Tim Sherwood has blasted Son Heung-min for his ‘coward’s tackle’ during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League on Monday night.
In the first half, Son stamped on the ankle of Fulham defender Kenny Tete when they both went in for a challenge, with the on-field referee handing out a yellow card, rather than a red card which Sherwood thinks the Tottenham man deserved for his ‘shocking’ tackle.
At the time, the game was still goalless, before Son himself assisted Harry Kane for Tottenham’s only goal of the game that landed them the much-needed three points.
Even with VAR present, it has to be questioned why Son wasn’t given his marching orders and he is probably fortunate that he wasn’t dismissed.
It was a clear on-field mistake by the referee, but that’s where VAR should intervene and sent Son off because it was still very early in the game and it would have made a big difference.
Nonetheless, Sherwood was pretty clear with what he thought about that challenge, as he told Premier League Productions (23/01/23 at 9:15 pm).
“More than fortunate (to be on the pitch), it’s a red card,” said Sherwood. “100% red card. A coward’s tackle. He thinks he is going to get kicked, then he just goes over the top of the ball.
“This is a shocking tackle. High, it could break the leg of the Fulham defender, Tete. Terrible, terrible challenge. How VAR has looked at that and decided not to send him off, I don’t know. That is such a bad tackle.
“For me, it’s out-of-character. You don’t see that often. You can tell by his face.”
Michael Owen added: “The referee is in a good position to see it. Of course, it always looks worse in slow motion. But you have seen plenty of people seen red for that challenge.”
CAN SON REDISCOVER HIS FORM?
From Tottenham overall, that was a much better performance against a team that has faired very well since their promotion under Marco Silva this season.
It needs to be pointed out that if Fulham had won, then they would have moved above Spurs in the table.
But whilst the defensive performance was on point from Conte’s men, someone like Son is still trying to find the magic of last season.
That spark has gone out of the £22 million star’s game (Guardian), and these next few months, which include a return to Champions League football as well as FA Cup games, provide the ultimate chance for him to get his engine back to full speed again.
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