Scorer:-
Huddlestone, 38

Attendance:- 35,852

Referee:- Mr. C. Foy
Assistants:- Mr J. Flynn & Mr. S. Proctor-Green
Fourth Official:- Mr. A. Marriner

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Gomes; Kaboul, Dawson, King (Capt.), Ekotto; Bentley (sub Lennon, 73), Huddlestone, Modric, Bale; Defoe (sub Crouch, 72), Pavlyuchenko (sub Gudjohnsen, 87)

Subs not used:- Alnwick; Bassong; Jenas, Palacios

No Bookings

Bolton (4-4-1-1):- Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Weiss (sub Lee, 61), Muamba (sub Gardner, 78), Wilshere, Taylor; Klasnic (sub Elmander, 60); K. Davies (Capt.)

Subs not used:- Al Habsi; Samuel, Ricketts; M. Davies

Booked:- Robinson (foul on Bentley), Taylor (foul on Defoe), Wilshere (foul on Kaboul)

Edgy win, but Spurs still control fourth place

It wasn’t the convincing win we’d hoped for and that some assumed, but thanks to a Tom Huddlestone 38th minute thunderbolt that beat Jaaskelainen all ends up, Spurs pulled through with the three points that keeps them ahead of Manchester City in what is now a two horse race for fourth. Wednesday night’s match at Eastlands promises to be a humdinger!

I’ll confess to getting really angry about Harry Redknapp’s team selection before the game. Not because it was wrong, but because it was so right, and should have been the team with which we faced Manchester United last week at Old Trafford. Younes Kaboul, who according to Harry post-match at Old Trafford says he is not a right back, was drafted in to play in that position, where he had done so well at home against Arsenal and Chelsea. Kaboul played really well, and was my man of the match. Younes defended well, and he was against Matty Taylor, getting in some well timed and precious tackles. He also supported the attack well, and got to the bye line on a number of occasions sending good crosses into the danger zone. His passing was intelligent and accurate.

Not that they were so sorely tested, but Kaboul’s colleagues in defence all impressed too. Ledley King was able to play again, and he and Dawson were commanding, whilst Ekotto was back to his assured game in his true position at left back. Bale made his usual ration of bursting runs down the left flank, and created a number of chances for himself and others. David Bentley also had a decent game on the right, but when Aaron Lennon replaced him, the level of penetration increased. We must hope that Aaron has been eased in nicely for a start on Wednesday. Where Spurs didn’t do so well was in the engine room, where Harry had rested Palacios and put Modric back in the middle next to Huddlestone. Until the last quarter of the game, Luka was more than a little below par, with a number of his moves not succeeding.

Up front Pavlyuchenko was seeing a lot of the ball, but his touches so often failed him. You could see he was trying some clever passes, and he had a number of attempts on goal, but his accuracy was poor yesterday, and team-mates failed to read his intentions.

Bolton did not come to roll over quietly for Spurs, and played a fully committed game, with Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic supporting Kevin Davies, although in a withdrawn role that often put him amongst the midfield. Owen Coyle had one former gooner (Muamba) partnered by an on loan gooner (Wilshere) in central midfield, and Weiss and Taylor on the flanks. Gomes had to make a number of important takes, but probably just one difficult save, which was a dive full stretch to his left to thwart Taylor.

Bolton’s support was threadbare, occupying some of the south-west corner, allowing more Spurs fans in the lower tier of the away section. The home crowd urged their charges on to an early goal and success in their quest for the Champions League. Modric had a chance for that early goal, when he received a ball from the right, but fired weakly, and poorly wide to the left of Jaaskelainen’s goal. Four minutes later, Bale put in a low cross into the 6 yard area, and Pavlyuchenko did get a touch on the ball, but the goalkeeper was his equal. After an attacking throw for Spurs on the right and good interplay by Bentley and Kaboul, the ball was crossed to the near post, but Pavlyuchenko’s touch was not good enough. Huddlestone then had time and space after a throw by Bale on the left, but hit his shot well over the target.

