Tottenham Hotspur

[100%cypriot]

REPORT: EVERTON 0, SPURS 0




It was a first 0-0 draw of the season as the team shared the spoils with Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.


It was not a hugely inspiring encounter, but the occasion did witness the debut of Jonathan Woodgate and a Premier League first for Chris Gunter - both players impressed

The first 15 minutes were largely uneventful, although you could sense the contest was developing a feisty edge to it and the tackles were flying in - even though a shot had yet to fly in at this stage.

An enterprising bit of keepy-uppy and overhead kick from Steed Malbranque 23 minutes in was the first action of sorts before a Nuno Valente corner was smuggled down by Victor Anichebe and it appeared that Andy Johnson was in prime position to open the scoring. Thankfully he let the ball drift away from his control in front of Radek Cerny.

Anichebe was starting to cause a few problems and his presence led to the ball landing in front of Leighton Baines, who was ready with a rocket, but the anticipation of debut-making Jonathan Woodgate averted danger. A Phil Neville cross was then caught on the turn by Johnson and Cerny did well to foil.

Johnson was claiming a penalty from referee Mr Marriner just over ten minutes before the break after falling in a run against Tom Huddlestone. The referee was proved right in his refusal as replays showed the striker clearly clipped the back of his own leg and there was no contact with Huddlestone.

The period of pressure led to the home crowd finding their voice the run-in to half-time, but level pegging it was at half-time, but Mikel Arteta did his level best to alter that in the moments after the interval, skipping past Huddlestone before dinking over a cross-shot that any sort of attacking connection would have resulted in the lead being taken.

At the other end Neville gave the ball away and Robbie Keane was primed to take advantage but took a touch before curling into the hands of Tim Howard in the Everton goal from inside the area.

Berbatov was the recipient of a superb flicked header from Keane that set him off on a run for goal, only denied - illegally he suggested - by the shoulder of Joleon Lescott. Just before the hour mark, Manuel Fernandes slotted Johnson through in the area and the England international fired goalwards and was brilliantly denied by smart movement off his line by Cerny. The excellent Woodgate cleared up behind him.

Kevin Boateng was introduced on 62 minutes in place of Chris Gunter, who had just made his Premier League debut. Jamie O'Hara switched to Gunter's left-back berth, with Boateng slotting into middle ground.

Everton increased the tempo, it wasn't leading to a direct threat on goal, but it was pretty direct all the same. News filtered through that Liverpool were losing at West Ham and this lifted the crowd for the final minutes.

However, it was the team in white shirts who made the big final push and there was a decent penalty shout when Malbranque was trodden on by Lescott in the area. Goalless it remained despite a late chance for Berbatov on his birthday.

[100%cypriot]

REPORT: SPURS 1, MAN UTD 1



Dimitar Berbatov scored the goal that came within about ten seconds of securing a memorable White Hart Lane win over Manchester United on Saturday.

His first half strike was so nearly enough on a day that marked the debut of Alan Hutton and the home debut of Jonathan Woodgate and the defending was immaculate. However, deep into stoppage time, a corner resulted in the ball squeezing in at the near post and, although Carlos Tevez was credited with the goal, the final touch appeared to come off Michael Dawson.

Back to the start and there was half a chance for United following a run of typical purpose from Tevez, which led to Pascal Chimbonda - playing at left-back - miscalculating an interception and Wes Brown was presented with a shooting chance that ballooned over the bar.

Neither team exerted particular control in the opening 15 minutes, although a Berbatov surge down the left flank came close to resulting in an opening, but his final pass was cut out by Owen Hargreaves in front of goal.

A Jermaine Jenas run down the right got the game going on 20 minutes, the midfielder embarked on a sprint with Hargreaves and he had a decent penalty shout after seemingly being felled inside the area. No matter. Aaron Lennon picked up the loose ball and drilled across goal, Edwin van der Sar could only parry and Berbatov was on hand to stroke the ball into the back of the net.

Dawson later came close with a close-range header from a Lennon corner and the initiative was clearly with the team in white. A brilliant run and expertly flighted cross from Lennon looked perfectly set for Berbatov to smash in a second ten minutes before half-time, but this time the accuracy was lacking from the Bulgarian.

