View: 84% 'World-Class' Tottenham ace proves O'Hara wrong with what he did v Ipswich

Jamie O’Hara and Andros Townsend both hailed Rodrigo Bentancur after some “world-class” moments for Tottenham against Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Both commentators singled Bentancur out as one of few Spurs players whose levels didn’t drop as Ange Postecoglou’s side fell to a shock 2-1 defeat, with Ipswich scoring twice late in the first half.

Bentancur halved the deficit with a bullet header midway through the second period, leaving O’Hara eating his words and justifying Townsend’s high praise following an earlier passage of play.

After he created a chance for Son Heung-min (10 November, 3:09pm), Townsend said on USATV: “The shot’s here, but it’s the world-class pass from Bentancur.”

O’Hara, on commentary in the Sky Sports News studio (3:32) said of the Uruguayan’s goal: “Really good header from Bentancur.

“I was going to say, he hasn’t actually been that great for us this season, but he’s just come up with a big goal.”

Rodrigo Bentancur best of a bad bunch for Tottenham v Ipswich

The knives will be out for Postecoglou after Spurs suffered a second straight defeat – and third from five matches – in all competitions, with a late first-half collapse gifting Ipswich their first win of the season.

Bentancur, however, is one player who won’t be getting many pelters in the wake of the Lilywhites’ second home defeat of the season, having produced 0.26 xG and scoring with one of his three attempts [SofaScore].

The Uruguayan completed 84 per cent of his 55 passes [FotMob], including seven into the final third, but couldn’t find a man with his sole attempted long ball and had just two touches in the Tractor Boys’ box.

While Spurs were all at sea at the back – particularly after Radu Dragusin laid a simple tap-in on a plate for Liam Delap – Bentancur made a whopping 13 defensive actions in total, including six ball recoveries.

Bentancur may have only won three of his seven attempted tackles (43 per cent) and was dispossessed once, the 27-year-old made a further three interceptions [FotMob], having 75 touches of the ball in total.

Heavily involved in the midfield battle as Spurs struggled to re-establish control of the game and the scoreboard, Bentancur contested 18 duels in total, winning 12 but conceding three free-kicks.

He was, however, successful with 69 per cent of his 13 attempts on the ground and three from five (60 per cent) in the air, and it’s clear that if Postecoglou wants his side to have the steely nature needed to fight for the top four, Bentancur must be front and centre.

In other Tottenham news, one Spurs outcast has made a decision on his contract in North London as the January window approaches.

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