James Maddison hopes first Tottenham goal since March 'shuts up a ...
James Maddison hopes his first goal since March “shuts up a few people” after scoring Tottenham Hotspur’s third in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Brentford.
The 27-year-old began the 2024-25 campaign with an assist in each of Tottenham’s opening two Premier League fixtures, but had been without a goal since the 4-0 victory over Aston Villa on March 10.
Maddison added the crucial third in the 85th minute of Saturday’s win, dinking the ball over Mark Flekken after being found by Son Heung-min. The goal was just his second in the Premier League since returning to action in January after over two months out with an ankle injury.
Happy with his personal form, he said he had to take any questions over the numbers he was posting “with a pinch of salt”.
“It helped us in the game because we got that little cushion,” Maddison told the PA news agency. “It kind of shuts up a few people in the background who think the goals and assists do matter more than what they probably do.
“For some games you have it where I feel like I play really well in the build-up and help the team progress but you don’t get a goal or assist to show for that.
“And then people start questioning the numbers, so sometimes you have to take the outside noise with a pinch of salt.”
Dominik Solanke also scored his first goal of the season during Saturday’s win as he levelled the scores after eight minutes, cancelling out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener.
Solanke, who became the club’s record signing this summer following his £65million move from Bournemouth, was quickest to react after Maddison’s effort was saved by Flekken.
“Dom worked his socks off,” Ange Postecoglou said. “He was gone at the end. He is still getting back to match fitness (after his early-season ankle injury), but I know he is going to provide so much for us in that central position. All strikers love goals, so it will be a great moment for him, especially at home.”
Spurs return to action on Thursday against Qarabag FK in the Europa League.
GO DEEPER
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(Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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Ali Rampling is a News Editor at The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic, she worked as the Women's Football Editor at 90min. Ali attended Loughborough University, and originates from Ipswich. Follow Ali on Twitter @AliRampling
