Tottenham Hotspur

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

SPURS 0 - WIGAN 0

Plenty of effort but no real reward as Juande Ramos' side were held to a goal-less draw by Wigan Athletic at The Lane.

The result means we are still searching for our first victory of the Barclays Premier League season after five games.

It was a scrappy and largely uneventful first half with no clear cut opportunities being created by either side.

Heurelho Gomes was arguably the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first 45 minutes, and he made a splendid full-stretch save to keep out Paul Scharner's neat volley two minutes before the break.

At the other end, Chris Kirkland's only real test of the opening period was to deal with Darren Bent's 20-yard shot on 18 minutes - and he was comfortable in doing so.

Head Coach Ramos introduced Fraizer Campbell at half-time in the hope the striker would have a similar impact to what he did in our UEFA Cup win over Wisla Krakow on Thursday.

As the game dragged on with the Wigan defence still to be penetrated, Ramos injected a bit of pace into the side with the introduction of Aaron Lennon on 64 minutes.

Then the sparks began to flicker. Almost immediately after coming off the bench, the lightning winger broke down the right and put a dangerous ball across the face of goal.

Although this was cut out, Lennon picked up on the rebound and appeared to be upended in the box by Maynor Figueroa as he looked to go past him. But referee Steve Tanner waved away the appeals.

Lennon was not to be deterred as he came closer than anybody to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes later.

He picked up on Campbell's knock down on the edge of the box and flashed a smart left foot shot agonisingly wide of Kirkland's post.

Campbell himself was then just inches away from Gareth Bale's teasing cross moments later as Spurs looked for what at this stage would surely be the winner.

With seven minutes left, Bent went looking for a fourth goal in as many games when he picked up on a loose ball on the edge of the box and slammed a ferocious shot wide.

Our leading goalscorer then turned provider as he teed up Jamie O'Hara on the left side of the penalty area for an effort that went even closer to finally bursting the net.

Tom Huddlestone, another second half substitute, then stung the palms of Kirkland with a trademark 30-yard hit as full-time edged ever closer.

We were given a warning by the visitors four minutes from time when Olivier Kapo was left unmarked in the box only to head over Antonio Valencia's cross.

Moments later, the Frenchman forced Gomes into a good save having let fly with his right foot after cutting inside from the left.

But overall, Spurs were the better side and arguably deserved more than the point we have to show from this encounter.

Spurs (4-4-2): Gomes; Zokora, Corluka, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto; Bentley (Lennon, 64), Jenas, O'Hara, Bale (Huddlestone, 80); Pavlyuchenko (Campbell, 46), Bent
Subs not used: Cesar, Gilberto, Gunter, Giovani

Wigan (4-4-2): Kirkland; Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa; Valencia, Scharner, Palacios, Koumas (Kapo, 72); Heskey, Zaki (Camara, 82)
Subs not used: Pollitt, Taylor, Kilbane, De Ridder, Kingson

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

NEWCASTLE 1 - SPURS 2

A place in Saturday's draw for the fourth round of the Carling Cup was booked as our defence of the trophy began with victory at Newcastle by a 2-1 margin.

It represented our first win in domestic competition this season and will surely prove the perfect tonic to take into Sunday's Premier League contest against Portsmouth.

Roman Pavlyuchenko opened his account in a Spurs shirt to get us underway before Jamie O'Hara extended the advantage, seeing to it that a certain degree of confidence was restored to the ranks.

There were two changes from the side that started the eventual stalemate against Wigan last time out, with Ledley King and Aaron Lennon returning to the fold from the off.

Pavlyuchenko was provided with the opportunity to present his case for running solo in attack when the occasion next demands, this time in a cavernous arena that the locals opted to not populate in numbers on the night.

Both Pavlyuchenko and Heurelho Gomes took hefty bumps in the line of duty early on before our first threat on the home goal on 19 minutes. A Gareth Bale free-kick from left - a result of a hack by Geremi on Benoit Assou-Ekotto - was swung in and met by the shin of Jonathan Woodgate in front of goal. The defender's shin did not prove accurate in directing the ball goalwards.

A Jamie O'Hara corner was met cleverly by the head of Pavlyuchenko just after the half hour mark, before Woodgate threw his head at a set piece centre eight minutes before the break.

The pressing and more opportunist play was coming from the team in light blue and the Magpies were flapping a little, especially when Lennon sent Shay Given scurrying sideways unsure of whether his shot was going inside or outside of the upright.

