Tottenham Hotspur

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: BORO 1, SPURS 1



Darren Bent scored his first goal since August but a former Spur ensured it did not turn out out to be a winning strike at the Riverside.


Three changes were made from the team that defeated Blackpool on Wednesday, with Kevin Prince Boateng drafted into midfield in place of Didier Zokora, while the Partnership of Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe took over from Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov.

Five minutes in we could well have fallen behind as Tuncay took everyone by surprise by keeping the ball in on the right flank, before Gary O'Neil took advantage and was able to drill over a low cross that just needed Stewart Downing to slide in and apply the finish. Thankfully his slide was a little late and the ball had already fizzed past.

Fabio Rochemback was not to far away from 20 yards as we approached the 20 minute point, a period of time that saw the home side in charge and untroubled defensively. There was half an opening when Defoe spun in the area and picked out Bent, but Chris Riggott was alert to the danger before the striker could pounce.

It was Steed Malbranque who really turned the tide in the 35th minute with a challenge on Luke Young that set Bent speeding away down the left channel. The powerful front man deceived his marker Riggott on the edge of the area before driving a low shot past the despairing dive of Mark Schwarzer to his near post.

It was a goal against the overall run of play, but Bent will care little as it represented his third competitive goal since joining and only his second in the Premier League this term - the other coming against Derby in our third game of the season.

Belief appeared to be spreading throughout the side and ambition was increasing. Bent could have bagged another after game play from Defoe in carving out a cross from inside the area under considerable pressure. Counter attacking also began to look like yielding profit.

Boro displayed a renewed vigour in the minutes after the interval and, from a Rochemback free-kick, David Wheater's flicked header forced a smart tip around the post from Paul Robinson.

The home fans did not have to wait too long to celebrate a leveller and it came from the unlikely source of Luke Young, the full-back advancing onto a headed clearance and smashing the ball past Robinson and into the top corner from 20-plus yards in the 52nd minute.

The Head Coach opted to change his strikeforce in the 58th minute in a bid to enliven a team that was showing a degree a panic in its play. Minutes later Zokora took over from Boateng as the initiative was being eased back.

Nothing clear cut was being created by either side and it could not be claimed that this was an encounter of huge quality. Gareth Southgate introduced Dong Gook Lee and George Boateng for the final 13 minutes.

Berbatov shot over the bar before Jermaine Jenas brilliantly swerved his marker and accelerated into the area before dispatching a cross-goal pass that proved a little too deceptive for both defenders and attackers.

We pressed for that valuable winner as the clocked ticked into three minutes added time, but a couple of scrambles at either end came to nothing and both sides had to settle for a point.

[100%cypriot]

Just got back from the game , we were terrible AGAIN , could be fighting for our premiership lives , maybe we need to go down to get rid of levy and the other pricks who are determined to destroy this club

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: HAPOEL TA 0, SPURS 2


Robbie Keane made it 25 goals in 33 games when he set us on the way to UEFA Cup victory against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Thursday evening


Robbie's strike, coupled with another from his strike partner Dimitar Berbatov, was enough to record our first win of the UEFA Cup Group Stage, as well as it being a first victory on our travels this season.

Juande Ramos made four changes to the team that started up at Middlesbrough on Saturday, restoring the strike partnership of Keane and Berbatov and also Didier Zokora to the central midfield axis with Jermaine Jenas. Pascal Chimbonda was switched to centre half, with Paul Stalteri drafted in at right back.

It was a sultry evening, weather-wise, at the compact Bloomfield Stadium, with the home team decked out in all red and supported vocally by a sizeable pocket of fans behind the goal protected by Vincent Enyeama in the first half. It was colourful and atmospheric and you imagine that a Tel Aviv derby must be quite an event.

The first attempt on goal came when Bebars Natcho dragged an effort wide of the upright in the eighth minute. The game was not quick to get going and both teams were struggling to establish a foothold or to dominate territorially.

It carried on in much the same fashion until the first decisive move was made in the 26th minute when Keane sent Steed Malbranque scurrying down the left of the Hapoel penalty area and the Frenchman did well to bundle his way through and deliver a cross back into the path of Keane, who smacked the ball home with precision from around penalty spot distance.

