Tottenham Hotspur

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PSV V SPURS



It was heartbreak in Eindhoven after a penalty shoot-out determined our UEFA Cup fate.

We exit the competition after a 6-5 reverse on penalties following a superb single goal victory in the game itself. Dimitar Berbatov ensured the game went into extra-time, but penalties followed.

Paul Robinson saved from Danko Lazovic and Jermaine Jenas had the chance to seal victory with our fifth kick, but Gomes saved and Pascal Chimbonda missed to spark joy among the home fans and hurt for Spurs.

The Philips Stadion was a rocking arena as the pre-match rituals were being gone through, the venue being a traditional style ground that carries a superb atmosphere.

However, it was a fairly timid beginning by both teams, no quick-out-of-the-blocks explosive stuff, but then the first goal was always going to have a huge impact on this meeting so perhaps a cagey start was understandable.

There was a great chance to level the aggregate score on 16 minutes when Tom Huddlestone - playing on the right of a midfield diamond - slipped the ball inside and into the path of Steed Malbranque. The Frenchman took aim but misfired from a good shooting position.

The balance of play was marginally with the team in all white, but PSV were passing the ball around in an efficient manner and always seeking to exploit any space. Thankfully, with Ledley King back in situe, space in and around our area was more often than not going to be at a premium.

PSV came close to being the architects of their own downfall just over ten minutes before the break when Carlos Salcido and the goalkeeper Gomes did not communicate and the defender nodded past him but also past the post. From the resulting Jermaine Jenas corner a King header flashed just past the post.

Jenas picked up a booking moments later, before stepping aside and allowing Huddlestone a shy on goal from a set piece, but his effort clipped the wall and flew narrowly over. Domination was creeping in and, from a Young-Pyo Lee centre, Malbranque teed up Huddlestone, who again was denied by a deflection.

There was a purposeful change at half-time with the withdrawal of Lee and introduction of Darren Bent. He had the chance to make an instant impact when Malbranque passed to the left of the area for Robbie Keane, who in turn delivered a low centre in front of the striker, but his effort lacked the power to significantly trouble Gomes.

Pascal Chimbonda nearly played us into trouble with a chest move back towards his own goal before PSV should really have taken the lead on the night when a chip into the area left Danny Koevermans unmarked in front of Paul Robinson. His first touch let him down and the relieved goalkeeper was able to gather.

Dimitar Berbatov then flicked a header wide from a Huddlestone set-piece, but PSV were livening up on the counter attack. Jenas was next with a forceful thrust but his final ball after darting into the area lacked direction.

Aaron Lennon came on just after the hour in place of King and this time Didier Zokora moved into central defence and Malbranque dropped in at full-back. Robinson was called on to produce a big save when Zokora got in a muddle on 65 minutes, stooping low to prevent Ibrahim Afellay an opener.

He was beaten all ends up by a Jefferson Farfan free-kick a couple of minutes later but thankfully if arrowed just over. Berbatov's persistance next opened up a shooting window for Huddlestone, but his powerful hit was too high.

Bent was through on goal on 70 minutes but elected to square to Keane and prodded without accuracy allowing the danger to be averted.

There was a real urgency going into the final 15 minutes and the game completely opened up - leading to almighty confusion between Gomes and Salcido that Keane was not quite able to capitalise on.

There was an exquisite turning point after much pressing in the 81st minute. A Chimbonda cross was met full on the volley by Berbatov, who fizzed right footed beyond Gomes and into the bottom left hand corner.

Jamie O'Hara came on to become our fourth left-back of the game, Keane being sacrificed, before a Lennon cross led to a Bent header being tipped over by Gomes. The tension was incredible inside the stadium and no doubt in the living rooms of Spurs supporters at home.

Extra time it was and a Berbatov chip resulted in a Bent volley that swerved just wide after a couple of minutes before an O'Hara whipped free-kick was touched by Jenas and volleyed over on the turn by Berbatov.

Other than this the first period was largely uneventful and the opening minutes of the second was pretty cautious from both sides - end to end, but without real conviction, although the defending was stout.

There was so nearly a glorious finale when a Malbranque smash was arrowing towards the top corner, only for Gomes' outstretched hand to prevent a stunning winner.

Then it was penalties.

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Just Got Back From Eindhoven ,,, Unbelieaveable Support From The Yid Army ,,,, Turkish Cypriots & Greek Cypriots were brothers at the game and in holland in the bars we were together , showing how united we are as people.

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CITY V SPURS



Robbie Keane's 21st goal of the season proved not to be enough as Manchester City came from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory at Eastlands on Sunday afternoon.

It looked pretty promising when territorial sway was rewarded by Keane's arrowed effort that landed high in the net, but two goals out of nothing in the second half saw us defeated at the City of Manchester Stadium for the first time.

A few minutes in Keane sought to fire the game up by first prodding to Alan Hutton who, in turn, chipped back into the path of the striker who was left to battle with Nedum Onuoha before flashing across goal just a little too far in front of the advancing Aaron Lennon.

The passing was slick and progressive in the opening 15 minutes, mostly from the team in white shirts. Michael Dawson's flighted throughball got Keane on the chase and he would have been in had the ball not picked up pace on landing and skidded through to Joe Hart in the City goal.