In stoppage time Geremi tried his luck from a long-range free-kick that was diverted off the head of Cacapa and gave Gomes an anxious second as he watched it skid past his left hand post.

It was not an inspiring first half with both sides a little tentative in their attacking play, the result of which was probably more yellow cards than genuine goalscoring chances.

There was a real one shortly after the break when Damien Duff stole through and shot across Gomes and, as the home crowd rose to salute an opener, Woodgate slid in and scooped off the line.

Giovani was introduced with 52 minutes on the clock to replace the tiring Bale and the Mexican international instantly added some fizz to proceedings with a couple of darting runs deep into opposition territory. Assou-Ekotto then warmed up Given with a shot from distance on an increasingly chilly night.

Michael Owen then spun Woodgate and Gomes was forced to foil.

On 61 minutes the deadlock was broken and Pavlyuchenko was off the mark. A superbly flighted cross from the left by Lennon flew onto the grateful head of the Russian, who propelled the ball powerfully past Given.

The joy was doubled five minutes later - during which time Fraizer Campbell replaced Lennon - when Jamie O'Hara charged down Steven Taylor and broke through on goal. Bearing down on Given, he remained cool and applied a left-foot finish.

Pavlyuchenko was given a breather to allow for the return of Luka Modric after his knee injury. Gomes protected his clean sheet with a smart block from a powerful drive from Obafemi Martins, looking more and more a complete, composed and athletic goalkeeper.

He could do little about Michael Owen netting a consolation just before stoppage time, the Brazilian lurching out bravely to knock a Geremi cross off course, but the predator that is Owen was waiting to smash home the loose ball and offer some hope to the home side in the added three minutes.

It may not be points on the board in the Premier League, but it could well be a signpost towards improved fortunes ahead.

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

PORTSMOUTH 2 - SPURS 0

Portsmouth clinched victory by a 2-0 margin at Fratton Park, a goal in each half leaving us still awaiting a first Premier League victory this term.

It was a case of perfect timing for Pompey, a penalty given for handball against Jermain Jenas lifted the home gloom after successive heavy defeats, while the second from a counter-attack came when a leveller appeared most likely.

The restored David Bentley served up some early notice of intent with an arrowing set piece from the right inside the first couple minutes that Jonathan Woodgate headed goalwards, but there was also a signal of the danger at the other end when a Peter Crouch flick-on landed in the path of Jermain Defoe, who proceeded to steer past Heurelho Gomes. Thankfully the flag of the assistant saw to it that Pompey were not given an early cause for celebration.

Richard Hughes then took Gomes slightly by surprise by packing some considerable power into a shot on the slide, but the goalkeeper did well to parry. A Vedran Corluka charge down the right, moments later, resulted in Jamie O'Hara just arriving a fraction too late to record his second goal in two games.

Gomes made a superb reaction save from a Hughes smash just after 20 minutes and ended up on the receiving end of a boot in the eye from Crouch. Pompey were picking up a bit of momentum, although the pressure point was mostly a direct route up to Crouch and seizing on the second ball.

On 33 minutes the home side took the lead from the spot after Jenas lead with his arm when attempting to clear a high ball from the right. Defoe did the honours with Gomes coming pretty close to getting his hands to his strike to the keeper's right.

Portsmouth now held an advantage in a game where there was not much in it, although Roman Pavlyuchenko being isolated in attack was an issue that needed addressing during half-time and the introduction of Aaron Lennon appeared likely.

It proved to be the case and Lennon replaced Gilberto after the break, no doubt to inject some pace in support of the Russian.

There was greater urgency in the approach play of the team, with Lennon seeking to attack Glen Johnson at every opportunity and, from one such sortie, Pavlyuchenko headed just wide. A dash from Nadir Belhadj led to Gomes making another smart reaction save at his near post before a Lennon cross struck the arm of Lassana Diara but, on this occasion, referee Mr Dean deemed that the ball hitting arm was not a penalty awarding offence.

Giovani was next on for Didier Zokora with 57 minutes on the clock and he quickly began to cause problems with his tricky running. From him being illegally halted on one such run, a Bentley free-kick dipped into the area and the outstretched leg of Pavlyuchenko could not quite guide the ball towards goal.

A two-goal deficit was inflicted on 67 minutes when, from a speedy counter, Armand Traore drilled a shot in that Gomes blocked, but the loose ball looped up towards the head of Crouch and the England striker applied the nod to double the advantage for the home side.