The advantage was doubled just four minutes later, the first phase of play being an Aaron Lennon centre that led to a Berbatov shot being blocked in front of goal. The ball found its way out to the left and Malbranque again turned provider with a cross that was calmly nodded into the net past Enyeama by Berbatov.

Keane could have helped himself to a double seven minutes before the break, only denied by a desperate late block by Gabriel Do Santos. Hapoel were rattled and their noisy pocket sat down and went quiet. Chimbonda then headed narrowly over from a Jenas free-kick.

The battling spirit of the home side evaporated as half-time was reached, but they nearly enjoyed a slice of fortune at the beginning of the second period when Bakukh Dego mishit a cross and the flight of it came close to deceiving Paul Robinson and causing a few problems.

Hopes of mounting a comeback were dented five minutes into the half when Gal Shish was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Lennon, having earned the first for an offence against the same player in the first half.

Lennon, moments later, chipped a crossfield pass into the area occupied by Malbranque, who flashed a shot across goal. It was his final contribution to the game as he was subsequently replaced by Jermain Defoe.

The contest again became very disjointed before being sparked by a neat combination between Jenas and Keane that led to the latter drilling just wide. A double change was next with Darren Bent and Kevin-Prince Boateng being introduced to the mix - Jenas and Keane being withdrawn.

The swaps enlivened proceedings, but the game was won and urgency was not an ingredient particularly in evidence.

Robinson had to be alert to save at the feet of Fabio Junior Pereira and we finished the stronger with Bent closest toa third, his effort coming back off the upright after being threaded through by Defoe. All in all, job done.

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: SPURS 4, WIGAN 0


Jermaine Jenas marked a new arrival with a return to his goalscoring habit against Wigan Athletic on Sunday afternoon.

The speedy midfielder netted two first half goals, added to by Aaron Lennon before the break and Darren Bent afterwards as three Premiership points were banked for the first time since the visit of Derby County to this arena back in August.

Lennon's curling shot after a Keane-Berbatov combination just failed to result in a shooting chance in the opening stages, before a period of slick interchange had the Wigan defence marking shadows and only a couple of fortunate deflections prevented likely profit.

It took until only the 13th minute for the deadlock to be broken and it was Keane who brilliantly skipped past Andreas Granqvist on the left before dispatching a low centre that evaded Chris Kirkland and was prodded home by Jenas. Cue the baby rocking celebration, since the goalscorer last week became father to a baby girl.

A long ball from Michael Dawson was then nodded into the path of Keane by Berbatov, but the leading scorer has not quite found his range at that point. Dawson was later not too far wide with a big flick on from a Jenas corner.

JJ doubled the advantage with the clock showing 25 minutes. Berbatov superb threaded throughball was left by the offside Keane and the midfielder sped onto the pass, rounded Kirkland and applied a finishing touch in front of goal. It was goal No.3 of the season for the athletic middleman. Fatherhood clearly suits.

Berbatov was the class act of the half and none more so then when he plucked Paul Robinson's long clearance out of the air in the Wigan area and calmly laid the ball back into the path of Lennon. Not known for trying his luck from distance, the winger took a touch before steering firmly past Kirkland from around 20 yards.

The spark was well and truly back in the side, they were hunting in packs, defending in numbers, while the football was slick and efficient. Wigan, by contrast, looked all at sea.

Just before the break Jenas should have completed his hat-trick. Brilliant approach play from Berbatov and Lennon set him off and running into the area before beating a couple of defenders and looking like the easy bit was to come. The net did rattle, but it was the side netting.

It remained one-way traffic at the beginning of the second half, one which saw an early entry for Teemu Tainio as a replacement for the injured Malbranque.

Wigan attempted to rally but were being consistently picked off by the poise of Berbatov, the pace of Lennon and the waspish attentions of Keane. To try and address the balance, caretaker boss Frank Barlow introduced the tenacious Michael Brown.

Jenas then thought he had his third with a superb lift over Kirkland from Keane's supply line, but was offside along with Berbatov. Shortly after the applause were huge when Keane made was for Darren Bent.

Lennon forced Kirkland into a stooping low save after a darting run, but we didn't have to wait too much longer for the score to be added to. Berbatov again was in creative mode, picking out the run of Jenas who, in turn, located Bent on the run. The sub took the ball to the right of the area before firing across Kirkland and in off the post. Bent later went for power and was too far adrift when Berbatov once more set up a chance.

