Sky pundit criticises Yves Bissouma after yellow card in Tottenham win

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Andy Hinchcliffe has told Sky Sports (broadcast on 8/10; 18:02) that he cannot understand why Yves Bissouma made the first-half challenge that saw the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder booked against Brighton on Saturday.

Bissouma was handed a golden opportunity at the Amex Stadium. Antonio Conte made the decision to switch to a midfield three after two disappointing performances before the trip to the south coast.

The Mali international has had to bide his time since his move from the Seagulls in the summer. Saturday marked only his second league start of the season.

Bissouma criticised after yellow card

It proved to be a successful occasion for Tottenham. Harry Kane scored the only goal as Spurs maintained their spot as the top two’s closest challengers in the Premier League.

It was however, not the best showing from Bissouma. And he picked up a needless yellow during the first-half. The Spurs midfielder put in a robust challenge on Alexis Mac Allister some distance from his own goal.

It was late. And Mac Allister had sent the ball out wide. So it was a real mistake from the 26-year-old. Certainly, Hinchcliffe felt that it was a baffling error from Bissouma.

“Well, it’s a completely unnecessary challenge from Bissouma because he’s never, ever getting to the ball,” he told Sky Sports. “He’s always going to be yellow carded for this. Painful one. Why he’s flying in at that point, there’s no real danger.

“He’s going across the pitch. Mac Allister’s not looking to play a killer forward ball. Why on earth are you launching yourself into the challenge here? Just stay away. You’re a combative player, you don’t need to get yourself booked for a challenge like that.”

Bissouma faces a tough task at Tottenham. Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have formed a really impressive partnership over the last nine months.

Conte is going to rotate his ranks at times. Spurs are in four competitions. And it is a packed schedule ahead of the club.

So Bissouma is going to get his chances. But it is probably fair to say that, for a few reasons, he is yet to really get going since arriving at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.