The goal was against the run of the play and the scoreline not in tune with the course of events. Darren Bent came off the bench to try and provide some thrust up front, with Pavlyuchenko withdrawn.

A Woodgate chip forward did set Bent in motion but, while he went wide to avoid David James, he could not keep his effort from flying high. Lennon did force a fine save out of the England keeper before Pompey were reduced to ten following Diarra's lunge on Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

It came too late to really have any effect on the outcome and it is now off to Poland on a mission to book UEFA Cup group stage football for the next few months.

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

Job done

A place in the Group Stage of the UEFA Cup was secured via a 2nd leg draw with Wisla Krakow in the first round.

Continued involvement in the competition was booked with our 2-1 White Hart Lane advantage being extended by a second half own goal at the Wisly Stadion. Wisla levelled late on and we were forced to endure a number of nervy moments, but it is our name that will be entered into the draw for the next stage.

It was a cautious probing start by both sides on a cool and bright afternoon in Krakow, a kind of early sparring before any knockout blows were landed. Given the scoreline, neither side needed to adopt a quick out of the blocks approach but, possession-wise, it was the team in black calling the shots on balance.

Chances were very much few and far between in the cagey opening 20 minutes , although Mauro Cantoro could have done better when he sneaked in to the left of the penalty area, which resulted in a rather feeble strike across goal that Heurelho Gomes was easily able to field.

Pawel Brozek tested the keeper to a greater degree just before the half an hour mark, but general containment appeared to be the order of the day in the first half, a no-risk strategy from both teams. A Gareth Bale cross from the left caused momentary concern for the Wisla rearguard when it was flicked on at the near post but, overall, Mariusz Pawelek was having a routine sort of afternoon in goal for the home side.

Just before half-time Gomes ensured we retained our aggregate advantage when Radoslaw Sobolewski burst through and, as the population of the currently three-sided arena prepared to party, Gomes did enough to thwart and divert for a corner. Junior Diaz concerned him to a lesser extent before the whistle sounded.

Luka Modric teed up Fraizer Campbell shortly after the break with the young striker firing narrowly over, while a Bale cross nearly squirted in at the near post before Modric worked Pawelek low to his right.

The deadlock on the day was broken in the 58th minute when, after a period of possession, a low first time cross from Bale was clipped into the corner of the net - prompting joy in the far corner of the ground, led by a certain Mr Gomes. Originally it appeared that Campbell got the touch, but replays suggested that it was an own goal.

It then looked like the moment Didier Zokora was about to break his Spurs duck when he sped through, but the midfielder floated his finish wide of the post when Campbell was in a better position to score.

Campbell was withdrawn and Darren Bent was next to trying his luck, drilling a fraction wide after sidestepping his marker at the top right hand corner of the penalty area.

The team were now dominant in pretty much all areas, galvanised by the goal and looking to top up the advantage - a teasing Lennon cross just clearing the head of Bent on 74 minutes.

Gomes produced a spectacular save to prevent Pawel Brozek's header rattling the net from Marek Zienczuk's corner. It was a save that was as crucial as it was magnificent, with Wisla building up a head of steam in an attempt to force their way back into the tie.

They did just that eight minutes from time when a long ball dissected our defences and Brozek darted through and lofted over the advancing Gomes and the ball bounced into the net.

Nerves were jangling as the home crowd did their utmost to inspire Wisla towards a goal that would have led to extra time. More heroics from Gomes denied Cleber and he was on hand again to clutch hold of the rebound.

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

Close but not enough

Geovanni's thunderbolt first-half free-kick was all that separated the sides as we suffered our third home defeat of the season at the hands of Hull City.

It was an entertaining encounter throughout with plenty of effort and endeavour from Juande Ramos' side.

But for all the chances created, we failed to find the equaliser we deserved and remain at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League going into the latest international break.

It was frantic from the start and we came out of the traps fast, forcing visiting goalkeeper Boaz Myhill into two early saves.

Both chances came about in goalmouth scrambles but neither Gareth Bale nor Roman Pavlyuchenko could force the ball past the Welsh international stopper.

In between the two chances, Geovanni had the chance to give Hull the lead, and although he blazed over from six yards on that occasion, he put his side in-front on nine minutes.

The Brazilian struck an unstoppable free-kick from a full 30 yards which angled perfectly into Heurelho Gomes' right-hand top corner, giving the keeper no chance whatsoever.

