Jefferson Montero: Was engaged in a enthralling battle with Kyle Walker down the left wing throughout the first half and did well to set up Ayew for the opener. As another such interruption looms, Garry Monk is now calling on his side to make a drastic improvement from a run of matches which have seen them score just the once – from the penalty spot – and their intensity levels plummet to the extent that they have appeared something of a soft touch.
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His first, in the 27th minute, left poorly-positioned Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski flat-footed, but there was no doubting the quality of his second in the 65th minute when he curled a fizzing right-footer over the wall and into the net.
Harry Kane was able to end his scoreless streak last week against City and will hope that the goals will start flowing now.
But then there was also the flashes of genius, including his finish from a fine Swansea goal that is a far better example of what this team can do than the sloppiness shown at St Mary’s last weekend. But Kane is Tottenham’s only true striker besides Adebayor who is once again lost somewhere inside the Lane, and worryingly Kane has already played 2,773 minutes in 2015, which is 300 more than Aguero and 800 more than Costa.
“He is one of the best at dead-ball situations”, said Pochettino.
Something mysterious seems to have happened to Swansea since the worldwide break, which they entered having played a few sparkling in accumulating eight points from a possible 12.
It was Eriksen who was Swansea’s frustrator in this fixture last season, his late strike earning Tottenham a win they barely deserved.
Toby Alderweireld: Fairly solid in the centre of defence but could have headed his side in front with a better effort from a corner early on. “So it’s a good mix and the more games we get, the more we will know each other“.
Swansea (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 6; Rangel 7, Fernandez 6, Williams 7, Taylor 6; Ki 6, Shelvey 6 (Cork 86, 5); Ayew 7, Sigurdsson 6 (Barrow 74, 5), Montero 7; Gomis 6.
Dele Alli was chopped down by Federico Fernandez just outside the box, and Christian Eriksen immediately took ownership of the free-kick.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has selected Harry Kane to lead the attack in Wales, while Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli will support the England global.
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Eriksen twice went close before the interval but Fabianski atoned for his earlier misjudgment, getting fingertips to a low shot from the Dane on 41 minutes.