After the momentum of the game tapering off to a large degree, Dawson was then in the thick of it in front of our goal. He slid in to deny Michael Johnson and the ball hit his chest, despite pleas for a penalty before Elano picked up on the top corner of the area and shot goalwards. Benjani connected with the shot and helped it on with his head and it took a combination of Dawson and Paul Robinson to frustrate City.

They were further frustrated on 31 minutes when an ambling run down the left from Pascal Chimbonda led to a stabbed ball through to pick out the angled run of Keane who took a touch before slamming right-footed past the outstretched hand of Hart. It made it 13 Premier League goals for the popular marksman.

At the other end a magnificent challenge from Chimbonda and a smart save from Robinson thwarted the attacking intentions of Johnson and Elano. Lennon then popped a shot wide and then Nery Castillo sped away towards goal with Chimbonda in hot pursuit, but overcooked his final touch and Robinson was able to foil.

Lennon was replaced at the interval by Tom Huddlestone, but it was City who came closest to scoring the first goal of the half when Benjani picked out Castillo in and around the six yard box, but a combination of defenders and Robbo saw him quickly outnumbered.

Huddlestone tried to put his marker on the game but his effort was gathered by Hart before City netted a fortunate leveller on 59 minutes. A deep Benjani cross was the target of a miscue by Castillo but Elano was able to nod towards goal and an offside-looking Stephen Ireland helped guide past Robinson from a few yards out.

Juande Ramos made a double change bringing on Darren Bent and Jamie O'Hara for the goalscorer Keane and Malbranque. In truth, the game needed a bit of a livener from our perspective as it had become laboured and scrappy.

A price for this was paid on 71 minutes when an Elano corner kick was rammed home by the head of Onuoha.

Bent squeezed the ball into the City net with five minutes remaining but his joy was curtailed by the flag of the assistant, raised for a reason that was not immediately clear.

The toil of extra-time in midweek was perhaps taking its toll as the game wore on but this will go down as an unlikely defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

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SPURS V CHELSEA


It was a night of gripping drama at the Lane where the points were shared in an eight-goal thriller.


After taking the lead early on, the visitors were continually pegged back, the final time being in the 88th minute when Robbie Keane's spectacular hit rattled the top corner of the net.

We could even have won it when, in injury time, Steed Malbranque found Dimitar Berbatov, he side-stepped Alex but somehow Carlo Cudicini diverted his effort wide with his right hand.

Under three minutes were on the clock when a blocked free-kick found its way to the left hand corner of the penalty area and was slung back in by John Terry in the direction of Didier Drogba, who propelled himself at the far post to head past a stranded Paul Robinson.

Joe Cole thought he had added another when, from a Drogba shot, Robinson made a fine save low to his right, but Cole was on-hand, while also offside, to tap in the loose ball.

The Lane was rocking for the right reason on 11 minutes when a Jermaine Jenas free-kick was flighted into the penalty area with precision and was met by the forehead of Woodgate with considerable force and Cudicini was plucking the ball out of his net, while the scorer wheeled off in celebration.

There was a scare at the other end when Cole dragged a low ball across the face of goal that seemed to deceived everyone - thankfully, including the handily positioned Drogba.

Michael Essien was in the right place for his side on 19 minutes when Cole embarked on a mazy, if unchallenged run, and slipped through to the big striker who dinked past the advanced Robinson to put Chelsea back into the lead.

Our first response from Jenas when he cut in from the left to drill on goal was foiled by Cudicini. Aaron Lennon had a dart forward and was thwarted by the goalkeeper who made a dash outside his area, but despite claims for handball, all that was awarded was a throw-in.

Ashley Cole was yellow carded just before half-time for a high challenge on Alan Hutton that looked worse with every replay - red was widely anticipated but referee Mr Riley took the yellow option.

Six minutes into the second half the punishment was increased in goal terms when Joe Cole jinked into the area down the right side, evaded Pascal Chimbonda, before his shot struck the legs of Robinson, looped up and landed in the net.

The deficit was reduced to make it game-on again on the hour when, from a Tom Huddlestone corner, Berbatov leapt and directed a lofted header over the despairing clutches of Cudicini.

Berbatov then delivered a superb measured ball into the feet of Keane in the area and the leading goalscorer spun, the Lane held its collective breath, but Cudicini saved down to his right. Drogba later could have wrapped it up but flashed across the face of goal.

Darren Bent was introduced in place of Ledley King in the 69th minute of a dramatic night and seven minutes later the Lane erupted when Huddlestone slammed in the leveller. A Keane corner evaded penalty area masses and fell to the cultured feet of the midfielder for him to arrow the ball into the bottom corner.

The dampener came ten minutes from time when Joe Cole again proved the thorn in Chimbonda's side, getting the better of him inside the area before smashing high past Robinson to make it 4-3 to the visitors.

There was a final twist in the tail for the crowd of 36,178 when a move appeared to break down but the ball landed in the path of Keane, who curled the ball beyond Cudicini for a fitting finale to an enthralling encounter.

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SPURS V POMPEY



Darren Bent scored the 100th goal at the Lane this season in what was the 250th senior appearance of his career.