It was a tough blow to take so early on, but our heads did not drop and we arguably had the better of the first half overall.

Fraizer Campbell struck the side-netting after a quickly-taken Jermaine Jenas free-kick on 15 minutes, and we were to hit Myhill's woodwork twice before the break.

First, on 22 minutes, Bale unleashed his own 30-yard screamer of a free-kick, which the keeper did fantastically well to tip onto the bar.

Two minutes before half-time, we were denied again when Aaron Lennon pulled the ball across the face of goal for Jonathan Woodgate to run onto for the finish. But his goal-bound shot hit defender Michael Turner and was unfortunately deflected onto the post.

Hull also hit the woodwork in the first half when Dean Marney turned on the edge of the box and beat Gomes with his shot, only to see it hit the right-hand upright.

And although Marlon King's fierce 25-yard shot stung the palms of the Brazilian on 39 minutes, the Tigers produced little else other than the goal going forward in the opening period.

We continued to dominate into the second half as we searched for the equaliser we so dearly needed.

A beautiful outside of the boot ball from Luka Modric released substitute Darren Bent on 58 minutes, and although he neatly lifted the ball over the out-rushing Myhill, it rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

More chances followed as Campbell narrowly headed David Bentley's right-wing cross over on the stretch, and Bent was denied again by a splendid Turner tackle after being teed up in the box by Jenas.

With eight minutes remaining, Campbell's cross from the right found Modric at the back post, but the Croatian could only volley over as time ticked away.

And to cap it off, Myhill could only watch as Bale put another delightful free-kick just inches wide with the last kick of the game.

Another save from King on 75 minutes was the only action Gomes saw in the second half, but this fact was sadly not reflected in the scoreline.

Spurs (4-1-4-1): Gomes; Gunter (Bentley, 55), Corluka, Woodgate, Bale; Zokora; Lennon (Giovani, 74), Jenas, Modric, Campbell; Pavlyuchenko (Bent, 35)
Subs not used: Cesar, Dawson, O'Hara, Assou-Ekotto

Hull (4-3-1-2) Myhill; McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson; Marney, Ashbee, Boateng; Geovanni (Halmosi, 71); King (Folan, 81), Cousin (Mendy, 61)
Subs not used: Duke, Hughes, Garcia, Ricketts

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

Paying the penalty

Stoke took the points at the Britannia Stadium against a Spurs side reduced to ten men from the 16-minute mark in the match.

Gareth Bale was dismissed for a trip on Tom Soares, the double punishment being the award of a penalty from which the home side gleefully seized the lead. Darren Bent was quick to respond with a smart finish, but Stoke capitalised on their numerical advantage early in the second half and there proved no way back.

Stoke did have the chance to cushion their lead, but Ricardo Fuller missed a stoppage time penalty.

Alan Hutton returned to the fold to make his first appearance of the season after recovery from a stress fracture of the foot, while Roman Pavlyuchenko started on the bench following the ankle injury he sustained last time out against Hull City.

The Britannia Stadium is very much open to the elements, with only one corner being enclosed, and a gusting wind was circulating the arena.

It was nearly an ill wind on seven minutes when Rory Delap threaded through to the advancing Tom Soares, who was positioned to the right of the area. The former Crystal Palace man was offered a free shy on goal and thankfully Heurelho Gomes was on hand to make a smart save.

We then sampled Delap's strength of arm as opposed to feet when his throw arrowed towards goal and Dave Kitson promptly clattered Gomes as he attempted to punch clear. At the other end Jermaine Jenas prodded through to pick out the run of Darren Bent, but Ibrahima Sonko lunged in to thwart any goal threat.

The game turned on 16 minutes when Gareth Bale miscontrolled and Soares darted through, only to be tripped by the full-back, who was then issued with a red. After a delay due to the wind blowing the ball off the spot, Danny Higginbotham dispatched past Gomes and sent the home fans into raptures three minutes later.

The response was thankfully swift with a purposeful run from Hutton resulting in him poking the ball, via a deflection, in the direction of Bent, who held off challenges and steered past Thomas Sorensen on 25 minutes.

The goal led to an improvement and an upping of the tempo from the team in blue, with Luka Modric becoming more influential. Didier Zokora was deployed at left-back, while Aaron Lennon, David Bentley and Jenas were charged with getting forward to support Bent.

Lennon ripped in a low drive six minutes before the break that Sorensen really had to stretch to claw away and just before half-time Jenas embarked on a lung-busting run that took a last-ditch block to stop in its tracks.