News of a Villa goal against Man City buoyed the atmosphere, and Spurs responded by outing Bolton under a period of pressure, with a corner then a cross by Bentley which ended in a Bale right foot shot saved at the foot of the goalkeeper’s right post. Bale made a run to receive from Ledley breaking out of defence and tested Jaaskelainen yet again, this time with his natural left foot. Bolton left back Paul Robinson got the first yellow card of the day for a cynical foul on Bentley who was making a break to chase Kaboul’s ball down the line. Gareth Bale took the free kick which Jaaskelainen pushed out for a corner. After the corner, Spurs got the oh so precious goal, when Ekotto slipped the ball to Huddlestone, who hit a perfect rising rocket of a shot that hit the net inside the top left corner. Now we just needed that second goal, so we could relax, but sadly, it just would not come.

Pavlyuchenko probably made the wrong decision when trying a long shot, rather than a pass after 49 minutes, seeing his effort go miles off target. Spurs were under some pressure themselves 5 minutes later, conceding three consecutive corners, but defending stoutly, with Gomes in charge. After this pressure, Defoe led a Spurs break, but he was unfairly halted by Taylor, who got a yellow card. Pavlyuchenko and Modric became providers for Bentley who tried a shot that passed over the target. Huddlestone had a chance from quite close in when receiving a Bale low cross, but his touch went wide of the post.

After a Bolton double substitution, Taylor squeezed a low left foot shot that was going inside Gomes’ left post. However, the keeper made his best save of the day with a good low dive to his left, before retrieving the ball. Jermain Defoe tried a solo goal as he cut in from the left flank, hitting his right foot shot wide. After 65 minutes, Ledley found Defoe with a good ball out of the Spurs half. Defoe sent Kaboul away and he crossed to the near post, where Pavlyuchenko met the ball with his head, but put it wide. Bale challenged Jaaskelainen from the other side, and the ball popped out from the keeper’s body for another Spurs corner.

Taylor had a shot on target after one of Gomes’ less convincing clearances, which Kaboul successfully blocked. Then there was a funny incident in the north-east corner, when a keen ball boy incorrectly anticipated the ball going out of play, and entered the field of play to retrieve the ball for the Bolton keeper. It would have actually gone out for a throw by the corner flag, but the referee had to award a dropped ball. Paul Robinson consoled the keen ball-boy for his error and no harm was done anyway.

The replacement of Jermain Defoe with Crouch brought boos from the Spurs crowd that presumably would have liked to see Pavlyuchenko go first. Lennon’s insertion for Bentley drew rousing cheers for Aaron’s first home appearance since December. Ekotto and Modric led the next Spurs charge, and Modric’s pass gave Pavlyuchenko yet another chance which was blocked for a corner. Michael Dawson took a free kick from deep and arrowed it to Bale on the left flank. Bale’s cross ran invitingly for Pavlyuchenko, but the Russian failed to get a touch. Crouch had a header from a Bale corner cleared from just in front of the post, and at the other end Gomes had to bat away another effort by Taylor.

As time was running out, Lennon darted inside and went down under a challenge. Crouch took up possession and should have scored, but missed the target. There was a little worry as we entered three minutes of added time, as Gomes pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury. Ironically, he suffered through reaching for a ball that he didn’t need to try for. Hopefully he’s going to be fit for Wednesday. Wilshere got the final yellow of the day when he stopped Kaboul in his tracks. Spurs had one more chance, and should have got a second goal, when Lennon raced past defenders and teed up substitute Gudjohnsen who tried to pass the ball across the keeper into the net, but pushed his effort wide.

There was heartfelt joy and not a little relief when the final whistle was blown. City had beaten Villa to put the Birmingham side out of our race for fourth, and we now enter the most exciting final week of a season since – well Lasagne-gate. I wonder if there could yet be a twist in the tail on the final day at Upton Park, where City have to go while we play at Turf Moor. Well hopefully Spurs can win on Wednesday night and secure fourth before the last day!

As is customary after the last home game there were a number of awards. Michael Dawson was awarded the senior Player of the Year award, whilst Gareth Bale got the young player of the year trophy. Danny Rose was awarded the Spurs Trust’s “Breakthrough” award, which is in memory of Fred Dowry, who passed away whilst en route to a Cup game at Manchester City 6 years ago. Hopefully Fred will be with us in spirit on Wednesday night.

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