After defeat last weekend to Wolves, Spurs pulled out a 3-0 win against Manchester City midweek. Niko Kranjčar scored two crucial goals, and Jermaine Defoe the other. Kranjčar opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a rebound shot just past Shay Given, and Defoe continued the scoring in the 53rd minute with a half-volley into the top corner. Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor tried for an equalizer but merely shot up and over. To make it sweeter for Spurs, a 92nd minute goal sealed the game when Kranjčar burst into the box, around Adebayor, and tapped the ball between Given’s legs.
Despite their win, they still sit 5th on the table, with 30 points, and a goal difference of +16. Outside the top four, they are only chasing two points behind Arsenal and Villa, and now are looking for another win at Blackburn today.
Beaming after the match with City, manager Harry Redknapp said, “Over the full 90 minutes that was as good as we’ve played. The win against Liverpool was like that as well, we pressed them all over the park and worked them – we did that again against City. It was a convincing win, a well-deserved win and there were some great performances.”
“Niko Kranjčar was fantastic,” he continued, “Aaron Lennon was brilliant – they all were. They all worked hard and we defended well. Dawson has come in and done a job with Bassong. We’ve no Woodgate, no King but those two have done great for us. Benoit was also tremendous at left-back. City are a good side and will be there at the end of the season, I’m sure of it. But we were the better side and I don’t think there is any disputing that. It was a great performance and we thoroughly deserved it.”
Jill Guthrie