Seven minutes into the second half and Stoke were back in front when a raking low cross from Mamady Sidibe was slotted home unchallenged at the far post by Rory Delap.

Stoke were seizing the momentum and Juande Ramos responded by introducing Pavlyuchenko in place of Bentley, but it was Modric who was next in the thick of the action, firing narrowly over the crossbar.

Sorensen was forced from the pitch after a collision with Hutton just after the hour and was replaced by the former Tranmere and Everton keeper Steve Simonsen, while Vedran Corluka was next in the wars in the wake of another express delivery from Delap. His second clattering appeared far more serious for the Croatian and stretchers were called for.

Corluka was eventually carried towards an ambulance and replaced by Michael Dawson, but the game was completely disjointed, which probably more than suited the home side, who were pummelling their way towards the points.

The ten men rallied but were not breaking the resolve of a resolute and determined side. Some 11 minutes added time was signalled by the assistant, which goes some way towards explaining the nature of the game.

Woodgate was penalised for a foul on Soares inside the area in the added time, but thankfully Fuller's aim was not as accurate as Higginbotham's as the ball cannoned off both posts and out to Delap, who promptly struck the crossbar.

In truth, Stoke looked more like adding to their lead than we did cancelling the deficit and Dawson became the second player to be shown red for a challenge on Fuller. The wait for a Premier League win continues.

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

Another spot of bother

Our UEFA Cup Group Stage campaign got underway without any points being registered following a 2-0 defeat to Udinese.

A first half penalty - just like at Stoke on Sunday - and a sending off early in the second half again made it an uphill struggle for the team and, like last season, ground will have to be made up in the remaining three games of the group.

Udinese applied a degree of early pressure that required the reassuring presence of Ledley King, restored to the side alongside Jonathan Woodgate at the heart of defence. In front of the England internationals was a five-man midfield including two left-footers in the shape of Jamie O'Hara and Gareth Bale in support of Darren Bent in the lone striker role.

The Italians were precise and methodical in their early work, while our play was patient and stirred mostly by the promptings of O'Hara and the willing running of Bale. Jermaine Jenas carved out our clearest opening in the 15th minute, his measured centre being headed goalwards by Bent when he perhaps had time to chest and volley.

O'Hara had no hesitation in trying his luck from all of 30 yards after Jenas injected some mayhem into the Udinese defences - the tempo was increasing from the team in blue.

Such ambition took a considerable dent on 22 minutes when Heurelho Gomes was slow to clear his lines from a Benoit Assou-Ekotto back pass and subsequently got in a tangle with Quagliarella in the top corner of the area and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Di Natale drilled his kick to the Brazilian's right and it was advantage Udinese.

Gomes parried away a swerving effort from Motta as the Italians sought to capitalise on their good fortune before an Aaron Lennon sprint looked like it might bring some reward, but such was his speed, he was unable to keep his footing.

A Bale corner presented Alan Hutton with half a chance at the far post before he was crowded out and rolled into the path of O'Hara, who was unable to keep his powerful drive on target.

Juande Ramos made a single change at half-time, drafting in Luka Modric in place of Assou-Ekotto, a move which resulted in O'Hara switching to left-back.

O'Hara's stay on the pitch was not to last much longer though as two yellow cards in quick succession brought his evening to an end and Bale became our third left-back of the match.

Jonathan Woodgate was replaced by Giovani dos Santos in a change that saw Didier Zokora move to central defence - with Lennon going left and Giovani right of midfield.

Gomes produced a spectacular retreat to deny Di Natale doubling the home advantage just after the hour, the Italian international lofting the ball goalwards with the Brazilian somehow managing to backtrack in time.

Quagliarella forced another fine stop from Gomes in front of goal - albeit from an offide position - as Udinese were looking fairly comfortable against the ten men.

A King header from a Bale throw caused momentary concern for the home side before a Giovani run and cross led to a thumping header from Bent that Handanovic in the Udinese goal superby tipped over.

It proved the cue for a burst up the other end where Pepe was presented with the opportunity to place past Gomes, with the ball landing in the net via the goalkeeper's left hand upright.

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

Spot on!

Harry Redknapp's first game as the new Spurs manager resulted in our first league victory of the season as we defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at The Lane.

Roman Pavlyuchenko's first Barclays Premier League goal and a nerves-of-steel penalty from substitute Darren Bent gave us the points - and the Club a much-needed lift after an eventful week.