Tom Huddlestone had the chance to fire in a free-kick just before half-time after Hargreaves handled and stopped Lennon on the run. The United player was not even booked as his team-mates applied huge pressure on referee Mr Clattenburg.

A deflected Huddlestone shot dipped just wide early in the second half before Berbatov was the supply line for Keane to shoot on goal, but his effort was calmly foiled by Van der Sar.

United responded to the flow of the second period with the introduction of Nani and Anderson just before the hour mark, with Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs making way.

The boys continued pressing, with Lennon, Hutton really making in-roads down the right hand side and Huddlestone and Jenas dovetailing was almost effortless ease in the centre.

The visitors were showing a spiteful side with some poorly timed challenges flying in that received little in the way of punishment from the official. Dawson did pop the ball in the net on 69 minutes but it came after a messy jump with Van der Sar.

The team were relentless in their energetic approach and kept piling forward, while remaining stubborn and robust at the back. Another goal was the least their efforts warranted.

Huddlestone fizzed in another shot on 74 minutes, but again it was diverted by an untimely deflection. At the other end a wickedly zipped in shot from Anderson looked like it was heading for the bottom corner until Radek Cerny stooped and palmed wide.

Kevin Boateng was introduced in place of Lennon for the final 12 minutes as the pressure on the Park Lane goal we were defending began to increase. Wayne Rooney was booked for diving in the area with six minutes left after a challenge with Dawson.

United hammered at the gate in the final moments before our net rattled as we were about celebrate a victory over the champions.

[100%cypriot]

REPORT: DERBY 0, SPURS 3


Robbie Keane's 19th goal of the season and goals from Younes Kaboul and Dimitar Berbatov sealed a deserved 3-0 victory over Derby County at Pride Park.


It was certainly a hard-fought win and relative comfort was only achieved in the 81st minute when Kaboul shook the netting in front of the Spurs support, a moment that drained the spirit out of a Derby side who had been highly competitive up to that point.

Kenny Miller did force Radek Cerny into some eventually meaningless action on four minutes, but it was a smart save nonetheless, with the impetus taken out of it by a late flag. Darren Bent then warmed the hands of Roy Carroll at the other end with a drive from an angle following a counter-attack initiated by Jermaine Jenas getting the better of Robbie Savage.

The former Manchester United keeper moments later made an excellent stooping stop to deny Keane's measured low shot from nestling in the bottom corner.

The game strangely lost two central defenders early on, first off was Darren Moore for the home side and then Michael Dawson - Andy Todd and Kaboul were summoned for an unexpected extended afternoon on the pitch.

Midway through the half Derby should have been celebrating an advantage. Kevin Boateng gave the ball away in midfield and Stephen Pearson sped forward before releasing Giles Barnes in front of goal. The wideman attempted and succeeding in steering past Cerny, but also managed to steer around the upright.

Referee Mr Atkinson made a completely incorrect call at the half hour mark when a Steed Malbranque supplied Bent break resulting in Aaron Lennon picking up the ball on the edge of the area and being cleaned out by Todd - nothing given.

Lennon's cross soon after gave Kaboul the chance for a prod on goal with Carrol equal to the challenge, but the first half could in no way be described as a festival of free-flowing football because it was scrappy.

Jamie O'Hara was introduced at the beginning of the second half in place of Boateng, but it was Derby who created the first half chance after the re-start with a Craig Fagan snapshot that was foiled by Cerny.

Charging towards the end heavily populated by Spurs people, Alan Hutton screwed his shot wide after Jenas played the ball into his path before a Carroll stop thwarted Huddlestone' attempt to net against his former club.

It was time for Dimitar Berbatov on 57 minutes, with Bent withdrawn after playing his first game since December 15 at Portsmouth, but it was the home side who were cranking up the pressure at this point in the contest.

Keane struck a post at the end of a passage of play that resulted in a flag being held aloft before the breakthrough was made with 67 minutes showing on the clock.

