Tue 23 August 2022, 12:00
Tottenham HotspurBen Davies is a vital cog in a defensive unit that knows the importance of clean sheets in the Premier League - illustrated again as we toppled Wolves on Saturday.
The first half was a test as the men from Molineux performed well at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The key in those circumstances is not to concede, and Ben and our defensive collective ensured that the only goal of the game in the second half - Harry Kane’s header on 64 minutes - was enough to take maximum points.
Our first clean sheet of the 2022/23 campaign means we’ve now kept nine in our last 17 matches in the Premier League. A run of 10 wins in our final 14 games took us to fourth place last term and secured a return to Champions League football. We conceded eight goals in those 14 matches, now 11 in 17.
It’s not easy, we work hard, but we work as a proper unit and the results show when you get clean sheets
“That’s our mindset, if you feel like things aren’t going well, the important thing is to stay in the game and keep the ball out of the net,” explained Ben, now up to 274 appearances for us in all competitions. “That’s what we did, and with the quality we have up front, we always feel confident we’ll get a goal in a game. If we do our job, usually they’ll do theirs!
“We’ve got a great bunch of boys here (defensively), we all help each other out, we’re all working on the training pitch together and it’s not easy, we work hard, but we work as a proper unit and the results show when you get clean sheets. That’s a satisfying day for us.
“It was tough against Wolves, they caused us a few problems, but in the second half we were much better, and, in the end, I think we deserved to win.
“It's about trying to get on a run, trying to build momentum and pick up as many points as we can early in the season. It’s a season where every point will be valuable. Last season showed that and it’s important we kick on again from here.”
Harry’s goal took him to 250 for the Club, and 185 in the Premier League, moving ahead of Sergio Aguero into fourth on the league’s all-time list. Having joined us in the summer of 2014, Ben was here for Harry’s breakthrough season in 2014/15 and has seen all-but five of Harry’s 250 for the Club.
He added: “It’s crazy, an unbelievable record and I’m sure he’ll continue for a very long time. It doesn’t look like he’s slowing down any time soon. To have someone as professional as him leading the line, with the quality he has, not just the goals, but his all-round game, he’s a pleasure to play alongside. His movement is so quick, and he reads the game so well. He’s so clever. He makes a goal like that (against Wolves) look easy but there is a big skill behind it.”