It is difficult to judge how much of an effect the events of the previous 24 hours had had on the team, but the players certainly came out of the traps seeming like they were looking to prove a point - perhaps to the new man at the helm, but almost certainly to themselves.

The team had a slightly new look, with Tom Huddlestone being brought back into the midfield, David Bentley onto the right flank, and Pavlyuchenko into the lone striker role with Luka Modric in a more advanced position just in behind.

Bentley in particular had an added drive about him to begin with, bringing to the side the sort of delivery our attacking players crave.

That goes especially for Pavlyuchenko, and he proved to be the main beneficiary of the service after 17 minutes.

Ten minutes earlier, only Andy O'Brien's brave defending denied the Russian from tapping home Bentley's in-swinging corner.

But the next time the big striker was found by the former Blackburn man, he made no mistake as he got in between the defenders to power a header firmly into Jussi Jaaskelainen's bottom right-hand corner from 15 yards, sending the White Hart Lane crowd into raptures.

We have talked about for some time how key scoring the first goal in a game could be to our improvement, so was this to be the difference? At first it seemed as if it might prove to be a false dawn as we experienced a spell of pressure.

Most of it was of our own doing. A defensive mix-up on 28 minutes put Heurelho Gomes in all sorts of trouble, and as the ball run free to Kevin Davies, the forward did extremely well to come to within millimetres of equalising from a tight angle.

Three minutes later, we again failed to clear our lines as Matt Taylor sent a low shot inches wide from the edge of the box.

And we had Ledley King's goal-line clearance to thank for once again keeping the visitors out on 34 minutes after Johan Elmander capitalised on a half-cleared free-kick.

It was clear we needed a second goal to give our lead that important protective cushion, and to be fair, we certainly got ourselves together and went looking for it at the end of the half.

Two chances fell to Huddlestone, the first just inches out after Jaaskelainen spilled a Bentley free-kick at his feet, only for the big man to volley over.

But then the England Under-21 international created an opening for himself, side-stepping Gary Cahill on the edge of the box before unleashing a rasping left foot shot which whistled just past the post.

However, Bolton emerged for the second half intent on finding the equaliser they felt they deserved, and it seemed as if it would take a little bit of luck to turn a fast-approaching tide back in our favour.

That came on 56 minutes when Bolton's tough-tackling midfielder Gavin McCann was sent off for a second bookable offence, and we looked to capitalise immediately.

First, a nice one-two between Huddlestone a Modric resulted in the latter getting free on the left-hand side of the penalty area, and he should have done better with his shot which went straight at Jaaskelainen.

Then Jamie O'Hara took a leaf out of Huddlestone's book, side-stepping a couple of defenders on the edge of the box before hitting a fierce shot that was just too high.

Bolton's answer was to bombard Gomes with high balls at every opportunity, and it could have paid off for them on a couple of occasions.

On 62 minutes, a punch from the Brazilian goalkeeper fell to Kevin Nolan on the edge of the box, who fired over, and four minutes later a similar fist away from Gomes landed perfectly for Fabrice Muamba to attempt a volleyed lob, which fortunately dropped onto the roof of the net.

We needed some fresh impetus, and Harry duly delivered his first tactical manoeuvres as our new manager with a touch of renowned genius.

Pavlyuchenko had gone a touch quiet on his road back from an ankle injury, and he was replaced by Bent in a straight swap, while Aaron Lennon took over from Jamie O'Hara on the left flank.

Almost immediately, Bent was given the chance to put his fresh legs to use as Modric put him through, but his shot was well saved by Jaaskelainen.

Lennon also got a piece of the action soon after his introduction, but he failed to convert after another Jaaskelainen save from Huddlestone fell to him 10 yards out.

But it was Bent who was to have the defining say in this match, as his awareness and determination to chase down a loose ball after a Modric shot had been saved drew a foul out of the Finnish goalkeeper and resulted in a penalty.

There was only one man who was going to take it, as our top scorer grabbed the ball and didn't let go until he had placed it on the spot and slammed home his fifth goal of the season - in the process sealing our first league win of it.

As the final whistle blew and the crowd let out their biggest cheer of the season so far, it was clear the players had embraced this brave new era for the Club as much as anyone, giving Harry plenty to be encouraged about before he takes office on Monday.