It was that sort of afternoon, you even suspected Didier Zokora might just get in on the scoring act and he nearly did - his surging run and shot forcing a fine save out of Kirkland. Berbatov next hit the underside of the bar and Younes Kaboul did likewise with the follow-up in a game that saw confidence restored to the mindset of seemingly each and every player

[100%cypriot]

Back to the old spurs , lets get onto the next level and surprise everyone

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: WEST HAM 1, SPURS 1


Jermain Defoe was denied a dramatic late winner at his former club by Robert Green as Sunday's derby ended in a draw at Upton Park.


On for the last 12 minutes, the striker won a penalty in injury time as he was felled by Lucas Neill in the box.

JD picked himself up, placed the ball down on the spot and struck firmly towards the bottom corner only for Green to guess the right way and save diving to his left.

A game that had once again swung this way and that boiled up to another thrilling finale as Paul Robinson denied Scott Parker and Dean Ashton at full stretch, Jermain Jenas cleared off the line and then Defoe's late, late penalty all took place inside the last seven minutes.

Juande Ramos made one change to the team that began the rout of Wigan two weeks ago, with Gareth Bale restored to the side in place of Lee Young-Pyo. It came close to being an instant continuation of the form shown against the Latics, with Aaron Lennon having a goal ruled out for offside in under five minutes.

Jermaine Jenas took aim and fired in from outside the area, Robert Green parried away and Lennon slotted, but it was an early flag and there were no premature celebrations. Berbatov then claimed penalty when he appeared to be tripped by Matthew Upson, with referee Mr Riley leaving it a second before motioning his arms to 'play on' position.

It was a positive beginning, the team were straight on the offensive and, given the line-up, it was probably the best approach. There were clearly no negative thoughts when it came to team selection. A Jenas free-kick caused a degree of confusion and it took the shins of George McCartney to deny Pascal Chimbdonda in front of goal.

Out of nothing West Ham got the lead in the 20th minute. Younes Kaboul looked set to start a move from the back, but was closed down by Louis Boa Morte and, via a neat low centre from Nolberto Solano, Carlton Cole was able to tap into an empty net. It was a costly mistake and the home side had an advantage their performance up to this point did not merit.

After this it could have been two when Cole and Boa Morte carved us open down the right and Paul Robinson produced an excellent block from the latter. The error appeared to create some defensive uncertainty and a little of the zest went out of the attacking sorties.

Mistakes crept into the play of both teams as the clock ticked towards the break, although neither goalkeeper was particularly active until a bemusing incident on 40 minutes. A floated ball over the top caught out the Hammers' last line and Keane was through and in the act of by-passing Robert Green was felled by the goalkeeper and we waited for Mr Riley to point to the spot and in all probability show a red card to Green.

The official did neither...

Steed Malbranque had a gift of a chance to level shortly after half-time following a surging run from Jenas that had the West Ham rearguard peeling away. He prodded through to the Frenchman, who hit first time and wide - his blushed spared by the linesman's flag. Berbatov should then have supplied the advancing and unmarked Keane and Lennon, but opted to go alone and was foiled.

Darren Bent was introduced for Kaboul, leading to a reshuffle that resulted in Dawson, Zokora and Chimbonda forming a three-man defence, with Lennon and Bale patrolling the flanks and Malbranque moving in-field.

It took a little while for people to adjust to their new responsibilities, but Lennon was quickly zipped to the attacking end of his watch and provided a low centre that if Keane had struck first time we would probably have been celebrating parity.

We did not have to have wait much longer for that particular joy - the 67th minute and a set piece executed by Jenas was latched onto by Michael Dawson and his flick of the head was enough to deceive the on-rushing Green and the ball landed in the net at the end occupied by the Spurs travelling thousands.

Malbranque was soon stinging the hands of Green with a piledriver after a lung-busting dash by Bale down the left - both elements of the move deserved greater reward. Cole then drilled wide and drew gasps at the other end.

As the match reached a climax, Robinson produced identical saves to deny Scott Parker and then substitute Dean Ashton before Jenas stooped to head clear as Upson's header angled towards the far corner.