The striker came on and brightened up an encounter that was labouring somewhat in weather conditions that lurched from one extreme to the other. The introduction of Bent and Jamie O'Hara did the trick as we entered the final ten minutes and there was no Pompey response.

The game, after being on a slow cooker, sizzled into life to a degree on ten minutes when David James was unable to gather a deflected cross and Pascal Chimbonda attempted to inject some further mayhem, before Robbie Keane tested James down to his right.

Tom Huddlestone then stretched the veteran keeper with a free-kick that he was able to pluck out from underneath the crossbar. Paul Robinson then eclipsed his work with a brilliant tip over from a Sean Davis chip that was sailing in.

A dipping volley from Chimbonda was then inches from opening our account for the afternoon. Berbatov had a goal ruled on 27 minutes after a precise ball through from Keane, the striker's neat footwork easing past the attentions of James. Moments later Michael Dawson rattled the crossbar after seizing on the loose ball from a corner.

Berbatov should have scored ten minutes before the break when Lennon provided the ammunition inside the area, but his shot was floated too high.

There was almost as much variety in the weather as in the game with assorted elements to contend with during the first half, one which was nearly illuminated by Huddlestone connecting with a headed clearance full on the volley and his shot arrowed just over.

The wind was again gathering speed at the beginning the second half - swiftly followed by the rain - and playing conditions could not have been straightforward. A Lennon shot that squirted just wide was the first significant action of the half - apart from the snow.

With quality goalmouth action at a premium, despite plenty of endeavour, we waited for the spark to lift this contest. Juande Ramos responded with a double change - Darren Bent and Jamie O'Hara, for Lennon and Dawson, with Didier Zokora again switching to the back.

It remained stalemate all the way, but Pompey had the chance to steal when a long ball into our area was reacted to first by Kanu, who got in front of Robinson and looked set to finish until Zokora scooped the ball away from danger with a last-ditch manoeuvre.

The deadlock was broken in the 80th minute after both Steed Malbranque and Berbatov had a go in the area, Berbatov shooting downwards allowing Bent to get on the end of it and nod past James.

A minute later the other substitute delivered after Bent charged down the left and slipped the ball inside to where O'Hara was waiting to slot home.

It would be fair to suspect that the substitutions changed the game...

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SPURS V NEWCASTLE



Darren Bent made it two goals in two games, but it was Newcastle celebrating three valuable points come the end of the Sunday afternoon encounter at the Lane.

It looked like the struggles of the North East side would continue when Bent's header registered a lead, but a goal just before half-time from Nicky Butt completely altered the course of the game and Newcastle went on to dominate with a further three goals to show for their efforts.

The was a big scare on four minutes when a lapse from Jonathan Woodgate allowed Habib Beye to steal into the area from the right and the full-back lashed in a shot that crashed down off the underside of the bar and bounced to safety. It sign-posted a lively beginning from the visitors, who then saw a shot from Obafemi Martins foiled by Paul Robinson.

The goalkeeper then stooped brilliantly to turn away a poked effort from Joey Barton before Robbie Keane was flattened in the area by Abdoulaye Faye, only for a corner to be awarded by referee Mr Bennett. In a period of pressure, Woodgate's powerful header from the resulting corner was blocked by Stephen Harper, with Keane and Michael Dawson unable to seize on the rebound in time.

Keane later provided the threat to the left of the area from Jamie O'Hara's threaded pass, but squirted his shot across the face of goal.

Newcastle were facing a deficit on 25 minutes though when an inswinging cross from the left from Steed Malbranque was met by a precisely timed leap from Bent, who rose and steered his header beyond Harper to make it two goals in two games for the striker.

Bent proceeded to cause further havoc in the visiting defences with a charge into the danger zone and when the ball ran loose Dimitar Berbatov was unable to keep his blasted shot on target.

After a bit of a stale period leading into the break, Newcastle struck back in first half stoppage time when Nicky Butt wrapped his boot around the ball from the edge of the area and his shot squeezed into the bottom right hand corner.

Barton rattled a low drive just past the right hand upright early in the second half before the lead was seized on 51 minutes. A free-kick on the edge of the area, taken by Geremi, somehow found a route through the wall and crept into the net with Robinson completely unsighted.

Kevin Keegan's side were asserting control and Juande Ramos responded by replacing Keane and Malbranque with Adel Taarabt and Aaron Lennson. They continued to pour forward and dictate the momentum, with Robinson having to make a fine save to deny Mark Viduka after Didier Zokora gave away possession. Robinson was then forced into action to block a Viduka header.

They deservedly made it three on 65 minutes when Michael Owen worked his way into the area and curled a decisive plant past Robinson to spark joy on the visitors' bench.

Teemu Tainio stepped in for Zokora, but it was Owen who was presented with the next clear chance, getting in behind Dawson and, thankfully, this time not making it count.

A Berbatov header was cleared off the line as the boys sought to save the match but that was not about to happen. Even more so when a fourth was added on 82 minutes, Barton playing Martins through and the Nigerian speeded at the last line of our defence before slotting past Robinson.

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ROVERS V SPURS



Dimitar Berbatov converted to send us into an early lead, but Blackburn hit back in the first half and took a share of the spoils from the Ewood Park encounter.