It was the industry of Malbranque cutting in from the left that carved out the opening, his shot only being pushed away by Carroll and the loose ball was seized upon by Keane who tapped in No.19 for the season before sharing his celebrations with the travelling thousands.

Carroll then made a double save from Jenas and Berbatov to prevent a doubling of the advantage before an O'Hara cross should probably have been tucked away by the Bulgarian.

On 81 minutes it was two and victory confirmed when, from a Lennon corner and a dinked header from Pascal Chimbonda, Kaboul brilliantly sidestepped his marker Miller and fired past Carroll.

The third goal arrived in injury time when Mabranque's cross was handled by Fagan and Berbatov made the penalty look easy. A deserved win.

[Crash Test Dummy]

Match of the Day is so rediculous its laughable.

3 goal game and we get stuck on right at the end.

we are still lingering around mid table which is not good. at least we are moving in the right direction

[100%cypriot]

i was at the game and it just shows that we can play average and still win 3-0 so its up and up for the yid army

[Crash Test Dummy]

OOOooo wow we make it onto channel 5

[100%cypriot]

im going in the morning to prague to sopprot the Yid Army ,, will post the videos on youtube when i get back,,,bit more exciting than channel 5

[100%cypriot]

SLAVIA 1, SPURS 2



A one goal advantage will be taken into the second leg of our UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie after Slavia Prague were defeated by a 2-1 margin on Thursday night at the Evzena Rosickeho Stadium.

On reflection the whole contest should really be done and dusted as the Czech side were pretty much second best in all departments on their own patch. However, a goal on 70 minutes from David Strihavka offered Slavia hope on the night and will see them travel to White Hart Lane with just a deficit of one when it could have been many more.

We did not have to wait too long to see an away goal banked and Dimitar Berbatov was the executioner in the fourth minute. A Tom Huddlestone ball across led to Jermaine Jenas fancying his chances of a dart through, but he was blocked and it kicked up for the Bulgarian to dispatch a measured shot beyond the reach of home goalkeeper Martin Vaniak.

There was control in the cold in Prague, with a good deal of composure as Slavia struggled to establish a foothold in the game after the early setback. Radek Cerny, still an incredibly popular figure in these parts was not seeing a lot of action to keep him warm.

The same could not really be said of Vaniak who was again picking the ball out of his net on 30 minutes. Jenas, so impressive alongside Huddlestone in the heart of midfield, delivered an expertly measured pass that sent Robbie Keane scurrying away with a goal on his mind and the striker calmly dinked past Vaniak for his 20th goal of the season.

The scene of a 1-0 win last season was proving to be a happy hunting ground and, inspired by accurate passing out from the back, the midfield and attackers were picking an improving Slavia off on the break as the half neared a conclusion.

Vaniak did produce a fine double stop to deny Berbatov a further entry on the scoresheet before the break, a couple of hand-stinging efforts being well palmed away by the keeper and Jenas should really have made it three seconds later after an Aaron Lennon cross was clipped back across goal by Berbatov.

Some brilliant footwork from Huddlestone led to the crossbar being rattled shortly after the re-start before a Slavia half-chance from a Mickael Tavares header that caused Cerny slight alarm.

Substitute Jamie O'Hara, on for Teemu Tainio with Pascal Chimbonda switched to the left, initiated a sweet move that also comprised of Lennon cutting back for Keane, who slashed over.

Failure to up the conversion rate was punished with 20 minutes when Strihavka challenged Cerny for a cross and the goalkeeper failed to gather. The ball subsequently trickled into the net.

Darren Bent, who was introduced to proceedings just before the reduction of the deficit made some positive charges down the channels that could well have led to profit but some immaculate approach play in general was let down by the final pass on too many occasions. It really should have been tie over before Slavia's reply.

Vaniak produced a show-stopping save to foil a Berbatov free-kick that was heading for the top corner Bent struck the bar from a Huddlestone-inspired supply line.

Slavia pressed late on and nearly levelled when Erich Brabec rattled the crossbar with his header with just five minutes remaining, but it was the Spurs contingent in a crowd of 11,134 that left celebrating a win.

