Scorers:-
Tainio, 43
Mido, 66

Attendance: - 36,246

Referee: - Howard Webb

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2); - Robinson; Stalteri, Dawson, Gardner, Lee; Jenas, Carrick, Davids, Tainio (sub Brown, 67); Mido, Keane (Capt.) (sub Defoe, 79) (Captain’s armband to Robinson)

Subs not used: - Cerny; Pamarot; Lennon

No Bookings

Newcastle (4-4-2):- Given; Ramage (sub Luque, 46), Bramble, Boumsong, Elliott; Solano (sub N’Zogbia, 79), Faye, Parker, Ameobi; Owen (sub Babayaro, 46), Shearer (Capt.)

Subs not used: - Harper; Clark

Booked: - Ramage

All the headlines surrounding this game were focussed upon Michael Owen’s “fifth metatarsal”, but begging your pardon, this is a Spurs site, and for Spurs fans, the story of this game was a convincing victory, where the players responded in the best way possible to a mid-week set back at the frozen Hawthorns, with a win that once again secures fourth place and completes a marvellous year of progress under the guidance of the “man with no hair” – Martin Jol.

This time last year, Spurs were eighth in the table with 8 less points, but here we are sitting in a Champions League position, with every chance of holding onto it, in my view. Arsenal play Man Utd at The Library on Tuesday and Bolton entertain Liverpool on Monday, so we have a great chance of strengthening our hold on that place next Wednesday at The City of Manchester Stadium.

What was the key to Spurs win yesterday? I honestly think it was more about the commitment of our players, rather than any suggestion of inability on the part of our visitors. We welcomed back Teemu Tainio to the fray, adding welcome strength to the midfield, and providing the cream of his debut goal for Spurs. Tainio played on the left, and Carrick and Davids occupied the central midfield, when we have often been at our best this season. Carrick’s play in the first half especially was nothing short of excellent, with pinpoint passes that started most of our best moves. I admit to not having fully appreciated Michael in his early days at Spurs, but he really did show assurance on the ball, and found time to pick his passes in the tightest of spots.

Owen’s injury came in one of only two really testing moments for Spurs keeper, Paul Robinson, just before the half-time whistle, as Shearer headed on a long ball, and Owen, Gardner and Robinson challenged for the ball at the edge of the Spurs area. Owen did get a touch, and it was Robinson’s hand that prevented a goal, and when Owen limped off, you knew he was not going to be out after the interval. It’s club before country for me folks, even in a World Cup year, and in any case, Owen will be back to full fitness before England’s campaign begins. Newcastle have other problems, though, as Shay Given also sustained a possible thumb fracture, when he raced out to deny Tainio a chance of a second goal.

Jermain Defoe (who might fancy his chances of taking advantage of Owen’s indisposition) was relegated to the bench again, as Robbie Keane not only started, but took on the Captain’s duties. Keane exemplified the attitude of the Spurs team, with a great work ethic, defending from the front, as he and the whole team chased every possible ball on the park. Scott Parker displayed a similar style in the midfield for Newcastle, but his application was not matched by those around him. Shola Ameobi was given the job of playing on the left midfield in the first half, and when he did partner Shearer in the second, failed dismally to follow-up substitute N’Zogbia’s shot, parried by Robinson.

Parker had an early shot across the goal-mouth after only one minute, but Robinson was not threatened. Spurs responded with Tainio having a half chance from an angle on the left, which he lifted way over the target. Spurs had the ball in the net at least three times on top of their two goals, but due to the offside flag, they were restricted to that two-goal margin. The first disallowed goal came after 7 minutes, at the end of a move started by a great ball across the field from Carrick to Lee, who himself threaded a good pass to Keane, who got a touch to beat Given, but was correctly denied by the flag. Three minutes later Dawson sent Tainio away with a great long ball, and Ramage got the only booking of the game for his cynical foul upon Tainio. Carrick took the kick which reached Tainio, who laid the ball back to Davids, but the shot was way over.

After 28 minutes, Davids was perhaps harshly penalised. Solano’s kick somehow got through from a distance and might have surprised Robinson, but the ball was held. Tainio was the recipient of another great Carrick ball, and might have shot earlier, and when Teemu did fire the ball across the area, it was neither a good shot nor a cross. Keane had another “goal” disallowed for offside as he converted Carrick’s pass, after Jenas had sent on Robinson’s clearance. Jenas should have given Spurs a 40th minute lead as he missed the target with a free header from a Keane cross from the left. The deserved goal came though as a result of direct football, which is somewhat ironic due to the clever approach play that had dominated the Spurs play. Mido headed on Robinson’s kick, and this time Tainio shot early from his position on the left edge of the box, beating Given with the well placed shot across his left hand.

Babayaro and Luque were the halt-time replacements for Owen and Ramage, and Ameobi took up the striker’s role, whilst Luque played on the left. Robbie Elliott switched to right back. Newcastle had some early pressure, as Luque’s shot was deflected wide, but Spurs were soon taking the initiative again, as Robbie Keane sent Jenas away down the right channel. Jenas’s shot hit the side netting. Carrick sent an early ball to Keane after 54 minutes, which was fed to Tainio for that challenge by Given to snatch the ball away. Keane was called offside again, as Jenas put him in the clear.

Scott Parker (once a Spurs target) hit a fizzer of a shot on the hour, which curled just wide of the post. Two minutes later, Spurs played a great move from the back. Jenas controlled a high ball, passing to Carrick whose long ball across the field was controlled marvellously by Keane on the left touchline. Keane crossed, but Mido’s header was poor. It got better four minutes later, as a Davids shot was blocked, and Jenas put the ball out to Keane on the left of the box. Keane crossed quickly to the back post, where Mido volleyed and beat given with a shot that bounced into the ground and over the keeper to the far corner. Mido and Jenas contrived a “King Mido” celebration!

Tainio was replaced by Michael Brown, who continued the 100% commitment and chased down every possible ball. Davids had a decent shot go over from Lee’s cross, and also had a good effort just wide after an interception by Brown ten minutes from the end. By this time, Robbie Keane had made way for Defoe. Ameobi had that embarrassing miss, and in the closing stages Davids’ excellent ball from the left was taken off Jenas’s feet by Babayaro, conceding a corner.

Truly this was one of Spurs’ best performances of the season. The two-goal margin really was flattering for Newcastle. Happy New Year!

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