Rovers were the more purposeful in the fourth minute when Radek Cerny - in for the injured Paul Robinson - crashed his clearance into David Bentley before succeeding in kicking only as far as Andre Ooijer. The Dutchman floated back in with the goalkeeper in retreat but a late punch ensured the score stayed level.

It only did so for another two minutes as good work from Steed Malbranque resulted in the returning Jermaine Jenas prodding inside to where the waiting Berbatov was waiting to poke home.

The influential Jenas was pulling the strings and if Berbatov had been a touch quicker off the mark it might have been two following the midfielder's raking pass, before Malbranque sent him striding clear only to see his strike foiled by the advancing Brad Friedel.

The first half of the first period brought a really brisk and confident display - very far removed from the second half of last week's meeting with Newcastle.

Just before the half-hour mark though, the home side were level and it stemmed from a Bentley shimmy leaving Pascal Chimbonda in his slipstream. The England man then calmly passed inside for Morten Gamst Pedersen to slide past Cerny. It was a clinically executed move.

The game then stumbled towards half-time after which Blackburn introduced the more attack-minded Brett Emerton for Ooijer.

Berbatov engineered the first action of the half when he latched onto the loose ball following a hoof from Michael Dawson and smacked goalwards, but Friedel was equal to the challenge.

Moments later Jason Roberts worked Cerny after being played in by Emerton before Didier Zokora set Lennon scurrying away, the little wideman picking out Malbranque, who possibly took a touch too many before testing Friedel down to his right.

Bentley fizzed in a shot just after the hour mark in a rare passage of play for either side that didn't break down at the final ball. However, there was a promising one from Berbatov across the face of goal and it took a last-ditch interception from Ryan Nelson to deny Robbie Keane a similar opening to his own in the opening minutes.

There was a double change in the 72nd minute, Chimbonda and Malbranque making way for Gilberto and Tom Huddlestone. The home side opted for the offensive and introduced Benni McCarthy in place of Pedersen. Darren Bent replaced Keane for the final 11 minutes.

The home crowd were later yelling for a penalty following a Gilberto block on Bentley - Mr Walton was having none of it. There wasn't the greatest of intensity or urgency in the final stages in the quest for maximum points and a draw was probably a fair reflection of the balance of play, although Roque Santa Cruz could have snatched a maximum return in stoppage time after bundling his way through to a contest with Cerny, which the goalkeeper won.

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SPURS 1, BORO 1



A long-range effort from Stewart Downing cancelled out a first half opener to deny the team home victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday.

An own goal on 25 minutes after Aaron Lennon fired back across goal saw the initiative grabbed, but Boro rallied in the second half and were rewarded when Downing's speculative shot took a slight deflection and bounced into the bottom corner.

It was probably a fair outcome in a game that didn't really spark into any thrills and spills, while Boro will be satisfied with an effective away-day display.

The Boro bench held arms aloft in the first couple of minutes when Radek Cerny spilled a shot from Jeremie Aliadiere and Alfonso Alves tapped in the rebound. Celebrations were promptly curtailed by the flag of the assistant.

The early alert did not really affect the ebb and flow of the performance, with the team in white posing much of the threat, but the final ball was not possessing the composure required on a quick surface.

There was an exquisite final ball on 11 minutes when Lennon seized the ball back in midfield and set Robbie Keane darting down the left. Keane delivered a flighted and measured centre onto the head of Dimitar Berbatov, but Mark Schwarzer was able to field on his line.

The Australian goalkeeper was called on again on 19 minutes when Jermaine Jenas forged a route through using his speed and looked set to add to his account before Schwarzer advanced off his line and denied the midfielder a memorable goal.

The deadlock was broken six minutes later when Berbatov picked up the scraps of an attack and simply lofted back into the danger zone, where Lennon in turn drilled into the six yard box and the knee of Jon Grounds diverted the ball past a helpless Schwarzer.

Boro launched a robust reaction without creating a significant threat and the scoreline remained unaltered at the break.

It was not an enthralling contest immediately after the interval, a David Wheater header knocked off the line by Lennon offered the visitors a little hope, but there was not a huge degree of urgency. Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate were not offering any encouragement to the strikeforce of Aliadiere and and Alves with strong performances.

A Berbatov shot hit the post before a Lennon cross was flicked off the head of Woodgate, but just beyond the Bulgarian. Gareth Southgate responded with the introduction of England Under-21 international Adam Johnson, quickly followed by the Brazilian Fabio Rochemback.

Downing tried his luck with 68 minutes on the clock from all of 30-odd yards, his shot clipping the head of Jenas and flying into the bottom left hand corner. It had a quietening effect on an atmosphere that was bubbling up with the crowd attempting to stir the team into further goals.

Darren Bent was introduced in place of Lennon in an attempt to inject more drive into attack, but the momentum was with Boro and Alves sped through with ten minutes remaining and rolled the ball just wide with only Cerny to beat.

Substitute Gilberto then had to throw himself in the way of a goalbound shot from Tuncay, before Aliadiere spun and shot just wide in the closing moments.

Tom Huddlestone came close to forcing a howler out of Schwarzer when his free-kick bounced back off the goalkeeper, but he lurched forward and redeemed himself to ensure this contest ended level.

