Tottenham player ratings vs Preston: Son stars, Danjuma’s debut and Sessegnon’s struggles in FA Cup 4th round

Preston 0-3 Tottenham (Son 50′, 69′, Danjuma 87′)

Son Heung-min’s double and Arnaut Danjuma’s goal on debut broke a spirited Preston resistance and sent Tottenham through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Illness had confined Harry Kane to the bench, denying him the chance to overtake Jimmy Greaves as the club’s all-time record goalscorer, but it was his usual dance partner who opened the scoring with a curling effort from outside the box.

Dejan Kulusevski had done well to keep possession to link up with Japhet Tanganga, who teed up Son for a much-needed strike with frustration starting to build.

He had Ivan Perisic to thank for his second, a clever flick creating space for him inside the box – but it was Son who did the rest, turning and firing past a largely impressive Freddie Woodman.

On the day it was reported that a deal for Spurs’ prime January target Pedro Porro had fallen through, Antonio Conte will have been alarmed at an uninspiring first half in which his side failed to break down a defensively sound Preston.

It only took a moment of inspiration, however, in a competition that carries considerable weight this season as Tottenham’s most likely chance of silverware. The one concern was that Son appeared to leave the pitch in pain and looked in distress while taking his place among the substitutes.

And amid the ongoing question marks against a quiet transfer window was a goal on his first appearance from Danjuma, the Netherlands forward sliding in a one-touch finish late on after good work from Bryan Gil and Kulusevski.

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Spurs player ratings

• Forster – Had little to do with Preston determined to sit in but given Hugo Lloris’ recent form, he looked composed and made a couple of decent collections when needed 7
• Tanganga – Made a solid headed clearance when Alan Browne threatened to wriggle through the defence. And (technically!) got the assist for Son’s goal 7
• Sanchez – Very nearly guilty of an awful mix-up while under pressure from Tom Cannon and robbed of possession by the forward again while out of position 5
• Lenglet – Made a fair number of useful crosses, even if his long balls into the final third didn’t always connect 6
• Doherty – Did his best to get forward and found himself in some decent positions, but Spurs could not unpick the lock down that flank 6
• Bissouma – Kept the midfield ticking over nicely. Found it hard to impose himself or offer much creativity 6.5
• Bentancur – Nutmegged by Evans and guilty of a couple of stray passes early on, but did link up well with Son with the South Korean dropping into a deeper role. Still looks to be recovering from injury and was taken off after 70 minutes 5
• Sessegnon – Crossing was consistently poor, either undercooked or over-hit 4
• Kulusevski – Important role in the first goal and set up Danjuma, but struggled in a makeshift front three overall. Nicked his best chance over the bar and fired another early opportunity wide. Forced an impressive block and almost made a breakthrough but found his pass bouncing awkwardly off Perisic 6
• Son – Two brilliant finishes and even when Spurs were struggling, he looked their main hope of a goal as he forced Woodman into two good saves with either foot 8
• Perisic – Lovely flick for Son’s second and forced a decent punt over the bar from Woodman. On set-piece duty with Kane on the bench, but hit his first free-kick at the wall and made several poor touches 6

Substitutes:

• Skipp – A really impressive cameo and much-needed as he continues to rebuild after injury 7
• Danjuma – Started a great move and thought he was through on goal to make an immediate impact, only for a late interception to deny him. Looked promising on debut 7.5
• Gil – Made the crucial run for the third goal to set up Kulusevski, who in turn assisted Danjuma 7

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