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The atmosphere surrounding Tottenham Hotspur has shifted dramatically over the past fortnight. On April 25, with Spurs drawing against Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United leading Everton, it seemed they might end the day four points adrift of safety. Adding to the gloom, Xavi Simons suffered a season-ending injury, leaving many somber faces among the traveling fans at Molineux as they contemplated a potential Championship campaign next year.
Joao Palhinha’s scrappy strike in the 82nd minute secured Spurs’ first Premier League victory since December, followed by an impressive 2-1 win over Aston Villa. West Ham’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford allowed Tottenham to climb out of the relegation zone, and with three games left in this miserable season, their fate is back in their own hands.
Tottenham’s away points tally of 26 is surpassed only by league leaders Arsenal (35) and second-placed Manchester City (32). However, their sole remaining away match is at Chelsea, where they have won just once in the last 36 years—suggesting they shouldn’t pin hopes on adding three more away points.
Tottenham’s players during their most recent home defeat, to Nottingham Forest (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Spurs host Leeds United on Monday evening before welcoming Everton on the final day. But there’s a major hurdle: they have won only two home league games all season.
The most recent home victory came way back on December 6, when Richarlison and Xavi Simons scored in a comfortable win over Brentford. That also marked the last time they kept a Premier League clean sheet in front of their own fans.
Following Burnley’s draw with Aston Villa on Sunday, Spurs now hold the worst home record in the division this season. They have lost 10 times, conceded 30 goals, and amassed just 11 points at home.
To ensure Premier League survival, that must change.
Tottenham’s home form was also disappointing under Ange Postecoglou last season, though not as disastrous. They collected 21 points from 19 games, level with Wolves and slightly better than West Ham (20). The three worst home teams that season were all relegated.
Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Spurs have the worst home record among ever-present top-flight sides. They have won fewer games than Wolves and conceded the same number of goals.
Spurs average a paltry 0.89 points per Premier League home game over that period. Unsurprisingly, the fanbase—paying some of the league’s highest ticket prices—has frequently lost patience with the team and ownership over the past year.
“There is a lot of literature and data out there on home advantage, but certain clubs struggle with the expectations of the fans versus the reality of where the team is,” says Dan Abrahams, a sport psychologist who has worked with teams and athletes globally. “Players think, ‘If I make one mistake, the crowd are going to get on my back.’ It is anxiety-inducing, which can impact awareness, anticipation, decision-making, physical functioning, and technical coordination. It makes good players look poor. There have been examples this season of players experiencing extreme performance anxiety probably for the first time in their careers.”
It’s an issue they need to address, even if head coach Roberto De Zerbi doesn’t sound overly concerned. “It’s not my problem now,” the Italian said when asked about the club’s home struggles ahead of Monday’s match against Leeds. “Now, I don’t want to lose energy. We have to be good, smart, to keep this mentality, to keep this momentum, with the same qualities we showed in this last period. Then we go t…”