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WIGAN 1, SPURS 1



Dimitar Berbatov matched his goals tally of last season with a clinical finish in the 1-1 draw against Wigan on Saturday.

On a blustery afternoon in the north west the Bulgarian slotted us into the lead but it was one that could not be maintained and a third draw in a row was recorded after Emile Heskey's first half leveller.

In truth, Wigan created more and better openings in the second half and looked most likely to score, but a draw it remained.

The JJB Stadium was far from full but, behind the goal protected by Radek Cerny in the first half, the Spurs thousands were out in force again and there was a gasp in the opening seconds when Robbie Keane squeezed into the area and gave Chris Kirkland an early feel of the ball.

Just five minutes were on the clock when a sublime ball from Tom Huddlestone set Aaron Lennon speeding away down the right. He managed a precise delivery and, after a little flick off a defensive head, Berbatov stole in to steer beyond Kirkland for his 23rd goal of the season - matching last term's tally.

Marcus Bent then warmed Cerny's hands for the first time in the afternoon, but he was soon to be picking the ball out of his net. Heskey shrugged off the attentions of Didier Zokora before shooting on the turn and beating the Czech low to his left.

Wigan warmed to their task, marshalled by Michael Brown snapping at yellow heels all over the park, but the quality was coming from those on unfamiliar, not to mention patchy, turf.

Wilson Palacios attempted to capitalise on Jermaine Jenas' loss of possession just after the half hour mark and unleashed a swerver that Cerny only managed to grab at the second attempt. Berbatov was flattened in the area by Mario Melchiot in an incident referee Mr Probert mustn't have seen otherwise Kirkland would have been in the firing line from 12 yards.

Steed Malbranque and Berbatov both came close to restoring the advantage before a Michael Dawson header from close range was cleared off the line by Ryan Taylor.

Wigan were quicker out of the blocks at the beginning of the second half, a Taylor free-kick being well charged down by the wall before Alan Hutton did well to muscle the same player out of a clear route on a goal. At the other end the advancing Kirkland did particular well in foiling Lennon's shot after the wide man had sneaked into the right hand side of the penalty area.

A drilled Berbatov ball came close to setting Keane free, but the Wigan Bent did find himself in the clear moments later and rattled his effort off the underside of the crossbar after our defences were dissected with ease down the left side.

The home team were cranking up the pressure ahead of Jenas working himself a shooting chance after some neat approach play, but his shot under pressure went high. Cerny was forced into a block from Heskey after a cross from Antonio Valencia, which was followed by the introduction of Darren Bent in place of Keane.

Heskey was removed from the equation due to injury and Antoine Sibierski took to the field and was straight in the thick of it with a volleying chance that got the crowd excited but came closer to disturbing the corner flag.

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SPURS V BOLTON



A fourth 1-1 draw in a row was recorded at White Hart Lane as Luka Modric watched Steed Malbranque level the score after Bolton took a lead against the run of play early in the second half.


Despite the visitor's need for the points being far more acute, it was Juande Ramos' side who went all out for the win, with goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi making several crucial stops to keep it at three games unbeaten for his team in their bid to avoid the drop.

The opening stages were devoid of significant goalmouth action, bar a Robbie Keane effort from the edge of the area on an afternoon with more of an August feel to it than an April one. But spring it is and Bolton, with a packed support in the away end to bolster their survival instincts, were sure to prove resolute opponents with all to play for.

Steed Malbranque bent a shot just wide on 27 minutes as the team in white before Gilberto, making his full league debut, unleashed a shot that took Ali Al Habsi by surprise, the goalkeeper clutching on after the Brazilian tried his luck from 25-30 yards.

Modric was watching on from the Directors' Box as the team asserted control of a rapidly elapsing first half without really putting Al Habsi in a state of high alert.

He was though when a Gilberto free-kick took a deflection and rattled against the post on the stroke of half-time. Alan Hutton was replaced after the interval by Tom Huddlestone, with Didier Zokora dropping in at right-back.

It was a Bolton substitute who made an immediate impact. Stelios pouncing to score a minute after the break when failure to clear a low cross was punished, the Greek beating Radek Cerny to the ball.

The lead, thankfully, did not last too long and when Jermaine Jenas pushed the ball into Robbie Keane, the striker spun and shot. His effort deflected fortunately into the path of Malbraque, who steered low past Al Habsi.

Michael Dawson was immediately withdrawn, Huddlestone dropped in at centre half, Keane retreated into midfield and Darren Bent was introduced into attack.

Keane then came close to securing an advantage when a Berbatov cut back was met by the skipper, who jinked past a couple of challenges before pulling the trigger, only for the body of Al Habsi to rescue his side.

He wouldn't have had a prayer if Malbranque had hit the target with his far post volley from Keane's cross just before the hour mark.

Al Habsi did brilliantly to tip away Berbatov's arrowed low drive towards the bottom corner as the tide of pressure threatened to overwhelm the visitors. A Huddlestone throughball sent Bent clear but the bouncing ball favoured Al Habsi and the goalkeeper managed to grab.

The goalscorer Malbranque made way for Jamie O'Hara with 13 minutes left on the clock, but it was Jonathan Woodgate who next came close to troubling the scoreboard when he flashed a header just wide from an O'Hara corner.