[100%cypriot]

Just Got Back From The Game ,,Quality Support Once AGAIN !!!! from the famous Yid Army

[100%cypriot]

SPURS 1 - SLAVIA 1



Jamie O'Hara continued his run of firsts as we qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Cup thanks to a 1-1 draw and 3-2 aggregate score over Slavia Prague.


After his debut, first start, first home game, first call into the England U21 squad and first game in Europe, the young midfielder bagged his first Spurs goal to secure our place against PSV - who beat Helsingborgs 4-1 on aggregate - in the last 16.

However, the night wasn't without a few heart-stopping moments and it needed a fine save from recalled Paul Robinson after Slavia had equalised in the second half to keep our noses in front of the overall tie. The visitors also struck the post.

Similar to the first leg in Prague, it shouldn't have been that way as chances again came and went as we dominated in the first half.

On just seven minutes, the only incident before being a savage challenge on Teemu Tainio by Daniel Pudil, came a special moment. A Spurs boy scoring his first senior Spurs goal.

There was a spot of aerial pinball going on following a throw-in from the right, before Dimitar Berbatov bought some order to affairs by bringing down and steering into the path of O'Hara. The Academy graduate was always going to take this one on and the net at the Park Lane end was soon rattling after a fierce low drive that picked up a slight deflection which foxed goalkeeper Michal Vorel.

Approaching the midway point in the half Tom Huddlestone stretched Vorel to his left with the resulting rebound falling to Aaron Lennon. He looked ready to wrap boot cleanly around ball, but instead his effort arrowed downwards and Vorel was able to foil. He wouldn't have been able to so much about O'Hara's next effort had his volley from a deep Taino cross fizzed a yard closer to the goalline though.

Darren Bent came within a coat of crossbar paint to adding his name to the scoresheet just before the half hour mark when he athletically attempted to nod an O'Hara cross over Vorel. The goalkeeper got fingertips to his effort and the underside of bar did the rest.

The recalled Paul Robinson - in as skipper - was worked for the first time ten minutes before the break when Jaroslav Cerny unleashed a swirling drive that took a wicked bounce in front of the 28-year-old, who did particularly well to scoop away.

The opening moments of the second half came close to producing a goal for Robbie Keane who was drafted in for Berbatov. Lennon's squirted cross from the right was met on the full by the striker but it drifted just wide.

There came a leveller five minutes into the half when a sweeping Pudil cross from the left was struck beyond Robinson by Matej Krajcik.

Pascal Chimbonda took a heavy whack that left him struggling and Steed Malbranque was soon summoned to the touchline. O'Hara switched to left back and the Frenchman slotted in ahead of him.

Robinson thwarted some increased Slavia energy with two saves from headers before Strihavka struck the post with a neat effort on the turn.

Juande Ramos responded with the introduction of Jermaine Jenas for Lennon. Malbranque then scurried inside in an attempt to provide Bent with half a chance that he did well to reach but Vorel closed down the angle.

Robinson was then forced into spectacular action to turn away Milan Ivana free-kick and Slavia were growing in belief of forcing extra time, ambitions that were almost ended when Bent again struck the bar with a lofted effort.

That was the last of the action and a mouth-watering clash against the Dutch giants awaits.

[100%cypriot]

CUP FINAL REPORT SPURS 2 - CHELSEA 1




Jonathan Woodgate's header in extra time deservedly clinched the Carling Cup at Wembley and secured a place in Europe for next season.



'Woody' threw himself at Jermaine Jenas' free-kick with 93 minutes and 25 seconds on the clock, got his head in front of Petr Cech and gleefully ran off in celebration as it nestled into the corner.

It was no less than we deserved after dominating chances created at Wembley. Quite how Chelsea went in 1-0 up at half-time was mystery with a chance count of eight-two in our favour but once Dimitar Berbatov levelled from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, the tide turned in our favour.

More chances came and went - Cech saved brilliantly again - but once Woodgate's header landed it was a case of seeing the game out and we did it in superb style, Ledley King and man of the match Woodgate absolutely magnifent.

