Tottenham respond to Antonio Conte’s criticism with a helping hand from dismal Leeds

Tottenham offered a compelling response to Antonio Conte’s midweek fury with a 4-0 thrashing of Leeds at Elland Road, although a resounding victory owed plenty to Marcelo Bielsa's side, who were plunged into further crisis.

There was always a sense that Leeds could be the perfect for opponents for Conte’s stuttering team, fresh from their own chastening experience in the week – a 6-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Tottenham began the afternoon with a negative goal difference and reeling from Conte's reaction to the 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor on Wednesday, when their biggest problem was an inability to create or fashion space in the final third against a well-drilled Clarets side.

By contrast, Leeds are the Premier League’s great entertainers and their gung-ho, man-to-man approach was always likely to leave Spurs acres of room to exploit.

Leeds had lost all eight previous matches against the so-called “big six” by an aggregate score of 7-34, and, for all their struggles in attack, Spurs could be confident of making chances.

It did not take long for that theory to prove correct as they took the lead with a fine goal after 10 minutes.

Harry Winks’ pass set Ryan Sessegnon free down the left flank and his first-time cross was thumped into the roof of the net by opposite wing-back Matt Doherty, for his first Spurs goal. It was a move in Conte’s image, but also owing plenty to the weaknesses in Bielsa’s side.

If Leeds were sloppy for the first goal, they were dreadful for the second. Dejan Kulusevski appeared trapped by the corner flag but played his way out with a one-two with Doherty, ghosted through a pathetic challenge by Diego Llorente, and thumped home a fierce shot at the near post.

Llorente was also caught out for Spurs’ third goal