Bent then watched in agony as Danny Guthrie cleared his header off the line and finally, in added time, Berbatov looked odds-on to bag the winner only to head O'Hara's free-kick over unmarked in front of goal. It was one of those days...

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READING V SPURS



Robbie Keane boosted his tally to a personal best of 23 with the goal that defeated Reading on Saturday.


That this fixture remained a contest until the final whistle is one of the mysteries of this game as it should have been over and out at the end of the first half completely dominated by the team in yellow. As it turned out, Reading clung on and remained in contention, meaning an uncomfortable last ten minutes or so.

You could sense the tension inside the Madejski Stadium where you got the feeling that focus was divided between here and events by the Thames to the west of London. Not that the Reading people weren't cranking up the noise in a bid to inspire their team, the stands were a sea of blue and white stripes.

The more composed and constructive football early came from the team in all yellow in what was a surprisingly open contest with plenty of space to ping passes around in midfield. Tom Huddlestone did just that when he picked out the run of Steed Malbranque down the left flank. After a little scurry the Frenchman arrowed over a cross that clipped the head of a launching Darren Bent.

Minutes later the dangerous Bent powered his through, again from the prompting of Malbranque, and picked his spot, only for the outstretched foot of Marcus Hahnemann to deny him an opener. A Huddlestone cut back then allowed Malbranque to try the unusual and drag the ball backwards in front of goal, but the Reading rearguard were alert to the situation.

With 15 minutes on the clock Bent brilliantly stretched his legs again and surge away from home side attentions before spiriting the ball into the path of Keane, who jinked inside before prodding past Hahnemann low to the goalkeeper's left. It was a sweet move superbly executed that resulted in a personal best for skipper.

Hahnemann athletically thwarted Keane from a free-kick just outside the area after Malbranque was chopped down by Andre Bikey before a brilliant passage of play ended with Keane slipping through to Malbranque who calmly curled past Hahnemann. He was clearly onside but the flag was raised.

Reading were all at sea and the destination of the points should have been determined inside the first 30 minutes. Keane should have made it two minutes before the break when the industrious Malbranque unlocked the gate for the striker to pit his wits against Hahnemann, but a late Liam Rosenior challenge was enough to knock his effort off course.

The advantage could have been doubled in the first moments of the second half when Alan Hutton picked out Keane in the area, the striker drilling across goal to where Malbranque was sliding in at the far post. It was the side netting that was shaking and Reading were given another lifeline.

Bent looked like adding his name to the scoresheet when Keane and Jermaine Jenas combined to present him with an opening in front of Hahnemann, only for a last-ditch lunge from Nicky Shorey that spared his goalkeeper.

At the other end, in a rare sortie forward, Leroy Lita finally warmed the hands of Radek Cerny with shooting from an angle his only option with support slow in support. The head of Didier Zokora then got in the way of a decent looking shot from Bikey that could well have made its way into the top corner without his intervention.

Just past the hour mark Jamie O'Hara was introduced in place of Tom Huddlestone and he almost made an immediate impact with a raking left foot cross that just had Bent stretching his neck a little too much. Substitute Marek Matejovsky sidefooted narrowly wide as Reading roused a little going into the final 20 minutes.

Steve Coppell's side began to crank it up as the stakes were increased with news that Fulham had taken the lead against Birmingham at Craven Cottage but Bent caught them on the break and smashed in a low drive that came off the inside of the post and to safety.

Kevin Prince Boateng took the place of Keane with 14 minutes left on the clock, but the next Spurs player in significant action was Cerny who reacted smartly to his right to thwart Dave Kitson inside the final five minutes. He then saved brilliantly to his left to claw away Rosenior's goalbound strike.

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SPURS V LIVERPOOL


We bade farewell to season 2007-08 with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at the Lane.


Wearing next season's kit, the team were well in what was pretty much an even, if largely uneventful contest, until Andriy Voronin gave the visitors the lead deep into the second half. Fernando Torres doubled the advantage and Liverpool finished with a win.

It was a sluggish beginning in the sun until Voronin worked Radek Cerny for the first time towards the ten minute work with a smart volley. The Czech then needed strong palms to divert Ryan Babel's fierce drive to safety.

Jermaine Jenas and Dimitar Berbatov combined on 15 minutes to provide half a chance for Robbie Keane but, from the Bulgarian's flick, Pepe Reina just beat the striker to the punch.

The next time either of the goalkeepers was in action was 25 minutes in when Reina stopped to fingertip away a powerful header from Berbatov that was snaking inside the right hand post.

In truth, however, the game meandered towards the break with neither side getting a grip of the game or in any way dictating.

There was a double change at half-time with the introduction of both Tom Huddlestone and Teemu Tainio, with Jenas and Jamie O'Hara making way, but it was Torres who nearly seized the lead following a burst from Steven Gerrard. The Spanish international picked his spot and it took the feet of Cerny to prevent him adding to his prolific Premier League total.

Keane had the chance to add to his at the other end after Steed Malbranque teed him up with a throughball to the left of the area, but the striker dragged his shot across goal. A big cheer went up with news of West Ham losing at home to Aston Villa and it roused the crowd to push the team on for a possible 10th place finish.