Spurs (4-4-1-1): Gomes; Hutton, Corluka, King, Assou-Ekotto; Bentley, Jenas, Huddlestone, O'Hara (Lennon, 71); Modric; Pavlyuchenko (Bent, 67)
Subs not used: Cesar, Zokora, Gunter, Giovani, Campbell

Bolton (4-1-4-1) Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, A O'Brien, Samuel; McCann; Davies, Nolan, Muamba (Gardner, 85), Taylor; Elmander (Riga, 85)
Subs not used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Smolarek, Helguson, Shittu

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

Lennon's right on time

David Bentley was the scorer of a Goal of the Season contender as the first North London derby of the season finished all square at 4-4 after a dramatic comeback at the Emirates Stadium.

Two set-pieces either side of half-time really proved our undoing and then, forced to try and go on the offensive, Arsenal managed to extend the margin of their advantage, although Darren Bent did reduce the deficit to 3-2 in-between times. Jermaine Jenas scored a stunning late goal for 4-3 before Aaron Lennon stunned the home crowd with a stoppage time leveller.

It was frenetic stuff from the off until Tom Huddlestone found his range with a telling throughball to set Gareth Bale scampering away down the left. The full-back - deployed in left midfield on his return to the side after suspension - darted into the area before targeting Manuel Almunia's near post, but not with great accuracy.

Emmanuel Adebayor teed up Theo Walcott for a drive at goal at the other end of the pitch, with the England man drilling low and thankfully beyound Heurelho Gomes' far post.

Next came an audacious moment from Bentley that will live long in the memory. With 13 minutes on the clock and the ball bobbing around 40-plus yards out, Jermaine Jenas chested down in the direction of Bentley, who went for goal and then some. The former Arsenal player planted a high dipping effort over Almunia and into the top corner of the net - it was a shock and awe moment.

Robin van Persie came close to levelling matters a few minutes later with a low free-kick that slipped through the ball, calling on Gomes to be particularly alert to turn around the post.

The home crowd were roused from their post-goal silence when Gomes came out a long way to grab a corner but, in the process of doing so, his momentum took him into Adebayor and his crash landing led to the ball being spilled with William Gallas unable to make him pay.

It was a case of contain and counter, with Gomes making a fine save from Cesc Fabregas but, from the resulting low-flighted corner from van Persie, Mikael Silvestre stole in front of Jenas and Gomes to steer home a glancing header on 37 minutes.

Arsenal took this momentum into the second half and, from another van Persie set piece, the head of Gallas directed the ball powerfully into the bottom corner of the net, beating the outstretched left palm of Gomes.

From being early leaders the team were now firmly on the back foot and struggling to make in-roads into Arsenal territory. Gomes made a smart reaction save from Denilson as the home side cranked up the pressure and Harry Redknapp responded with the introduction of Aaron Lennon in place of Bale.

Adebayor flashed just wide following a passage of play where the ball should really have been cleared at least twice as Darren Bent was being readied in front of the visitors' dug-out. Before he could make his entrance Bentley fizzed in a shot that Almunia did well to foil.

On 64 minutes the advantage was extended to 3-1 when a throughball dissected our defences and Samir Nasri lifted over the advancing Gomes. Alan Hutton looked like he might clear with the ball taking its time to land, but Adebayor stole in to shove both ball and player into the back of the net.

The deficit was quickly reduced when Almunia could not hang on to a stinging drive from Huddlestone and Bent, drafted in for Pavlyuchenko, pinged home on 67 minutes.

Thoughts of drawing level did not last too long though as Hutton gave the ball away to Adebayor who in turn switched play to van Persie to the right of the area. The Dutchman took aim from an angle and defeated Gomes with the pace of his effort.

A Bentley free-kick fell inches away from the toe of Jenas, but otherwise the ball was spending most of its time in the half we were defending.

Chris Gunter came on for the last ten minutes in a straight swap for Hutton. It was Jenas who was to have the next say after cutting in from the left after a lengthy run and curling the ball precisely past Almunia to set up a big finish.

That big finish duly came when Modric smashed in a shot that struck the post and Lennon was on hand to slot past Almunia. Cue wild celebrations in front of the Spurs fans.

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

Pav that!

Roman Pavlyuchenko's dramatic last minute winner completed our second amazing comeback in the space of a week as we defeated high-flying Liverpool 2-1 at The Lane.

After our fightback from 4-2 down to take a point off Arsenal on Wednesday, Harry Redknapp's unbeaten run as Spurs manager continued despite the Reds dominating for large periods off this game.

