Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

[funster]

At last! After eight league games, the worst start in the club's history, doom, gloom, and despair, we've got a win! Had it gone on much longer the club shops would've had a hard time selling badges that say "I saw Tottenham win". Well, finally today, I did see Tottenham win in the Premier League. Thank God!

Of course, all the talk prior to the game was about the managerial change. Correction - changes.

It was widely accepted that it was only a matter of time before the changes would take effect. Fans beginning to publicly voice their discontent after the Udinese game, and not just with the customary booing. One player after another expressing their dissatisfaction with the situation.

The only surprise was how quickly it happened when it eventually did. I'd already got myself tucked-up in bed last night before the news broke so was surprised (to say the least) to see the flurry of text messages that arrived in the small hours. Made for a bit of excitement over breakfast on a Sunday!

All of a sudden, with Harry Redknapp appointed, there was no doubt in my mind we'd win.

Having read that Clive Allen and Alex Inglethorpe were to take charge, it came as a bit of a surprise to see Redknapp taking a seat in the dugout. A good sign though. Clearly not the sort of person who wanted to sit high up in the stands and watch from afar. In our current predicament its all hands to the pumps!

Also surprising, and even more so, Ledley King starting. Hang on a second..... I thought he could only play once every ten days? Now here he is starting his second in three days. Beggars belief. Should he turn out against Arsenal and/or Liverpool in the next week the questions over what on Earth was going on behind the scenes with the previous regime will be most perplexing.

Sadly it seemed that we were opting for one up front again, this time with Pavlyuchenko starting. With Bale out, BAE filled in at left back, and Huddlestone started, sitting just in front of the back four.

Of course with the buzz around the club as a result of the activities off the field, there was always the feeling that the points would come our way.

The teams line-up, but more interestingly, take a look to the right by the dugouts..... Ever seen so many photographers?!


We started confidently. Pressed well forward, much further forward than we've seen at any other time this season. Modric, in particular, started where he should have been all season - well progressed up the pitch where he could do the damage he's done so often for Croatia, and surely what we bought him to do in the first place.

When we won an early corner I joked that Bentley was bound to put in his best ball of the season now that a new manager was in charge. Sure enough, top quality delivery! Didn't come to anything, but finally, finally a hint of the quality he displayed at Blackburn.

We didn't have to wait too much longer for another Bentley ball. This time from open play in a pretty deep position on the right wing. Inch perfect and who should happen to be on the end of it but our sole centre forward. GOAL!

It looked almost like slow motion. For a minute I wondered whether Pav had been offside, but no queries over the finish. Easily beating the defender to the ball - probably helped by the amount of time Bolton afforded him - and directing the header in off the post.

Unreal. Spurs a goal up in the Premier League! How long since that happened?

While we dominated the half we weren't without our own shocks at the back. A terrible lobbed back pass from BAE who appeared not to be looking at who was around him, neatly over the head of King, dropping short of Gomes, and somehow we escaped. No doubt the commentators will go on about the dodgy keeping. I reckon they've got it in for Gomes and in time it wouldn't come as a surprise to see one of two things happen.

Either (1) he will prove to be a quality keeper with the no nonsense methods that Redknapp has employed in years gone by, or, (2) his services will be dispensed with on account of a total loss of confidence thanks to media interference.

There was another very good Bolton chance where Gomes failed to reach the ball (from a corner I think), ended up on the floor palming the ball away, and when it came back in low, either King cleared off the line, or it hit the post. I couldn't tell.

Harry hunched forward, overcoat slung off!


Real positives in the first half were (leaving aside the fact we were ahead and had dominated possesion) that Bentley was delivering decent service (although he did overhit a fair few as well), Modric was playing where he should and beginning to pull some strings, and, wait for it, even BAE was having a good game! Yes, you read that right, even BAE was having a good game!

So when we went in a goal to the good there were no complaints. Roll on the second half.

Ten minutes in, a red card. Just like on Thursday night, but this time not for Spurs! A really poor tackle by Gavin McCann on Huddlestone and a second yellow following the one he picked up in the first half for hauling back David Bentley. Actually, there should've been a second yellow for Bolton in that first half for a foul on Hutton during the same passage of play as well!

Ten men to play against and a good half hour or more to go, surely there was no way we were going to let this one slide?

With twenty minutes or so to go Pav was withdrawn and Bent sent on in his place, soon followed by Lennon, who took up a position on the left wing.

Lennon and Bent had good chances to double our lead. Lennon's was a long range attempted curler that went well wide, although I suspect he was actually offside. Bent showed his pace and a decent first touch to push the ball down the left channel of the box before getting a shot off that Jaaskelainen turned over the bar, possibly with his head! Particular credit for the Bent chance must go to Modric. An excellent piece of play with an overhead as he faced his own goal, a quick turn, a bit of pace, and good touch and a great ball into the channel for Bent.

Modric then helped create the second. Another Spurs attack culminating in the ball dropping to Modric on the edge of the Bolton box, knocking it up for himself on the half volley before firing it goalward. A good save by Jaaskelainen, but instead of turning it wide he succeeded only in keeping it on the pitch and Bent showed an excellent turn of pace to beat both keeper and defender when starting a yard behind both. He was clearly clipped by Jaaskelainen and a penalty was duly awarded.