Gerrard dipped an effort just over the bar after good work from Javier Mascherano, with Liverpool having already drafted Yossi Benayoun from the bench. Malbranque, moments later, rattled the side netting.

The deadlock was broken on 69 when a Torres flick on allowed Voronin to squeeze in behind Alan Hutton and toe-poked beyond Cerny. Four minutes later it was two when Benayoun fed Torres, who advanced and beat Michael Dawson before prodding past Cerny. Torres could have made it two with a similar run a couple of minutes later.

Cerny was called into action to save off his own player when a Gerrard cross was nodded towards the top corner by Hutton before Torres struck the bar with an effort from outside the area.

Cerny then did well to palm away from Benayoun before Tainio hammered our final shot of the season into Paxton Road.

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Gr-eight for Gio


Giovani dos Santos marked his first appearance in a Spurs shirt with two goals as we beat local side Tavernes 8-0 in a training ground friendly in Spain on Monday night.

The forward looked lively as he bagged both his goals in the second half of our first friendly this pre-season.

Head Coach Juande Ramos opted to line-up with different XI's in each half and, as expected, the 'home' team provided a tough barrier in the first half.

Darren Bent hit the post and headed just wide, Benoit Assou-Ekotto fired just over and Jermaine Jenas saw a volley saved before the opener finally arrived in the 28th minute - via the head of Aaron Lennon, who powered home John Bostock's cross.

Despite peppering the goal for the rest of the half, it somehow stayed at 1-0 and it was left for the second half team to turn all that possession into goals.

Pekhart led the way with a cracker into the top corner with only a couple of minutes on the clock - his first for the senior team - and goals followed regularly from there.

Dos Santos got on the act quickly with a cheeky goal from a tight angle and both he, Pekhart and Jamie O'Hara ended with two goals each - the pick, the eighth and final goal as O'Hara curled home with some style from the edge of the area into the top corner. Steed Malbranque completed the scoring.

Here's how the goals went in...

27.16: Bostock pinpoint cross from the left powered home by the head of Lennon from 16 yards. 1-0.

47.18: Berbatov and O'Hara involved in the move that led to Pekhart rifling into the top corner from the edge of the box. 2-0.

53.24: Huddlestone picked out dos Santos on the left, he carried the ball into the box, the keeper anticipated the cross, dos Santos drilled home at his near post. 3-0.

63.25: Hutton broke down the right and cut the ball back for Berbatov, he controlled and crossed low for Pekhart to sweep home from 10 yards. 4-0.

68.20: Tavernes failed to clear their lines and dos Santos made no mistake from eight yards. 5-0.

76.20: Pekhart into the box, left side, squared for Malbranque who slotted home from 12 yards. 6-0.

84.50: Townsend found O'Hara who drove past a couple of defenders before finishing from a central position into the corner. 7-0.

85.51: Goal of the night - we kept possession for a spell before O'Hara curled into the top corner from 20 yards. 8-0.

First half: Alnwick, Gunter, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Chimbonda, Lennon, Jenas, Taarabt, Bostock, Keane, Bent.

Second half: Jansson, Hutton, Townsend, Tainio, Archibald-Henville, Malbranque, O'Hara, Huddlestone, dos Santos, Berbatov, Pekhart.

[100%cypriot]

Two out of two



The lads made it two wins from two training ground games in Spain with a 4-2 win over C.D. Denia on Saturday evening.

Adel Taarabt and Jermaine Jenas struck for us in the first half, while an own goal and a Darren Bent strike ensured victory as the lads stepped up their preparations ahead of the new campaign with many of the squad playing between 60 and the full 90 minutes.

Denia play two divisions higher than previous opponents Tavernes, competing in the Segunda Division B Group 3, the third tier of Spanish football, and certainly demonstrated they were of a higher quality.

They could have led after 20 minutes when Michael Dawson was forced to head off the line from a curling strike destined for the top right corner.

Nevertheless we controlled possession for large spells and were eventually rewarded for our endeavours with two goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half. However, any hopes of taking a two-goal advantage in at the break were dashed in the final minute of the half when Denia reduced the deficit.

Two changes were made at the interval when goalscorer Jenas and John Bostock made way for Robbie Keane and Giovani dos Santos and within nine minutes our two-goal cushion was restored thanks to an own goal after good work from Andros Townsend on the left flank.

Our fourth goal was not long in coming with Giovani setting Bent up for a simple tap in on 59 minutes.

Denia claimed a consolation strike shortly after Jonathan Woodgate, Tomas Pekhart and Oscar Jansson had entered the action along with Bostock who returned to play out the final 30 minutes.

Here's how the goals went in:

30.26: Gomes quick roll out to Jenas who runs unchallenged past the halfway line before playing the ball right to Lennon whose low centre is met by Taarabt, who turned his marker inside out and applied a low finish at the near post. 1-0

38.16: Jenas exchanges passes with Taarabt and then Bent to go through on goal and slot into the net. 2-0

44.27: Volley from outside the penalty area bounces through a crowded box and eludes Gomes. 2-1

54.23: Townsend slips past the full-back to deliver a teasing cross from the byline on the left, which the defender pokes into his own net. 3-1

59.31: Giovani evades offside trap to latch on to Taarabt through pass, goalkeeper rushes out of his box and the Mexican international generously squares the ball for Bent to tap into an empty net. 4-1

70.38: Fiercely struck free-kick from the left finds the net. 4-2

Spurs: Gomes (Jansson 63), Gunter, Dawson (Zokora 63), Archibald-Henville (Woodgate 63), Townsend, Lennon (Bostock 63), Huddlestone, Jenas (Keane 46), Bostock (Giovani 46), Taarabt, Bent (Pekhart 63).