Robbie Keane set about making his mark on the final in the first minute when a Juliano Belletti pass went astray and the striker fizzed in a shot that only diverted wide via the inside of John Terry's leg. Ledley King, in the side to the biggest cheer of the pre-match build-up, then nearly latched onto a Dimitar Berbatov header from the resulting corner.

The atmosphere from the Spurs end of this gigantic arena was spine-tingling and the boys looked intent on feeding off the support with a purposeful beginning that plonked Chelsea right on the back foot.

The flags placed on every seat on Saturday provided a scenic and colourful backdrop to the occasion. There would have been an explosion of colour at our end had a Pascal Chimbonda header bounced under rather than on top of the bar from a deep Steed Malbranque corner then seconds later Berbatov's heading direction was lacking a little when he nodded wide with a free header from a Keane cross.

Chelsea edged into the contest and Jonathan Woodgate had to be sharp in front of goal to block a Shaun Wright-Phillips cross being met by a boot wrapped around a blue sock. A flying header from Woodgate at the other end was too far off making capital from an expertly flighted free-kick from Jermaine Jenas.

Petr Cech later showed sharp reactions down to his right to foil a Malbranque shy on goal which was swiftly followed by Frank Lampard trying his luck at the other end - Chelsea's first shot just before the half hour mark. Quite a telling stat that went a long way towards explaining the story of the first third.

Two free-kicks in quick succession from 20-odd yards out taken by Lampard and Didier Drogba - neither troubling Paul Robinson - topped up Chelsea's shot count.

Another free-kick - given for a Didier Zokora chop on Drogba with 38 minutes in the clock - did come at a cost. The burly striker from the Ivory Coast recovered to take it himself and, with Chelsea players in our wall, arrowed the ball through the protective layer and into the net.

Berbatov had the chance to level just before the break when Keane slotted him through on goal, but the Bulgarian tangled with Ricardo Calvalho and slipped in the area rather than quickly getting his shot away.

The second half did not get off to an explosive start as Chelsea sought to slow the game down and dull the tempo.

Juande Ramos made his first change just after the hour, introducing Tom Huddlestone for a disconsolate Chimbonda. Malbranque appeared to make the switch to left-back, but it was on the other side that King was at his masterful best in denying Nicolas Anelka a shooting chance.

The twist in the tale came on 68 minutes when Huddlestone attempted to work himself a spot of shooting space and the ball struck the hand of Wayne Bridge. The assistant spotted the offence and referee Mr Halsey eventually gave the penalty.

Berbatov was ridiculously cool in applying his finish from 12 yards.

A chance to double advantage came ten minutes from time when Zokora was sent clean through, his first effort being saved by Cech and his rebound chance flying over the bar.

Extra time seemed almost inevitable after this point and the additional period was duly ushered in without too much further incident.

Less than four minutes in a Jenas free-kick was latched onto by the head of Woodgate, who had made a clever marker-evading dash round the back, and his flick into Cech came back onto him before rolling into the empty net. Woodgate set off on a charge and half of Wembley went very quiet.

Another change was made a few minutes before the end of the first 15 minutes, with Keane making way for Younes Kaboul. With Chelsea likely to go long and fire balls into Drogba and Anelka, a central defensive three was deemed the way to repel the threat.

It worked a treat - although Robinson was forced into key late action to deny Cole from 12 yards and there were the usual scares to overcome.

Ultimately, the right team won on the day - and how great it felt to watch Ledley lift the trophy.

[100%cypriot]

WE BEAT THE SCUM 2 - 1

[100%cypriot]

BIRMINGHAM V SPURS



It was back to league business with a bang and then a crash at St Andrews as Birmingham emerged 4-1 winners on Saturday.


The point that the season is far from over was firmly reinforced by the home side, who were clinical in front of goal, if not dominant in possession. An early strike and two second half goals in quick succession - topped up by another ten minutes from time that saw Mikael Forssell claim a hat-trick - put us to the sword. Jermaine Jenas scored a late consolation, nothing more.

