Despite playing a brilliant game of football, Spurs were held to a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage in the FA Cup quarterfinal round. Fulham will now travel to White Hart Lane to settle who goes on to the semifinals. Spurs have recently been plagued with injuries, but still produced a strong lineup. They face injuries to the likes of Ledley King, David Bentley, Jermain Jenas, Tom Huddlestone, and Aaron Lennon; Jonathan Woodgate and Carlo Cudicini remain out long term. Also to their disadvantage, Younes Kaboul was cup-tied having played with Pompey at the start of the season. One bright side is that Redknapp can now cross Benoit Assou-Ekkoto’s name off the injury list.
They started with Heurelho Gomes in goal; Vedran Ćorluka, Michael Dawson, Sebastien Bassong, and Benoit Assou-Ekkoto on the back line; Niko Kranjčar, Wilson Palacios, Luka Modrić, and Gareth Bale moved up to mid; and Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch played up front.
Both sides created chances in the opening half but everyone seemed a bit off target. Crouch came close for Spurs, but there was just no pace off the header. As Fulham forced several saves from Gomes, Spurs attacked on the other end very well in the second half, with Pavlyuchenko coming close but still no luck. With one minute to go, Fulham attacked Spurs’ goal and, in attempt of a clearance, Ćorluka came dangerously close to putting it in his own net, but fortunately it went just wide.
Spurs are well pleased with the tie and are confident of beating Fulham at the Lane. Harry Redknapp was satisfied with the result as he said, “You come here and you take a draw. I’m not disappointed to come here and get a replay. You only have to look at their home record, they are solid at Craven Cottage and difficult to beat, so it was important for us not to lose. They’ve just knocked Shakhtar Donetsk, the holders, out of Europe and that says a lot about them. They are difficult to break down, well coached, well managed and not easy to play against, so to come away with a replay now gives us a good chance.”
“I thought we kept possession well perhaps without creating as many chances as we would have liked, but both defences played well when they had to. We’ve got a big chance now playing at home but I’m sure Shakhtar felt the same when they went home for the second leg in the European game and it didn’t work out that way. It will be another tough game but we’re still right in there.”
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is satisfied but disappointed all the same. He said, “I’m only the more disappointed because it was a home game and the advantage now passes over to Tottenham because they will be at home for the replay. We were close at the end but, on the basis of the play, 0-0 was a fair result, although it was anything other than a dull cup tie because of the quality and commitment on show. The atmosphere was magnificent. I’m pleased we didn’t lose as that would have been a bitter disappointment.”
The winner of the replay later this month will go onto play Portsmouth in the semifinals, which will be held on the weekend of April 10-11. The other semifinal fixture will be Chelsea-Aston Villa.
Jill Guthrie