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Hercules CF 1, Spurs 1


Full-time: Hercules CF 1, Spurs 1

Added time: CHANCE - SPURS. O'Hara free-kick caused havoc, ball fell to Bostock, sharp chance lashed wide.

87.31: CHANCE - SPURS. Bent took a whack turning the ball into path of Berbatov, he laid ball into path of dos Santos who cut inside Sergia Diaz onto his left foot and looked set to curl into corner but Diaz managed block at full stretch.

85.43: CHANCE - SPURS. Dos Santos run down the right, into the box, squared for Berbatov who curled just wide with the outside of his right foot from 12 yards.

84.29: Dos Santos held off Bautista long enough for Gunter to come charging in from right, tricky to take shot running at such pace and hit into ground at keeper.

80.37: SUBS - SPURS. Townsend and Bostock for Lennon and Jenas.

78.03: YELLOW CARD - SPURS. Lennon for foul on Luisao.

76.12: Great defending from Dawson as Luisao threatened to get onto Santacruz's pass in front of goal.

73.13: CHANCE - SPURS. Lennon free-kick from left picked out Huddlestone on the edge of the box, rifled full volley back at goal, flashed through to Bent on the six-yard line, couldn't quite guide it towards goal.

69.52: CLOSE - SPURS. Dos Santos cut onto his left foot from right corner of box and drilled shot just wide.

61.40: SUBS - SPURS. O'Hara and Zokora for Assou-Ekotto and Woodgate. Huddlestone to centre-half, Zokora central midfield, O'Hara left-back.

60.30: Good work from Bent down the left and crossed for Gunter arriving late at far post, claimed he was pushed by Santacruz as he went for header, corner awarded.

52.40: Dos Santos low drive into side-netting from 22 yards.

48.45: SAVE - GOMES. Javi Gonzalez whipped in free-kick from right met by Santacruz header six yards out, Gomes instinctive fingertip around the post diving to his right.

48.15: YELLOW CARD - SPURS. Woodgate for foul on Moran.

10.34pm local time: 2ND HALF KICKS OFF

Half-time: Hercules CF 1, Spurs 1

44.22: YELLOW CARD - SPURS. Huddlestone for trip on Moran.

34.40: GOAL - SPURS. Lennon curled in corner from the left, Woodgate and Bent went up together, met it together, the ball looped into the far corner. Bent looked the more likely scorer!
Hercules 1, Spurs 1

32.51: YELLOW CARD - HERCULES. Dani Carril for second poor tackle on Lennon.

28.52: SAVE - ALBA. Dos Santos down the left, control and lay-back from Berbatov for Huddlestone to strike with his left foot from 25 yards, Alba did well to beat away.

21.30: SAVE - GOMES. Javi Gonzalez shot from 20 yards saw Gomes fly through the air to parry away to his right.

19.06: CHANCE - HERCULES. Moran cross found Javi Gonzalez, eight yards out, guided header wide.

17.55: CLOSE - SPURS. Huddlestone cross from right met by Bent climbing above Dani Carrill and Sergio, powerful header zipped just wide from penalty spot.

16.06: OFF LINE - HERCULES. Lennon's first real chance to have a run at Dani Carril and shot past him, good cross from byline met by dos Santos at far post, header on its way before Exposito hacked away.

12.57: YELLOW CARD - HERCULES. Javi Gonzalez for rash tackle on Assou-Ekotto.

11.27: Bent competed well for Dawson's pass, dos Santos picked up the loose ball, found Bent again and the striker curled a yard over from the edge of the box.

6.08: Javi Gonzalez strike from 20 yards produced routine save from Gomes diving to his left.

4.48mins: GOAL - HERCULES. Decent cross from Javi Gonzalez from the right met by Addison 10 yards out, actually didn't connect with header all that well but ball came off shoulder and looped into the far corner.
Hercules 1, Spurs 0

9.32pm local time: KICK-OFF.

9.29pm local time: Teams on their way out and we are led by Jermaine Jenas, who wears the captain's armband.

THE LINE-UPS

Hercules CF: Unai Alba, Dani Carril, Sergio, Camara, Javi Gonzalez, Sendoa, Abraham Paz, Exposito, Moran, Adisson, Calero. Subs: Calatuyud, Ruz, Rodri, Farinos, Cesar, Dani Bautista, Sergio Diaz, Santacruz, Raul, Luisao, Sergio Serrano, Efren, Kiko, Celso.

Spurs: Gomes, Gunter, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Woodgate, Lennon, Jenas, Huddlestone, dos Santos, Bent, Berbatov. Subs: Jansson, Zokora, Archibald-Henville, Bostock, O'Hara, Townsend, Taarabt, Pekhart.