FA BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMBER, 2005
WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (1)
Wigan scorer:-
McCulloch, 88
Spurs scorers:-
Keane, 8
Davids, 77
Referee: - Mike Riley
Attendance: - 22,611
Teams:-
Wigan (4-4-2):- Pollitt; Chimbonda, Henchoz, De Zeeuw (Capt.), Baines; Bullard, Francis (sub Connolly, 66), Kavanagh, McCulloch; Roberts, Camara
Subs not used: - Filan; Taylor; Jackson, Mahon
No Bookings
Spurs (4-4-2); - Robinson; Stalteri, Dawson, King (Capt.), Lee; Jenas, Carrick, Davids, Tainio; Keane, Mido
Subs not used: - Cerny; Kelly; Brown, Lennon; Defoe
Booked: - Davids, Stalteri
Robbie Keane is “Mr. January” in the Spurs Official 2006 calendar, leading many Spurs fans to be convinced that he will be on the move by the end of the transfer window. Robbie repaid the faith shown in him by Martin Jol today by scoring the first goal in the 8th minute, to send Spurs on their way to their first win in their first ever game against Wigan. Edgar Davids sealed the points with his first Spurs goal, when there were just thirteen minutes left on the clock. The army of 5,400 Spurs fans that filled the North stand at the JJB went home very happy.
Keane’s performance last Sunday did not appear to have been good enough to keep Jermain Defoe out of the team, but once again Jol sprung a surprise in his selection. Edgar Davids returned to his favoured central midfield role, and Teemu Tainio took up station on the left of midfield, leaving Jenas to battle it out on the right, where he is not over happy. Wigan manager Paul Jewell made his own change, leaving John Filan on the bench, after his mistakes against Arsenal last week, giving Mike Pollitt a chance between the sticks. Jewell’s selection was otherwise predictable, with Pascal Chimbonda starring at right back, and an industrious midfield in the shape of Bullard, Francis, Kavanagh and McCulloch.
Striker Jason Roberts helped out his midfield as well, and won early cheers when winning the ball off Edgar Davids, and charging away down the right channel to lead an early attack. The home side had the early pressure, winning two or three corners, without really worrying Spurs keeper, Paul Robinson. Then came the 8th minute bonus, as Tainio’s long ball from the left was mis-judged by De Zeeuw, leaving Robbie Keane to gratefully collect the ball, and fire low past Pollitt with ease from the left of the box. Two minutes later, Keane nearly struck again after a clever move, started by Lee’s throw, left by Keane who ran on to collect Mido’s back-heel through the defence. Pollitt was out smartly to smother the ball.
The quite diminutive Camara went close with a 12th minute header over the bar from a right side corner. Kavanagh got a shot from distance that whistled past the post, but Robinson had it covered all the way. After 32 minutes, Lee passed inside to Davids, who chipped over the Wigan defence, with Robbie Keane collecting just gal-side of Henchoz, who appeared to hold Keane back, more than once, going un-noticed by referee Mike Riley. Keane was unable to get power on his shot, which Pollitt held.
After good work by Carrick, Keane collected the ball in his own half, on the right, but his attack broke down, giving Camara a run against Ledley. The ball ran Spurs’ way; otherwise it might have been an expensive mistake by Keane. Ledley felt he was being impeded by McCulloch from Carrick’s corner, and Kavanagh tried another shot from outside the area, again comfortably left by Paul Robinson. Wigan’s best chance of the half came from a Baines shot following a free kick, which was deflected off target by one of his team-mates.
It was a while before there was any meaningful action in the second half, and whilst Spurs were happy to sit back, and play on the break, Wigan struggled to make real headway. After a Carrick free kick Tainio’s shot tested Pollitt to the full, as the keeper managed to get enough on the ball to push it round for a corner.
Francis was replaced by Connolly, who moved up front with Roberts. Bullard switched to the left, and Camara played on the right side of midfield. However, with thirteen minutes left, Carrick played the ball from the back to Robbie, just inside his own half. Davids was following up to support Keane, who laid the ball back, allowing a fine run by Davids. Henchoz had over-committed himself in the Spurs half, and left his defence short-handed, whilst Mido made a run off the ball, giving Edgar space to continue his run to the left side of the area, beating Pollitt with a fine low left footed shot across his left hand.
One felt the points were in the bag, but when McCulloch fired home, after Robinson could only tip out Camara’s shot, Spurs had a slightly nervous 4 minutes of stoppage time to negotiate. Unlike last week against West Ham, they did this successfully, climbed to fifth in the table, and now have two supremely winnable home games against Sunderland and Portsmouth to follow.
As for Wigan, they paid for their mistakes, but they will surely build upon their great start, perhaps after their next three Premiership games at Liverpool, Chelsea and Old Trafford!
It seems like “Mr September” (Defoe) might have to wait for his return to the team!
· Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
· Read the preview for this game.
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