It looked certain as if Rafa Benitez's men would reclaim their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League once they took control following Dirk Kuyt's early opener.

But their failure to extend their lead sparked the belief coursing through Redknapp's men at the moment.

However, signs were there even before kick-off that it may not be our day as Jermaine Jenas limped out of the warm-up and was replaced in the starting line-up by Didier Zokora.

In other changes, skipper Ledley King came back into the side at centre-half, with Jamie O'Hara taking his place on the left-hand side of midfield and Darren Bent starting up-front.

But any confidence we were hoping to carry into this encounter from Wednesday's derby was quickly shot to pieces.

A Liverpool throw was worked into the path of Kuyt by Robbie Keane, and the Dutchman slammed into the top corner from a tight angle.

It could have quickly gone from bad to worse when Bent sliced a Reds corner towards his own goal, forcing Heurelho Gomes into a sharp reflex save.

And the visitors were generally in control for the majority of the half without really creating a great deal of chances.

But as the long as the scores remained at 1-0, we were still very much in the game, and Harry's men started to come back into it later on in the first half.

On 22 minutes, a cross-field ball from Luka Modric was nicely controlled by David Bentley for Vedran Corluka to put in a teasing first-time cross which nobody could get on the end of.

Modric himself then forced Pepe Reina into action for the first time three minutes before the break with a low volley from the edge of the box.

Redknapp further stated our intent at half-time by bringing on Pavlyuchenko to partner Bent in attack.

And as soon as the game re-started, the big Russian got into action, hitting a volley wide from the edge of the box.

But this only proved to be the cue for a Liverpool onslaught over the next 15 minutes, in which it is hard to believe they did not extend their lead.

On 50 minutes, a strong run from Kuyt was halted in the box, and although King reacted quickly to block Steven Gerrard's resultant shot, the ball skimmed off the wet surface and needed a full-stretch save from Gomes to tip onto the post.

Three minutes later, our woodwork was disturbed again as the goalkeeper left a pass to his captain a touch short, enabling Keane to intercet and play in Gerrard for a cheeky chip that bounced off the bar.

In the same minute, an Alvaro Arbeloa cross was touched on by Keane, and Kuyt put wide on the stretch at the back post.

The danger wasn't over there. Gerrard fizzed a free-kick into the back post on 57 minutes, and Xabi Alonso should have done better with his header.

And Gerrard himself then curled another effort wide from the edge of the box after an Albert Riera shot was closed down.

To say we rode our luck is an understatement - but in a game like this against a dominant side, there is no doubt luck is exactly what we needed.

And it came on 69 minutes. Bentley's corner into the near post was glanced into his own net by Jamie Carragher, sending the White Hart Lane crowd into raptures.

It gave the fans further hope that Harry's lucky streak looked set to continue, as nobody can argue the equaliser came well against the run of play.

Liverpool did not know what had hit them, and there looked to be only one team who was going to go on and take all three points from here.

Pavlyuchenko could have won it earlier when Bentley burst through a challenge from Andrea Dossena on the right wing nine minutes from time, and although his cross was miss-hit, Bent's challenge did enough to distract Reina, who could only punch as far as the Russian on the edge of the box

The striker set himself up, side-stepped a defender, but then agonisingly put his eventual shot high and wide.

However, in true Spurs fashion, we decided to go for maximum excitement and entertainment in stoppage time.

Bentley's stinging shot from the edge of the box forced Reina into a full-stretch save, and as Bent turned the loose ball back across the face of goal, there was Pavlyuchenko to tap home and atone for his earlier miss.

It was the summer signing's second goal in three league games, and what a way to win the hearts of his new fans following his August switch from Spartak Moscow.

What's more, the winner took us off the bottom of the league, making it a memorable evening at The Lane!

Spurs (4-4-1-1): Gomes; Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto (Hutton, 46); Bentley, Zokora, Huddlestone, O'Hara (Pavlyuchenko, 46); Modric (Lennon, 76); Bent
Subs not used: Cesar, Bale, Campbell, Gunter

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena; Mascherano, Alonso; Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera (Benayoun, 7 Cool

; Keane (Babel, 66)
Subs not used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Aurelio, Leiva, El Zhar

stavrizatz · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 4:24 am Post subject:

oh congratulations you moved to second last.

I wish you win the championship of 2nd division next year to go back to premiership

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164

just giving everyone a head start

stavrizatz · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:12 am Post subject:

No, Man U

100%cypriot · Ministerial Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2164