It all led to what should have been Defoe's moment and three points - but Green had the final word and it was honours even.

[Crash Test Dummy]

our club is such a joke its unreal.

[100%cypriot]

why do you say that ? our support yesterday was excellent as usual , thing's can only get better , cant get any worse

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: SPURS 3, AALBORG 2



It didn't quite go according to the preferred script, but a second win of the UEFA Cup Group Stage was recorded by beating Aalborg 3-2 on Thursday night.

It really wasn't going to plan at half-time when the team trooped in two goals down and a little shell-shocked before a couple of changes at the break galvanised affairs and we were back level six minutes into the second period.

The party was then over for Aalborg and their vocal band of followers.

There was one change to the side that began proceedings at West Ham on Sunday - Lee Young-Pyo drafted in for the injured Younes Kaboul, with Pascal Chimbonda making the switch to central defence.

With under two minutes on the clock a tale of the unexpected unfolded when Thomas Enevoldsen scambered forward towards the 18 yard line and then tried his luck from outside the area and the flight of his shot beat Paul Robinson and 1,300 Danes started an unlikely celebration.

Their side responded by maintaining the momentum and zipping the ball about with considerable conviction. It wasn't until the 14th minute and a brilliant darting run from Jermaine Jenas that a threat from our attacking sorties emerged.

Aalborg claimed a penalty midway through the half when Rade Prica went down in a tumble with Lee, but the claim was dubious and replays showed the forward to be offside anyway.

Pressure was being applied in the direction of the Park Lane end, but goalkeeper Karim Zaza was not being tested as moves broke down at the final ball.

Punishment for this was dished out in the 37th minute when a low cross cum shot from Prica was bundled into the back of the net by Kasper Risgard, despite the attentions of two defenders. It was time to regroup and make a battle of this tie.

Jenas was just beaten to the ball by Zaza after being cleverly set through on goal by Robbie Keane before a Gareth Bale free-kick caused a degree of panic in the visiting defences.

Juande Ramos reacted to the deficit at half-time by replacing Jenas with Tom Huddlestone and Lee with Darren Bent. The change paid almost instant dividends when a low Huddlestone ball literally dissected the defence, allowing Berbatov to steer past Zaza and half the Aalborg advantage.

Huddlestone set the ball rolling again in the 51st minute when he picked out Lennon who in turn sent Berbatov gliding away down the right flank. Berbatov centred and Bent was denied by a brave block from Zaza, with the ball running loose and for Keane to tee up Steed Malbranque to drive high into the net to make it level pegging.

A cranking up of the pressure followed with no further reward before Enevoldsen wa about a foot away from netting a second from a similar distance as his first just after the hour mark.

On 66 minutes the lead taken after a Bale free-kick was parried away by Zaza and Lennon was quickest to react by drilling back across goal. Bent was on hand to tap home at the far post and from two goals down, an advantage was created.

A fourth was sought in front of a gate of 29,758, with varying degrees of closeness, the best being Lennon's that forced a superb stop from Zaza in injury time, then Malbranque scooping wide at the death - until the whistle sounded on a night of contrasts. Something along the lines of that old saying about two halves...

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: SPURS V BIRMINGHAM



It turned out to be an afternoon of conflicting emotions for Robbie Keane at the Lane, his two goals against Birmingham turning the contest on its head before a red card cut short his contribution and allowed the visitors to grab the initiative with a late winner.


Keane struck twice - once from the spot - to overturn a first half deficit and it appeared that three points would be making a happy deposit in our account. However, Birmingham struck again out of the Blue and then the skipper was given his marching orders following a decision that is likely to be debated for a little while yet. Sebastian Larsson had the last and dramatic say in the encounter.

Younes Kaboul and Darren Bent were restored to the side in place of Lee Young-Pyo and the injured Jermaine Jenas. It was certainly an attacking hand played by Juande Ramos, with Robbie Keane and Steed Malbranque occupying a central midfield anchored by Didier Zokora.

Dimitar Berbatov was first to cause concern to the Birmingham bench of newly appointed manager Alex McLeish and his assistant Jim Aitken when he seized on defensive uncertainty and worked Maik Taylor for the first time of the afternoon. Keane should then have worked him further after Bent slotted him through on goal, but his effort was slashed high and wide.

