Tottenham 5 Newcastle United 0

A perfect end to the week for Harry Redknapp as Spurs, inspired by a re-energised Emmanuel Adebayor, scored five goals against Newcastle at White Hart Lane as the fans continually showed their support for the manager.

Pre-order (before 19th Feb.): Here (use Code LH1)

What an End to Redknapp's Perfect Week

Tottenham Hotspur 5 Newcastle United 0

Scorers: Assou-Ekotto, Saha (2), Kranjcar, Adebayor

Team: Friedel; Walker, Dawson, King (Nelsen), Assou-Ekotto; Kranjcar, Parker, Modric, Bale (Lennon); Saha (Defoe), Adebayor  Subs (unused): Cudicini, Khumalo, Rose, Livermore

White Hart Lane was buzzing with the Spurs supporters constantly singing and chanting the name of Harry Redknapp as they showed their support for the manager.  The fans were up for the game and so were the players as Newcastle discovered very early on as Tottenham scored twice in the opening six minutes with Emmanuel Adebayor the creator and inspiration for the team.

 

Louis Saha made his home debut in place of Jake Livermore, with Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe fit enough to return to the substitutes bench.  With Newcastle in search of a top four finish a difficult game was expected but they were restricted due to injuries in midfield.  Spurs started very brightly and Adeboyor had created the first goal within four minutes.  Looking lively and more energetic than in  previous matches, he took a ball from Gareth Bale and made a forceful run and cross to where Benoit Assou-Ekotto was waiting, unmarked at the the corner of the six yard box and he gleefully hammered the ball into the net.  It was a perfect start for Spurs and answered the question as to whether the media speculation about Harry Redknapp and the England manager's position had been a distraction at the club.  The answer was clearly in the negative and after another two minutes it became a resounding, "No!"

Adebayor, again, made another strong run on the right and crossed for Louis Saha to score on his home debut against the team with whom he started his career in English football.  Two minutes later, Saha turned provider and set up Adebayor but the shot went out for a goal kick.  Two minutes on and Bale turned creator and set up Adebayor but he was unable to control the through ball and it ran on to the goalkeeper.

From a Newcastle corner, Adebayor, in trying to put in a tackle, slipped and the ball ran over his arm but the referee turned down any penalty appeals.  A Bale run and cross came out to Kranjcar but he blasted over on fifteen minutes.  it was all Spurs and they struck again when a Modric cross was laid back by Adebayor for Saha to score through the defenders legs.

The ease with which Spurs were playing encouraged the supporters and there was a constant tide of support for Harry Redknapp.  Bale continued to be dangerous and he crossed to Saha who passed to Adebayor but the shot went wide.

Brad Friedel made a finger tip save from a free-kick when Scott Parker was booked for a foul on the edge of the area.

After thirty four minutes Spurs scored their fourth as Saha broke from halfway and put in Adebayor with a lovely cross/pass - Adebayor's shot was saved but it came back to him and as he tried to regain control it fell to Kranjcar who scored - his first goal in a year.

Spurs continued to play free flowing football with Newcastle chasing shadows although Ba had a shot straight at Friedel.  The visitors defenders were finding Adebayor unplayable and he put in another cross to Kranjcar who shot over.  Then in the final minute of the half, Spurs were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box which Adebayor touched to Assou-Ekotto but with a clesar sight on goal, he blasted it over.


After half-time Spurs were content to maintain possession for long periods with Newcastle unable to take the ball from them and when they did get it, they just gave it straight back to Spurs.  After sixty four minutes, Bale played in Adebayor but he just failed to control the ball.  Spurs appeared to be satisfied with four goals but then a good ball went from Bale out to Assou-Ekotto on the left and his centre was headed back by Saha to Adebayor who hooked it into the net for a deserved goal and his tenth of the season.  Adebayor and Saha were showing an excellent understanding in their first game together.

Bale shot over from twenty five yards.  Lennon and Defoe replaced Bale and Saha as Spurs continued to play at will with little threat from Newcastle.  Ryan Nelsen made his debut as a replacement for Ledley King.  Kyle Walker had an excellent run on the right but his cross was just too high for Adebayor.  Then Newcastle created their first danger of the evening when Ba got a header on target from close range but Friedel reacted instinctively to save and the rebound was hit over.

Spurs produced a quick passing movement from Defoe to Adebayor to Kranjcar and back to Adebayor but the final shot passed wide.  Luka Modric had a shot saved and Adebayor again shot over after Parker and Defoe had created the chance for him.


Newcastle have now lost on their last three visits to White Hart Lane and this match was the perfect end to a hectic week for Harry Redknapp.  He was cleared of all charges in his court case, he is top candidate for the England manager's post, the fans showed their desire for him to stay and the players responded by producing one of their best displays of the season.  The only thing which could have improved Redknapp's week would have been Bale scoring with the late chance on Monday evening at Anfield.

Emmanuel Adebayor was revitalised throughout, involved in every goal, with four assists and a goal.  He linked well with Saha who scored two goals in twenty minutes for Spurs, having only managed that number in twenty games this season with Everton.


