25-05-2025
How four-goal Albion did it in style - and enjoyed their own party at Tottenham
Well, they took care of their own job in style.
A Jack Hinshelwood double, a Matt O'Riley penalty and a Diego Gomez stunner were ultimately not enough to keep European hopes flickering due to results elsewhere.
But this was the finale the campaign deserved.
A second best league finish and a final fling of 13 points from a possible 15.
Albion went out with heads held very high.
And, as ever, this latest chapter came against a backdrop of injuries.
This time they were without Danny Welbeck, who picked up a knock in the win over Liverpool, and Pervis Estupinan.
The latter was replaced by Igor, making his first appearance since very early January when he was forced off in the draw with Arsenal.
Without Welbeck, Albion gave Hinshelwood an advanced central role with, unusually, Simon Adingra on the right and Yankuba Minteh the left.
The wingers should have combined to give them a very early lead but Adingra dragged his shot wide after Minteh knocked down a long ball from Jan Paul van Hecke.
Adingra was involved again before Mats Wieffer picked up a clearance and thrashed a shot too high on the half-volley.
But Wieffer was involved in a more negative way as Spurs went ahead in the 17th minute.
Hurzeler proud of his team as they finish it in style
He caught Mathys Tel on the foot as the winger cut inside him and Dominic Solanke converted the resulting spot kick, going high down the middle as Bart Verbruggen dived to his left.
Spurs, after their celebrations, had probably looked livelier than we might have expected early on.
Verbruggen denied them a second goal with a stunning bit of work.
From an Albion corner, Spurs countered at pace and Tel fired in a shot which produced a fabulous low stop from the Dutch No.1 at close range.
So the deficit was a narrow one at the break and Albion sent on Kaoru Mitoma and Gomez for Adingra and Yasin Ayari, the Paraguayan taking an advanced role with Hinshelwood dropping deeper.
Mitoma immediately caused Pedro Porro real problems and, from a corner forced by the winger, Albion levelled on 51 minutes.
Brajan Gruda delivered, Adam Webster won the first header and, after challenging for the ball, Hinshelwood turned to thump it high into the net.
The game had changed with Albion pouring men forward – although midweek hero Brennan Johnson missed a sitter for Spurs.
Carlos Baleba saw his volley hit the post via a deflection off van Hecke before Hinshelwood struck again on 64 minutes.
A corner came in from the right, Wieffer and van Hecke challenged for it, Webster might have got a foot to the ball and then it landed at the feet of Hinshelwood, back to goal.
He back-heeled and it ran gently over the line.
Albion fans will also have known results elsewhere had ended any chance of Europe.
But Sussex By The Sea had replaced the Spurs glory songs – and O'Riley added to the day with a calmly taken penalty after Gomez was fouled running on to Minteh's clever pass.
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Then Gomez topped it off with a stunning curler into the far top corner from well outside the box.
There was time for James Milner to make his first appearance since the previous trip to North London - at Arsenal way back in August.
A lot has happened since then - and there is plenty to look forward to.
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven (Davies 66), Udogie; Bentancur (Bissouma 66), Gray; Sarr (Odobert 46), Johnson, Tel (Spence 83); Solanke (Richarlison 66). Subs: Kinsky, Olusei, Ajayi, Moore.
Albion: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Webster, Igor (Veltman 60); Baleba, Ayari (Gomez 46); Minteh (miler 90+3), Gruda (O'Riley 76), Adingra (Mitoma 46); Hinshelwood. Subs: Rushworth, Dunk, Cashin, Howell.
Referee: Robert Jones