It was a lively affair though under lights in the late afternoon winter darkness and drizzling rain. You knew we are now well into the winter programme when news of the FA Cup Third Round draw filtered through - Reading to visit the Lane in early January.

There was a blast from the past working with a Belgian TV crew on the Press Box, one Nico Clausen, no doubt gathering preview material for our UEFA Cup clash with Anderlecht on Thursday. Watch this space for Nico's thoughts.

Berbatov and Keane combined to create half a chance through the Bulgarian's header before the same player dispatched a superb cutting throughball for Bent to pounce on. Bent went for it first time and the legs of Taylor were enough to divert wide.

Completely against the run of play, Gary McSheffrey darted into the area and Kaboul came across to deal, but ended up making more contact with the man than the ball and referee Mr Dowd instantly pointed to the spot. McSheffrey did the honours himself and drove down the middle to make it 1-0 to Birmingham on 23 minutes.

The pressure continued to head in one direction only, with Lennon posing the biggest threat, but Taylor really had to be at his best to keep out a Gareth Bale free-kick that was arrowing into the top corner in the 36th minute. There was some resolute defending in front of goal by the visitors, who managed to slide in and apply a block to just about every low cross in the first period.

Like on Thursday it was the whistle for the beginning of the second half that proved the spark. Zokora sped forward and linked up with Berbatov, who was felled in the area by Johan Djourou. Again Mr Dowd showed no hesitation in pointing spot-wards. Despite a delay due to Pascal Chimbonda receiving treatment, Keane stayed cool and hit his penalty high into the net.

There were changes again at the resumption of play after the interval, Tom Huddlestone being drafted in along with Jermain Defoe in place of Kaboul and Bent.

The introduction of Huddlestone once more paid dividends when a delicious chip into the area was gobbled up by Keane, who hit his shot downwards and the bounce of the ball beat Taylor and it was 2-1 with 53 minutes on the clock. It should then have been three when Berbatov hit the post rather than the back of the net after a stray defensive header fell to him in front of goal.

The crowd of 35,635, bar 700 in the top corner, were stunned into silence just after the hour when Cameron Jerome ventured forward and escaped Zokora before pinging in a low shot between two defenders and beyond the reach of Paul Robinson's outstretched left hand to make it an unlikely 2-2.

Berbatov peeled away to connect with a Bale corner a few minutes later and it took Stephen Kelly to chest away off the line.

There was a twist in the tale on 67 minutes when Keane challenged Fabrice Muamba and Mr Dowd showed the skipper a red card. Replays showed there was contact, but no way did it look a sending off offence and Keane looked suitably bemused as he was leaving the field.

Bale then had to be withdrawn following a hefty challenge from Muamba and, with Lee now on the pitch, it was a case of seeing whether the ten men could net the three points.

It was Birmingham who came closest to winning the day with two minutes left on the clock when Mikael Forssell grazed the bar from all of a few yards out when he connected with a low Olivier Kapo delivery. Kapo went on to test Robinson with a fierce drive before, in stoppage time, Larsson picked up the ball some thirty yards out and fizzed the ball past Robinson and into the top corner.

If you needed a game to sum up the phrase 'smash and grab' then this was it.

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: ANDERLECHT 1, SPURS 1


Dimitar Berbatov provided the cool head needed to book our place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup with the penalty to secure a 1-1 draw at Anderlecht on Thursday night.


On as a second half substitute, Berba calmy slotted home the spot kick won by Jermaine Jenas as keeper Daniel Zitka dived the other way in the 71st minute. The point means we'll finish second place at worst in Group H with the final round of matches to follow on December 19.

It was just what the doctor ordered on a rain-soaked night in Belgium as the home side took the lead two minutes earlier, Bart Goor slotting home from 16 yards.

There were a couple of changes to the starting line-up from the team that took on Birmingham on Sunday, with Lee Young-Pyo drafted in for the injured Gareth Bale and Tom Huddlestone taking the place of Younes Kaboul. It was naturally not a straight swap as it was Didier Zokora who took up position at centre half.

Darren Bent retained his place in the side, this time in a two-pronged attack alongside Robbie Keane - featuring in his final game before serving a three-match suspension.

There was not a huge amount of meaningful activity in the opening 15 minutes as the teams sized each other up, as well as attempting to get used to the new UEFA ball - which seemed to fly around a bit.