Spurs are now ten points ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea, five behind Manchester United who beat Liverpool to go a point ahead of City who play Aston Villa later today.  Spurs did all they could today to persuade Harry Redknapp to stay at White Hart Lane and bide his time before accepting his ultimate job, the England manager's role.

Just as the fans chanted, "We want you to stay Harry Redknapp, we want you to stay," so I reiterate their words of yesterday but in all likelihood such sentiments won't be enough to keep Harry at White Hart Lane.

Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0

Spurs, without their manager and a number of first choice players took a hard-earned point from Liverpool at Anfield and having defended for much of the  game could have won it late on with the best chance of the match.

Pre-order: Use Code LH1

Liverpool 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Team: Friedel; Walker, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto; Kranjcar (Rose), Livermore, Parker, Modric, Bale; Adebayor (Saha). Subs (unused): Cudicini, Nelsen, Khumalo, Fredericks, Luongo, Lancaster

Brad Friedel

Spurs were satisified with a point at Anfield considering the injuries to crucial players which greatly weakened the team.  Without manager, Harry Redknapp, stranded in London due to fog causing the postponement of his flight to Liverpool, Spurs had also lost Younes Kaboul, Rafael Van der Vaart, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Sandro to injury.  The players who came in as replacements gave their all as the whole team battled to take a deserved point, led by Scott Parker who was everywhere especially during the last fifteen minutes when Liverpool increased the tempo and their efforts to snatch the win. 

In the first half Spurs comfortably repelled Liverpool's attacking threat which mostly involved hoisting high balls towards Andy Carroll.  Michael Dawson stood up well to this test and it was Spurs who had the first shot on target after thirty minutes - a Niko Kranjcar effort which the goalkeeper saved at the second attempt.  

The final fifteen minutes of the half brought a number of attempts on goal without causing either goalkeeper any great difficulty.  A couple of minutes later Liverpool caused their first major threat when a shot from Spearing curled wide with the former Liverpool goalkeeper, Brad Friedel at full stretch.  

As the commentator said, to this point, 'Spurs were coping impressively' and then Friedel had to scramble across his goal to deal with a cross from Johnson.  At the other end, a good run by Emmanuel Adebayor released Kyle Walker on the right and his cross was flicked towards goal by Gareth Bale.  After a long series of passes, Spurs again found Walker whose run and shot was blocked for a corner and in the last action of the half Friedel saved well from Johnson.

In the first half Spurs had been content to sit back and deny Liverpool but after the interval they came under increasing pressure and were finding it difficult to make any forward progress, with Adebayor isolated, and as they looked to threaten Bale was booked for diving.  This seemed to spark Bale and Adebayor into action as Spurs looked more purposeful for a few moments but then Liverpool regained the ascendancy with Friedel being called into action.

With an hour gone, Friedel made a good save, for a corner, from a shot by Kelly and then Agger headed wide from a corner.  Carroll had a header from a corner saved by Friedel.  

Liverpool brought on Luis Suarez with twenty five minutes to play and his introduction lifted the crowd and he was immediately in the action dispossessing Benoit Assou-Ekotto and heading towards goal.  He was then booked for kicking Parker in the stomach, having been on the pitch for only five minutes.

With twenty minutes to go Louis Saha made his Spurs debut replacing Adebayor and he played a good ball to Bale whose shot went wide.  Carroll had a shot over from a cross from the right.  Friedel again bravely punched clear from a dangerous free-kick and earned a free-kick for dangerous play.  

As Liverpool increased their efforts, with six minutes to play, the best chance of the evening fell to Spurs when Bale was put through by a lovely pass from Kranjcar.  Bale had got behind the home defence for the only time in the night to be one on one against Reina but the goalkeeper got a foot to block the shot and the ball was cleared. 

Spurs withstood Liverpool's final efforts to score with Scott Parker putting himself on the line time and time again - to block shots, put in a tackle or get the ball cleared.  As is often said in these circumstances, that was a game Spurs would have lost in the past but it's also a game other 'top' teams would have won, given that late goal scoring opportunity.

Overall, it was a well won point by Spurs, taking into account all the circumstances, and it keeps them just behind United and City but ahead of the chasing pack.  Brad Friedel, Michael Dawson, Scott Parker, Niko Kranjcar and Jake Livermore worked tirelessly throughout the game to deny Liverpool while Ledley King was his usual calming influence, organising those around him in defence.

Scott Parker

The stats from last night show Scott Parker's contribution to Spurs earning a point at Anfield, with many of the blocks and clearances coming in the final minutes at a time in the match when Liverpool were making a fianl effort to take the three points and  and when traditionally Spurs would have wilted under the pressure:

2 tackles
5 interceptions
7 clearances
3 shots blocked
89% passing accuracy

If Tottenham are to put in a challenge for the title then they need to win against Newcastle United on Saturday evening at White Hart Lane and then put together a winning sequence that really threatens the Manchester teams.

Tottenham 3 Wigan Athletic 1

Spurs strengthened their hold on third place in the Premier League with a comfortable win over bottom side Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane.  They are now only five points behind the two Manchester clubs who are level on points at the top.