Teemu Tainio lined up in an unfamiliar full-back role behind Jamie O'Hara down the left flank, while Pascal Chimbonda moved inside to centre-half alongside Younes Kaboul. Tom Huddlestone and Didier Zokora occupied the central midfield berths, deep of an attacking duo of Darren Bent and Dimitar Berbatov.

Playing in all yellow the team fell behind on seven minutes after a scruffy opening. A corner from the left was nodded into the danger area by Liam Ridgewell and James McFadden smashed back across goal to where Forssell was waiting to direct a header past an unprotected Paul Robinson.

O'Hara was only a foot or so away from perhaps levelling six minutes later after Bent battled to work him a shooting chance, but a Gary McSheffrey free-kick in the other direction skimmed the head of Alan Hutton and the home lead came close to being doubled.

Berbatov repossessed the ball on 19 minutes and advanced before smashing what at first looked a goalbound attempt against the upright. Bent then sprung the offside trap latching on to Huddlestone, but Maik Taylor was quick off his line - later foiling an O'Hara drive.

Malbranque then carved himself out a scoring chance that a combination of Ridgewell and the goalkeeper contrived to squeeze behind, although the midfielder maybe took a touch or two too many and the angle was working against him.

O'Hara was looking most likely to create an avenue to goal and Taylor did particularly well to deny him seven minutes before the break with an excellent stop and hold to his right.

There were two changes after half-time, Robbie Keane on for Malbranque and Jermaine Jenas introduced in place of Tainio. Chimbonda switched to left-back and Zokora centre-half.

Before the new system could really take shape, Robinson kept his team in it with a magnificent save. McSheffrey crossed from the left and Forssell met the ball with a downward volley and Robbo reacted superbly to tip over the bar.

The changed formation appeared to involve three at the back, four in midfield and three up top, with Keane given more licence to roam.

The home advantage, however, was doubled on 54 minutes after Zokora gave away a free-kick on the edge of the area with a trip on David Murphy. McFadden stepped over the ball and the right-footed Sebastian Larsson angled his effort around the wall and into the near post to make it two.

It was a home treble four minutes later when a Larsson cross struck Zokora, Robinson was forced into a fine save, but Forssell was on hand to slot in from a tight angle and the St Andrews crowd was not about to contain its delight.

Chris Gunter was added to the mix with 17 minutes remaining, swapping places with Zokora, with Hutton then given the freedom to push further forward down the right flank.

Berbatov then extended Taylor into a tip-over from a powerful drive, but a recovery was not looking on the cards at this stage. Huddlestone drilled a shot high and wide before Birmingham increased their margin with Forssell claiming a hat-trick, profiting from a McFadden throughball.

Jenas struck late from close range, scant reward on the day for a high number of efforts on goal for an away side.

So it ended as a seasonal double for Birmingham, but surely PSV will not find us nearly so accommodating on Thursday.

[100%cypriot]

SPURS V PSV



We will travel to Eindhoven next week with ground to make up in this UEFA Cup Round of 16 tie after suffering a 1-0 reverse to PSV at White Hart Lane.

It was a game that never really got going for us and a strong and resolute PSV side were quick to take advantage, with Jefferson Farfan netting the only goal just after the half hour.

There was a crisp tempo, but it was a largely uneventful first 15 minutes - a spot of gentle sparring as the two sides sized each other up.

It was the Carling Cup team, but with new boy Gilberto in for the cup-tied Alan Hutton. He slotted in at left-back with Pascal Chimbonda restored to his more natural habitat on the right flank. On the subject of Wembley, the Carling Cup was paraded before kick-off, with Chris Gunter and Gareth Bale doing the honours and in turn cranking up the atmosphere.

Gilberto was yellow carded for a trip on the speedy Farfan 26 minutes in, presenting the first real shooting opportunity that the same player clipped the wall with from the resulting free-kick.

On 33 minutes Farfan did make a difference. A quick counter was not effectively repelled and Gilberto was caught in possession before the Peru international steered low past Paul Robinson.

Steed Malbranque then had two efforts deflected wide as the urgency levels increased before a Jermaine Jenas cross was nodded just wide by Jonathan Woodgate. A brilliantly constructed passage of play, moments later, concluded with Malbranque squirting his shot wide as PSV were being planted on the back foot.