Mbo Mpenza nearly stole a march on Lee midway through the half, but his touch was heavy and Paul Robinson was able to advance and collect before Jermaine Jenas issued Daniel Zitka with his first assignment of the game with a low drive that the goalkeeper foiled.

Robinson denied Roland Jahasz with a similar smother at the other end ten minutes before the break as Anderlecht increased the intensity slightly, although it was Jermaine Jenas who received the first caution of the evening after 41 minutes.

The home side did manage to rouse their supporters just ahead of half-time when Martin Wasilewski forced Robinson into action and Nicolas Frutos looked set to profit from the rebound but failed to capitalise and shot wide.

In truth, it was a poor half in which both sides displayed little creativity or, apart from late on, looked like altering the scoreboard.

Keane did test Zitka in the opening moments of the second half and Pascal Chimbonda seized on the loose ball but could not break the deadlock. Robinson then ensured parity remained with a smart block to deny the rampaging threat of Frutos, who made a powerful run into the area. An Mpenza surge followed and this time it was an excellent challenge from Zokora that quelled the potential danger.

Berbatov entered the stage in the 58th minute, taking the place of Keane, and it was the Bulgarian who stepped up to take charge of a free-kick 66 minutes in after the felling of Steed Malbranque. Zitko, however, was equal to the challenge.

Just two minutes later though, Anderlecht snatched the lead when an Mpenza cross from the right was not dealt with by Michael Dawson or Jenas and Bart Goor was able to steer past Robinson.

A quick response was called for and we didn't have to wait too long - just a couple of minutes. Jenas was bought down in the area and the referee pointed spot-wards to the despair of the home support and Berbatov, cool as you like, slotted his penalty past Zitka.

Jermain Defoe came on for Bent but it was Robinson who made the next significant contribution with a superb stop to deny the substitute Cyril Thereau.

Typically sharp off the bench, JD then tested Zitka twice, the home keeper producing a smart save to tip the second effort over.

That was just about that - our last moment of concern as a corner bobbled around - and the whistle signalled further progress in the competition. The only worrying note Young-Pyo Lee's departure on a stretcher after a clash of heads.

[100%cypriot]

Had A good trip to brusels the people were quite nice and the police stood well away from us , the game was a bit poor but the trip was well worth going to , we are on a EUROPEAN TOUR

[100%cypriot]

Super-sub Defoe lifts Spurs Spurs 2 - 1 Man City



Super-sub Jermain Defoe stepped off the bench to secure a vital three points for Tottenham and continue Manchester City's away-day blues.



The England international was on hand to drill home the rebound after Steed Malbranque's curling cross-shot had hit the base of the post seven minutes from time.


City had been reduced to 10 men just seconds earlier with Stephen Ireland shown a straight red card for a late two-footed lunge on Lee Young-pyo, and the visitors never fully cleared their lines from the resulting free-kick.


It had looked as though it would be Sven-Goran Eriksson celebrating an inspired change after Rolando Bianchi had headed City level in the 61st minute, powering home Martin Petrov's corner just minutes after coming on.


Pascal Chimbonda had given Spurs the lead in controversial circumstances seconds before the interval, deflecting Dimitar Berbatov's cheeky flick from Jermaine Jenas' low free-kick beyond Andreas Isaksson with his arm when stood in an offside position.


But it was left to Defoe to grab the headlines with his goal just six minutes after coming on as City, who boast a 100 per cent record at home, suffered a fourth defeat on their travels and a seventh in succession against Spurs.


With Spurs' top scorer Robbie Keane out for another two matches through suspension, he also offered head coach Juande Ramos an indication he is ready to step in.



Elano absent


City were without the influence of Elano, the Brazil playmaker having failed to recover from a hamstring complaint, so their creativity came from Martin Petrov on the left wing.


Petrov's delivery from the flank went some way to explain why Dimitar Berbatov wanted his Bulgaria team-mate at White Hart Lane this summer.


However, with £8.8million striker Bianchi on the bench, Petrov only had Darius Vassell to aim for initially, giving Younes Kaboul time to settle after getting dropped for the midweek UEFA Cup clash against Anderlecht.


However, the young French defender's passing range was awful, and he was nowhere to be seen for City's equaliser.



