Martin Ho got his career as Spurs head coach off to a winning start on Sunday afternoon with a 1-0 victory over West Ham.
In a tight match that swayed uneasily back and forth, it was Tottenham Hotspur who stole victory with a late penalty converted by skipper Beth England. Ho who is managing as a head coach in the WSL for the first time this season and he spoke to media following the victory.
The Halfway Line was present to hear from the former SK Brann head coach.
Ho lauds England impact ‘big moments are for big players’
For all the positive changes that Ho seems to have implemented, it was the old reliable routine that won victory for Spurs in the end. Their top scorer last season Beth England had done it again.
“Big moments are for big players” Ho asserted.
“And I think Ev [Eveliina Summanen] done exceptionally well to get into that position to win the penalty and then {the] calmness at what 87 or 88 minutes [in to] just put the ball in the corner, really good.”
Ho spoke on what his side had done well in defensive areas too.
“I thought they defended the box really well, the whole team” Ho said.
“And there’s some really big blocks, some big moments, some big saves in there, from both sides but I think we defended our box really well.”
Ho provides injury updates on Bartrip, Neville and Vinberg
Three names were missing from the team sheet for Spurs that were regulars last year. Vice-captain Molly Bartrip, Ashleigh Neville and popular winger Matilda Vinberg. Ho told The Halfway Line why the trio missed out.
“Matilda [Vinberg] just missed out with a little bit of a knock” Ho explained.
“Ash [Ashleigh Neville] has missed out with a little bit of a knock again. And Molly [Bartrip] will be a little bit longer, maybe a couple more weeks.
“So we are there just Ash and Matilda a little bit touch and go if they go to play or not [next week against Everton]. And we’ve actually got a good squad, so you don’t really want to rush plays in so early when we don’t need to.
“Molly’s had a little bit more of a difficult one and that’ll be a little bit longer but yeah we’ve got a wonderful team, a wonderful squad.”
‘In terms of belief, they were a shadow of themselves’ Ho on Spurs when he arrived
Tottenham endured a miserable end to last season. A 3-2 victory at Brisbane Road in the final minutes was their last win in the league before today, that match was in January.
Martin Ho was asked about what it felt like to end that streak.
“If you haven’t had a win in nine months, and then you get a win, I can see the players when they’re speaking to one another. ‘We’ve missed this feeling. We want this feeling more’ Ho told us.
“And of course, everyone does. And you know how much it means, they were completely [at] rock bottom. I’m going to be honest in terms of confidence, belief, they were shadows of themselves, and seeing them today now is a totally different team.
“In terms of the confidence, the belief, the energy, the enthusiasm, it’s totally different. But more importantly, we have to stay grounded.”
‘I can’t even speak to my own players’ Ho on yellow card
In the second half at Brisbane Road the Spurs head coach went into the referee’s notebook and received a yellow card. That sparked speculation in the crowd with few understanding why he received the card.
“I pointed to my own player, and I said to Cathinka [Tandberg] to continue to get the ball” Ho explained, “And she [referee Phoebe Cross] said, ‘Oh, you put your arms in the air’ To my own player?” Ho exclaimed with levity in his voice.
“Yeah, I can’t even speak to my own players!” Ho turned away from a more playful angle and became more serious.
“I respect the referees, the referees are good. I thought she was outstanding today, and other rules that they feel, even towards my own players and so on, I can’t raise my arm and that’s fine. I get that. “