 Pre-Order: Tottenham The Glory-Glory Game: Here (Use Code LH1)

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Wigan Athletic 1

Scorers: Bale (2), Modric               McArthur       

Team: Friedel; Walker (Sandro), Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto; Kranjcar, Parker, Modric, Bale; Van der Vaart (Livermore), Adebayor (Lancaster)  Subs: (unused) Cudicini, Dawson, Rose, Pienaar

Gareth Bale

Spurs returned to their winning ways with a comfortable win over Wigan Athletic in which Luka Modric and Gareth Bale took centre stage.  The only concern following this success was the injuries to Rafael Van der Vaart, Kyle Walker and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Brad Friedel, Ledley King, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Gareth Bale returned to the team after last weekend's FA Cup win over Watford and Niko Kranjcar started his first League start since September in place of the injured Aaron Lennon.  Jermain Defoe was unavailable due to injury.  

Spurs started brightly with a series of corners as Wigan concentrated on their defensive duties in an effort to deny Spurs.  Younes Kaboul came close to an early goal with a header from the second corner on four minutes which the goalkeeper, Al Habsi, saved well.  Spurs dominated the possession and it was only in a rare foray forward that Wigan showed any attacking intent although Spurs were relieved on nineteen minutes when Gomez just failed to take the ball with him as he reached the edge of the penalty area.

Immediately after this Kranjcar had a curled shot which the goalkeeper saved easily and two minutes later Adebayor played the ball back to Kranjcar on the edge of the area but his shot was deflected wide.  From Van der Vaart's corner Kaboul's header was hacked off the line with the goalkeeper beaten.

Tottenham continued to probe patiently, looking for an opening and it came after 28 minutes.  Luka Modric played a cross field pass over the defence and Bale stole in behind to control the ball on his chest and score his eighth Premier League goal of the season.  It was a delighful goal with Modric and Bale combining so effectively.

Two minutes after the goal the first injury of the evening saw Van der Vaart depart with Jake Livermore as his replacement.  This allowed Bale greater freedom to roam around the pitch creating more difficulty for the Wigan defenders as they never knew where he was going to appear.  He had a shot saved after good pass from Kranjcar to the left.

Modric scored the second goal on 33 minutes when a cross from Assou-Ekotto who was given plenty of room to get forward but didn't always make the most of the opportunities, was cleared by a defender but hit his own team mate and fell invitingly for Modric who with his back to goal, turned and drove it into the bottom corner of the net.  

It was now all so comfortable for Spurs who really appeared as if they could score at will, if they so desired.  Wigan had handed the initiative to Spurs from the start and had few attacking ideas themselves.  Just before half-time, following a good passing movement, Livermore had a shot saved which brought the goal attempts for Spurs to thirteen compared to Wigan's two.

The second half commenced as the first had ended with Spurs in the ascendancy and an early run and cross by Bale which Adebayor headed over.  At times Spurs were a little too casual as when Kranjcar gave the ball away on the edge of the area but Wigan were unable to take advantage and shot over.

Gradually, Wigan started to get more possession and looked to get forward and it took good defensive work by Kaboul to clear a dangerous cross after 55 minutes.  Bale responded with  a long range shot which Al Habsi saved easily.

After 64 minutes, Spurs, lifted by the crowd, suddenly moved up a gear and Modric collecting the ball in midfield, shook off two defenders and played a lovely cross field pass to Assou-Ekotto on the left wing, he played it in to Bale who took on his defender and fired low across goal and into the bottom corner at the far post, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Into the final fifteen minutes and Spurs had to replace Walker and Adebayor due to injury with Sandro and Cameron Lancaster, who was making his first team debut, coming on.  Spurs became too casual and with ten minutes remaining Wigan pulled a goal back through substitute James McArthur and then they were almost caught out again when a cross sailed past the other Wigan substitute, Conor Sammon, needing only a touch for a second goal.

Spurs recovered their composure as Bale took on Wigan with a series of long, powerful runs and shots at goal which the Wigan defenders simply couldn't deal with.  From one such run the goalkeeper saved well and then Scott Parker fired wide.  Another run, after Lancaster dispossessed the defender on halfway, and Bale found the side netting.  In the final minute of added time, after another run, Bale put a ball across goal towards Lancaster, but like Defoe at Manchester City, his effort went into the side netting.

Tottenham were satisfied with their night's work - three points which brings them closer to Manchester City who lost at Everton and increases the gap to Chelsea in fourth by two points as they could only draw at Swansea through a last minute own goal.  Spurs still have their part to play in the title race but the matches in February - at Liverpool, against Newcastle at home, at the Emirates and at home to Manchester United - will be critical, as will be how they cope with the build up of injuries which has occurred in the past week.

• Gareth Bale has scored 9 Premier League goals and has 7 assists this season.
• Spurs completed 91% of their passes against Wigan.
• They had 20 attempts on goal (13 on target) compared to Wigan's 10.
• Tottenham's possession: 64%