Bent wasteful


At the other end, Darren Bent was wasteful. Berbatov's silky touches sent Bent through on goal in the ninth minute but Andreas Isaksson rushed out to save with his feet.


Javier Garrido picked up a booking for tripping Aaron Lennon, and from the resulting attack Berbatov was on the floor but managed to clip the ball through to Bent. He snatched at his shot with Jermaine Jenas waiting with an open goal in front of him.


Berbatov was full of invention, drilling a cross for Malbranque to sweep a shot towards goal but Richard Dunne got himself in the way of the effort.


City showed pace on the break when Kelvin Etuhu, making his first start for the club, smashed into the side-netting, while Michael Johnson was patrolling the midfield area with authority on his return to action.


The opener came on the stroke of half-time, with Berbatov getting fouled on the touchline by a combination of Gelson Fernandes and Vedran Corluka. Jenas drilled the ball across, Berbatov flicked and Chimbonda angered City with the finish off his arm - he also appeared to be standing in an offside position.


Eriksson responded by bringing on Bianchi for Etuhu just before the hour mark, with the substitute making an instant impact.



Robinson


Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson would have been braced for a busy spell but he also had time to banter with the City fans, who dubbed him "England's number four" after his recent troubles at international level.


He could do nothing about Bianchi's equaliser, the Italian striker rising to thump home a header from Petrov's corner.


City were putting Spurs under intense pressure and Lee had to make a last-ditch clearance from another Petrov cross. Petrov also fizzed a long-range effort just wide.


The game turned when Ireland was given his straight red card by Mark Halsey for a slide on Lee.


Defoe grabbed the winner from the free-kick, with Malbranque hitting the post and the substitute smashing the rebound between Micah Richards' legs.

[100%cypriot]

Berbatov earns Spurs win Portsmouth 0 - Spurs 1




A late Dimitar Berbaov goal gave Tottenham a significant 1-0 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.



Berbatov had not scored in his previous eight Premier League games, but he latched onto an 81st minute Aaron Lennon cross to fire Tottenham to three points on the South Coast.


Spurs had not won away in the league this season and Pompey have not scored at home since the 7-4 humbling of Reading in September and the statistics showed in a sloppy first half.


Kevin-Prince Boateng thought he had fired Tottenham into the lead when he pounced upon a rebounded Berbatov effort, but he was offside from the Bulgarian's original shot.


After the interval Pompey goalkeeper David James produced a finger tip save to prevent a Lennon cross reaching Darren Bent for a simple header as both sides continued to struggle to create.


Berbatov, though, then pounced with 10 minutes remaining and Pompey had no answered and it was Spurs that could have added a second as substitute Jermain Defoe rattled a post.


This was Pompey's first home league defeat since March and the end of their 11-match unbeaten run as they failed to take the opportunity to climb into the top four with a lack of punch in front of goal.



Fire-power


Pompey were without Kanu who had returned home to attend his father's funeral and they looked short of fire-power even against a patched-up Tottenham defence in which Didier Zokora filled in at centre back for Michael Dawson.


Errors at the back by Younes Kaboul and Jermaine Jenas encouraged Portsmouth but the home side were also sloppy in defence when Tottenham forced a corner and Berbatov was left with a free header which he could not direct on target.


It took Niko Kranjcar and Noe Pamarot to stop a marauding run by Berbatov down the right after Spurs were beginning to look dangerous.


When Steed Malbranque concluded a sharp passing move with an inviting pass for Darren Bent - again preferred in the starting line-up to Jermain Defoe - he curled his 20 yards shot just over.


Kaboul did well to clear up when Muntari sparked a useful Pompey raid on the right and within seconds Aaron Lennon was away providing a cross to Berbatov whose clear shot produced an instinctive parry by James.


Boateng followed up to net the loose ball but was clearly offside.


Pompey were lucky to escape but just minutes later Johnson's curving cross from the right needed only a touch by Kranjcar to score a goal - but the ball flew straight through to nestle in Robinson's arms.


And when Muntari's purposeful run set up a shot for Diop a crucial deflection off a defender carried it just over the Spurs crossbar.



Pressure


Pompey piled on the pressure and Robinson was grateful to grab a free kick from Muntari which fizzed straight through the wall.


