Spurs Bounce Back With Fulham Victory

January 28, 2010

A 2-2 draw with Leeds at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup 4th round will force a rematch at Elland Road on February 3rd, after which the winner will play Bolton. Spurs kicked off with an early penalty that, unfortunately, Defoe missed. Crouch took the lead for Spurs just before the break and Beckford evened the score soon after. A double substitution saw Roman Pavlyuchenko get some valuable game time and a superb goal, after a lovely bit of football. Spurs looked to seal the game, but a late foul by Dawson in the box awarded Leeds a penalty kick in which Beckford converted.

“We could have been three or four up early on, there were chances galore but we didn’t take them. Pav then came on, scored a great goal and I thought that would be it, but we didn’t kill the game off as we should have done. We should have settled it with a minute to go; we should have just kept the ball but we were looking to score again,” said Harry Redknapp after the match.

“We only had to keep the ball and it would have been the end of the match. There should have been no way back for them,” he continued. “It is a lesson that we have to learn and make sure next time we are in that position that we kill the game and don’t throw it away.”

They turned it around on Tuesday when they beat Fulham by a score of 2-0. A fantastic effort from Luka Modrić kept the ball in as Crouch took the chance and scored in the 27th minute. A free kick on the hour mark resulted in Spurs’ second goal. David Bentley directed it towards the corner and after a deflection off the wall, the game was sealed in a Spurs victory.

Redknapp explained after their win, “Three points was the main thing tonight. We’ve had a couple of games here that we’ve dominated but we’ve come up against goalkeepers in great form. We well deserved the win. We dominated the game. Fulham had a bit of pressure late on but our goalkeeper didn’t have too much to do. It was nice to get to win and we’re in a great position. It was a great result for us.”

Praising all the lads Harry said, “He (Bentley) took his opportunity well. It’s up to him, but when he plays like that he has every chance of playing. When you’re not in the first team you get down and I suppose that’s what happened. He’s been disappointed but because Aaron Lennon’s done so well it’s been hard for him. He showed great attitude.”

“Luka Modrić was outstanding on the other side,” he continued, “He’s a fantastic footballer, a world-class player. Tom Huddlestone passed well, Wilson Palacios played well, and Ledley King strolled through. What a player he is. He doesn’t train and comes out and plays, he’s just an amazing footballer. It was good for Gareth Bale to start in a winning team as well. He’s a great lad and he’s been in terrific form.”

“I was pleased with them. When you have a setback like we did against Leeds at the weekend it’s not easy. The win puts us right in there – all you can do is keep picking up points,” he finished.

Spurs still sit 4th on the table with 41 points and a +20 on goal difference. Next up is Birmingham on Saturday in the Premier League and then it’s off to Leeds.

Jill Guthrie

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