Tottenham Women post prolific start in WSL

Tottenham Hotspur women’s side opened the 2026-27 Barclays Women’s Super League with a pace that placed them among the early leaders, according to match data compiled by Opta.

Early season surge fuels optimism

Second-year manager Martin Ho guided the squad through five fixtures, during which the team’s goal tally rose from seven last season to 16 this campaign.

The increase represents more than a doubling of scoring output, a shift that analysts did not anticipate for a side previously considered mid-table.

In the opening match against Crystal Palace, the side recorded 42 attempts on goal, a figure inflated by the opponent’s reduction to ten players after the seventh minute.

Four days later, against Aston Villa, the team added 35 shots, bringing the two-game total to 77 attempts.

These numbers illustrate not only volume but also consistency, as the club maintained high-pressing actions across consecutive games.

One attacking sequence against Aston Villa involved 14 passes before the final strike, showing that the approach is not solely about directness.

Statistical review highlighted sustained pressure, with frequent entries into the opponent’s penalty area and purposeful forward movement.

Expected goals (xG) reached 14.1, while the side created 20 clear-cut opportunities, ranking among the league’s leaders in both categories.

Shots on target averaged 7.4 per match, placing the team second overall for accuracy.

Key contributors in attack

Dutch international Victoria Pelova emerged as the primary finisher, netting five goals and adding an assist in her first five appearances.

Pelova also logged 24 touches inside opposition boxes, outperforming her personal xG of 1.48, indicating efficiency beyond statistical expectation.

Danish forward Olivia Holdt recorded a hat-trick versus Crystal Palace, leading the club in total shots, shots on target, and big-chance creation since Ho’s tenure began.

Holdt’s contributions extend to the highest number of touches in the penalty area, reinforcing her role as a focal point.

Norwegian midfielder Signe Gaupset set a league record by producing eight open-play chances in a single match, the youngest player to achieve that feat.

Her creativity helped the side generate 29 chances overall under the current system.

Setback against London City Lionesses

The match on October 4 saw the club fall 2-1 to the Lionesses, exposing defensive frailties despite continued attacking pressure.

London City generated an xG of 5.99, while the side managed 2.41, reflecting a disparity in shot quality.

Total attempts were similar—18 for the club versus 21 for the opposition—but only two of those shots were on target compared with ten from the Lionesses.

Coach Ho emphasized the need for quicker reactions to first and second balls, noting that decision-making fell short of expectations.

“Against those types of players, if you don’t respond quickly enough and when she’s in those positions, she scores often,” Ho said after the game.

He also pointed to the physicality, acknowledging that the opponent was stronger in individual battles throughout the contest.

The next fixtures pit the club against league heavyweights Chelsea and Arsenal, two of the traditional top-four sides.