Surely not? A red card for the opposition and we've been awarded a penalty?!

Bent picked himself up and converted, firing low and hard to Jaaskelainen's right. Two-nil! Game, for all intents and purposes, over.

Celebrations after Bent slots in the penalty


Bolton did have a chance or two, the best one falling to Elmander (I think). It came from a Gomes punch that didn't get sufficient distance and Elmander had a go first time to lob, but thankfully managed only to plop it onto the top of the net.

When Elmander was withdrawn late on the travelling Bolton supporters - of whom there were not that many - voiced their disapproval of their own management with chants of "Gary Megson is a banker, is a banker!". Had it not been for the change in regime at White Hart Lane one wonders whether we may have been expressing similar discontent?

As it turned out that was pretty much it. A win. Three points. At last.

Of course, its absolutely natural, and well expected, that a change in management gives the team a bit of motivation and they perform far better for a game or two as a result. Given the current situation it bothers me not one jot how we pick up three points, so long as we do pick up three points.

There were real positives about today's game, and while it would be premature to think this is a sign of things to come on a regular basis, its worth pointing them out.

King - two games in three days. His composure, strength, and all 'round ability give us so much. Like I said, if he happens to play against either or both Arsenal and Liverpool..... well.

Corluka - composed again. He seems to be settling. Having seemed to be well off the pace he seemed to have injected a bit extra today.

BAE - I seriously cannot believe I'm going to say this..... he would vie for my player of the match. He really was that good. Of course, there were the usual mistakes, but I thought he was a million miles better than we've seen at left back for a good long while. Not that Bolton tested him much I suppose.

Modric - without doubt for me the best player of the day. Finally he was playing in the position he should and as a result, coupled with the space and time afforded to him by Bolton, he was very, very good. I really hope this is a sign of things to come.

The others too were not bad at all. Huddlestone looked pretty good today. Yes, I can say that despite slating him last week for being too slow, and too inconsitent. Jenas was..... well, he was OK. Bentley finally seemed to be getting the swing of his boot right, although as many were well overhit as perfectly placed. Just a question of more time on the pitch and more chances to swing balls in I think. I hope. Pav and Bent? Both scored. Not a lot more you can ask for from a striker! Well, there is, but let's face it, we've been spoiled over recent years. It could be a long, long time before we again see the kind of partnership we've had the pleasure of watching until the start of this season.

Who have I missed? O'Hara? Decent game. Lots of effort as always and not directed at opposition players today! Hutton was as solid and dependable as we know he can be. Lennon, when he came on, added pace on the left and could've scored, although he was probably offside.

Let's not get carried away though. I don't want to sound like this is a gushing tribute. Probably already does! So a dose of reality. Bolton were not very good. We are still rock bottom, and we have games against Arsenal and Liverpool to come in the next week.

The biggest reason why we got the result today was, in my opinion, due in no small part to Harry Redknapp taking over.

It was intriguing to see. Having thought he'd be mostly a spectator today he couldn't resist getting more and more invovled as the game went on. Early on Clive Allen was barking out the orders from the touchline. As the game went on, and as the second half progressed, he was joined at every turn by Harry.

Harry joins Clive Allen on the sidelines with Gary Megson also standing up


There are no guarantees of course. Just because Redknapp's been successful at Pompey, doesn't mean he will be at Spurs. Let's not forget the fate that befell Saints, for example, when he left Fratton for St Mary's.

There is hope though. You know what you'll get with Harry in charge. Looking at his track record we can hope that his no nonsense brand of management will take up residence with him at White Hart Lane. That being the case he won't suffer fools gladly and he'll demand commitment to the cause. Obviously Pompey had off days, but with Harry in charge the off days tended to be well outnumbered by the 'on' days.

If he can bring that to White Hart Lane, along with the fact that the wretched Director of Football position has been consigned to the bin, maybe we can scrape out of the relegation places.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Two or three defeats in the next three games will mean we still find ourselves right up against it, but you'd like to think given what Harry's done before, that he'll find some way of pulling us out of the mess we're in.

For the moment let's be happy. Three points, a new manager, and maybe, just maybe, a glimmer of hope.....

Harry Redknapp's Blue and White Army!
Harry Redknapp's Blue and White Army!
Harry Redknapp's Blue and White Army!

[MyGoula]

once again top class post funster I am really genuinly excited to watch us play now instead of just knowing that we would lose and that after I would be right gutted b/c we would not even play well
now with harry we are playing the Tottenham way COYS bring on the Scum

[Kyle]

Check this out - Pavs was so excited to play for Redknapp, his nipples were erect:

[bazzabelfast]

brilliant report and brilliant result !!! we really needed this and us as supporters really needed the off field developments just as much .

[berbaking]

nice one funster - oh to live in london!!

[berby999]

Thanks again for the report funster, So nice to read a positive one!!! Lets hope there are many more to come

[LLOYDY]

about ****ing time................brilliant performance our season starts here

[nickGT]

For once in the past few months i actually wanted to read this forum.

Hopefully this section can turned around to something a bit more positive.