Bent and Berbatov - still without the suspended Robbie Keane - were guilty of over-elaborating up front for Spurs.


But Spurs did enough to prompt Pompey boss Harry Redknapp to make a significant change for the second half, sending on Sean Davis for the already-booked Pedro Mendes and switching from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2.


Lennon's lightning pace on the right, allied to a splendid cross, gave Bent a glimpse early in the second half but James was off his line to palm the ball away.


And Pompey even gave rarely-employed David Nugent a run but his best effort was a header over the bar from a corner and a clatter on Robinson which earned a rebuke from referee Martin Atkinson.


Berbatov might have won it for Spurs in the 69th minute when, after being slipped in from the left, he went past the advancing James but could not control his second touch.


However, he made no mistake nine minutes from the end as Lennon's pace and vision provided a perfect ball clipped over Sol Campbell's head for the Bulgarian to stroke home unopposed at the far post.


Pompey battled manfully to pull it back but sub Defoe almost made it two with a shot against the outside of a post.

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: POMPEY 0, SPURS 1



Dimitar Berbatov scored the goal that secured us a first Premier League away win of the season against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday.


It was fifth goal of the season for the striker in all competitions and it provided the perfect pre-Christmas tonic of three points banked.

In what felt like sub-zero temperatures on the South Coast, Juande Ramos handed a second Premiership start to Kevin Prince Boateng in central midfield alongside Jermaine Jenas, while Darren Bent got the nod to begin up front in tandem with Dimitar Berbatov. Michael Dawson was unavailable due to illness, so Didier Zokora once again occupied a central defensive berth alongside Younes Kaboul.

Pompey had four former Spurs in their 16 on duty - Sol Campbell, Noe Pamarot, Pedro Mendes and Sean Davis. It was John Utaka who made the first purposeful surge, one that it took Jenas to speed back and repel. Utaka was looking the principal threat for the home side, while there was a good tempo and some crisp passing from the team in white, with Bent dispatching the first shot that flew a foot or so wide of the top corner.

Steed Malbranque thought he was on the scoresheet for the second time in as many seasons at this venue in the 16th minute when, from an Aaron Lennon cross, Boateng struck in on goal and was foiled by David James. Malbranque poked home the rebound, but the flag of the assistant was aloft.

Papa Bouba Diop attempted to muscle his way through at the other end and had his effort diverted away by Zokora, before Berbatov flicked just over the bar from an offside position. A Sulley Muntari free-kick was, moments later, smothered well by Paul Robinson. Bent then evaded his marker and worked himself a shooting position but failed to generate enough power to trouble James.

Lennon and Bent combined to create an opening for Berbatov in front of goal, with only a late Campbell intervention preventing the Bulgarian stroking home.

Malbranque buzzed into the box at the start of the second half but clipped a cross-shot to the unoccupied far post, while Lennon and Bent both had opportunities to stretch the home defences with their pace.

Lennon fizzed in a cross with 53 minutes on the clock that James attempted to prevent making a connection with the head of Bent. What he did do was ensure the ball struck the back of Glen Johnson, but Bent had already advanced and was unable to seize on the loose ball.

Neither side was really establishing superiority in the game, one which was a little frenetic and lacking some poise from individual playmakers. It was punctuated with fouls, which was not helping the flow of the contest, but the home crowd were voicing a degree of frustration - something that is normally a good sign.

Berbatov strode goalwards at the midway point in the half but the on-rushing James got just about enough on the ball to prevent him making capital before the substitute David Nugent headed narrowly over at the other end.

On 74 minutes Berbatov was joined by Jermain Defoe with Bent making way and he was quickly followed by Jamie O'Hara, who got to make his Premier League debut in place of Boateng. He made a quick impression with an angled ball that picked out Defoe, who proceeded to ping it over James but also over the bar.

The changes breathed new life into attacking intent and the deadlock was broken on 81 minutes. Lennon zipped a cross off the back of his marker Hermann Hreidarsson and the deviation in flight deceived the defenders and Berbatov was waiting at the back post to steer past James before joining the Spurs fans for a celebration.

O'Hara might have netted were it not for the head of Niko Kranjcar getting in the way but it mattered little when the referee sounded the whistle to send us home happy. Cold, but very happy.