Gomes then pulled off a stunning save to deny Robbie Keane, who before dispatching his shot plucked a huge Robinson clearance out of the air and spun to lose his markers.

The second half brought about some lively end-to-end exchanges with neither goalkeeper being greatly troubled.

There was a blow just after the hour when Jermaine Jenas was stretchered off with what appeared to be an ankle injury - Tom Huddlestone was introduced in his place. In fact, the game was crying out for the passing and invention of the midfielder.

The score should have been level on 68 minutes when a flighted ball from the right from Dimitar Berbatov cleared the PSV backline and fell within nodding distance from Chimbonda - the full-back getting under the cross and heading over.

Adel Taarabt was next on the scene in place of Ledley King, but it was Robbo to the rescue 15 minutes from time and he effectively kept us in the tie. A Farfan shot was arrowing into the bottom right hand corner until the goalkeeper's outstretched hand diverted to safety. The PSV bench were up and about to celebrate.

PSV were finishing the stronger but an O'Hara volley across goal just fizzed in front of a Berbatov lunge with five minutes left on the clock but at the other end PSV had the ball in the net again, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

[100%cypriot]

SPURS V WEST HAM



The Premier League gap between ourselves and West Ham was narrowed to five points as the East London side were defeated 4-0 at the Lane.

Dimitar Berbatov netted twice with his head to take his tally to the season to 19 in all competitions in a game that was, in truth, as one-sided an encounter as you are likely to witness. Substitute Gilberto put a late gloss on the scoreline with his first for the Club on his league debut before fellow sub Darren Bent added a fourth.

Paul Robinson had his fingers stung as early as the fourth minute from a Freddie Ljungberg shot before bravely foiling the Hammers' attacking thrust with two superb blocks before a Bobby Zamora effort struck a teammate and flew over the bar.

Three minutes later and it was the visitors in retreat and in arrears. A measured free-kick flighted in by Tom Huddlestone was met with a flick of the head by Berbatov and Robert Green was defeated and picking the ball out of his net on seven minutes.

There was a repeat, only from the other side, ten minutes later. A similarly fizzed in cross from Huddlestone was again met by the head of Berbatov and the advantage was doubled.

Aaron Lennon then started to put his mark on proceedings with a few speedy bursts down the right flank and West Ham were in a fair degree of disarray.

Complete dominance followed with the ball being pinged around with authority, only not providing a further end product. Another Huddlestone set piece was this time aimed at the impressive Jonathan Woodgate, but eventually fell to Berbatov on the volley, with Green equal to his effort on this occasion.

West Ham were dealt a further blow two minutes before half time when persistant offender Luis Boa Morte finally saw red after numerous offences. The only surprise is that he was not subbed as he was so clearly going to be taking the walk at some point.

Four minutes into the second half the excellent Huddlestone fired a volley just over the bar as West Ham were becoming an increasingly agitated side and referee Mr Foy was having to calm a good few frayed tempers.

They rallied for a spell approaching the hour mark, but a lightening quick counter which saw Berbatov combine with Lennon saw a few late, desperate blocks being called for.

Gilberto then replaced Steed Malbranque and there was a further change in the 69th minute when Keane left the pitch to a great ovation to make way for Darren Bent. Woodgate later left the pitch after hobbling back from an attacking sortie - Teemu Tainio came on in midfield, with Didier Zokora dropping back into central defence.

West Ham battled in search of a goal that would have set a few nerves jangling but the head of Michael Dawson was the common factor at the conclusion of most of their attacking intent.

At the other end a seal was put on the victory when Pascal Chimbonda squeezed the ball into the path of Gilberto, who turned inside the area before rolling past Green. Berbatov had a hat-trick chance after a counter dash from Hutton and Lennon, but disturbed the side netting after Green foiled Hutton's shot.

There was further pain for the Hammers in stoppage time when the superb Hutton dispatched a measured cross from the right that was headed downwards by Bent to make it a fully deserved four goal triumph.