point without being spectacular.

First-half

1 min Vertonghen has a left footed shot from 14 yards out as we immediately attack and it goes for the first corner after 35 seconds.

1 min Davies corner is flicked on by Vertonghen to Kane who rounds his man on the left and fires a shot against the underside of the bar but it comes out.

3 mins Grbic goes down the right but the cross is too high. Volkov collects it and is wrestled to ground by Andros Townsend. A good free kick from Drincic wide on the left and Vertonghen makes a powerful header clear.

10 mins Skuletic is tripped up by Vertonghen, nothing comes of the free-kick

12 mins Naughton goes down the right to the byline and crosses towards Kane but the ball is poorly cleared. It falls to Vertonghen who runs at the edge of the box and retains possession and passes to Townsend who cuts inside and attempts a curling shot that makes a yard into the defenders chest.

25 mins Pantic turns down the left side to beat Naughton but Townsend is there to dispossess him knocking it out for a throw. The ball is thrown long into the box and Fazio darts in front of his man but misses the leaving Lazovic unmarked. Vertonghen lunges in front of him as he turns and shoots from six yards. Lloris is forced to make an excellent block and Bentaleb lunges in a sliding tackle to hook the ball clear.

Little to report of Jan for the rest of the game. He didn't have to do anything outstanding just general defensive work, a lot of covering in areas blocking crosses and preventing any clear cut chances for the strikers. He has an efficient game and like other players one of those good games where you perhaps don't notice a player that much because it's efficient rather than eye catching. Efficient is far more important and you would happily give him Fazio and Naughton 7.5 or 8 marks each.

The fact that Davies was regularly beaten, there was danger from the right and yet no real clear cut chances tells you everything about the competent defending of the other three in the back line.

Twitter Reaction

Chris Miller ‏@WindyCOYS
Vertonghen's been excellent, really impressed by him under difficult circumstances.

murph ‏@parispurs
fair enough result. lennon / townsend still terrible.  Verts now good, should play this weekend