FA CUP 5TH ROUND REPLAY
WEDNESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY, 2010
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4 (2) BOLTON WANDERERS 0 (0)
Scorers:-
Pavlyuchenko, 23, 87
Jaaskelainen (o.g.), 35
O’Brien (o.g.), 47
Attendance:- 31,346
Referee:- Mr. P. Walton
Assistants:- Mr. N. Bannister & Mr. R. Garfield
Fourth Official:- Mr. G. Hegley
Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Gomes; Ekotto, Dawson (Capt.), Bassong, Bale; Bentley (sub Rose, 70), Huddlestone, Palacios (sub Kranjcar, 60), Modric; Defoe (sub Gudjohnsen, 46), Pavlyuchenko
Subs not used:- Alnwick; Dervite; Kane; M’Poku
No Bookings
Bolton (4-1-4-1):- Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, O’Brien, Knight (Capt.), Samuel; Muamba; Taylor (sub Riga, 56), Holden, Cohen, Gardner (sub Lee, 79); Klasnic (sub Elmander, 56)
Subs not used:- Al Habsi; Robinson, Shittu; Davies
No Bookings
Pavlyuchenko braced for Cup glory!
Roman Pavlyuchenko stole the headlines again, with another fine brace to see Spurs through to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in three years. Whilst Spurs did not fill their ground, the attendance was respectable, although not bolstered by anything other than a token presence of Bolton fans. The travelling fans saw their team create quite a few chances, but on the whole Spurs defended well, although they also had Bolton’s inaccuracy to thank. Spurs’ second goal was initially credited to Jermain Defoe, but it turned out to a Jaaskelainen own goal. Andy O’Brien scored an even better own goal after just two minutes of the second half to ensure Spurs’ passage.
Owen Coyle made several team changes, and kept his club captain Kevin Davies on the bench, no doubt prioritising Bolton’s campaign for Premier League survival. Harry Redknapp also made 4 changes to his starting line-up, due to a mixture of injuries and his desire to rest Vedran Corluka and Peter Crouch for Sunday’s game at home to Everton. Benoit Assou-Ekotto made a welcome return to action for the first time this year, although he was deployed at right back for the first time. Pavlyuchenko’s fine two-goal performance on Sunday earnt him a rare start, and four goals in two games is going to give Harry Redknapp a selection head-ache on Sunday.
Bolton played with a familiar set-up, with Muamba in front of the defence and a four man midfield behind Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic. 24 year old American midfielder Stuart Holden made his Bolton debut next to Cohen, with Matty Taylor and Ricardo Gardner on the Bolton flanks.
It was defender Sebastien Bassong who had the first chance of the night, when space opened up for him in the middle and he took a left foot shot that rose just over the bar in front of the Park Lane End. Five minutes later Taylor was allowed too much space on the right side of the Spurs area, hitting a shot which Gomes saved well to concede a corner. Gomes was in good form all night, as he has been all season, and his positioning was excellent making a number of saves routine.
After a Spurs corner on 16 minutes, Huddlestone’s shot was blocked and then passed to Palacios lurking on the right side. Wilson tried a shot across goal, which passed wide of the far post. Bale’s poor pass across the outside of the Spurs area gave Klasnic an opportunity which was well and truly spurned. A ball from the centre reached Ricketts on the right, and from his cross, Gardner hit his effort wide.
Spurs took the lead in the 23rd minute. Modric threaded a great ball through the defence, which Defoe let run to Pavlyuchenko, who gave his defender thee slip before firing low past Jaaskelainen with a left foot shot. At the other end Gardner again had a chance which Gomes had covered with a dive to his left. Modric was the provider again, and this time Defoe took up the baton with a run across the box, before unleashing a shot which the Bolton keeper saved well, also with a dive to the left. Klasnic got another shot on target, which was deflected out for a corner.
Then Spurs doubled their lead after a corner taken by David Bentley. Huddlestone pushed the ball out to Palacios, who was again on the right side of the Bolton area. Wilson hit a low drive that initially seemed to have been turned in by Defoe, but in fact it had gone into the net off Jaaskelainen’s leg. Nonetheless it was a welcome second goal, especially as Klasnic was still looking lively at the other end forcing another Gomes save.
Eidur Gudjohnsen replaced Defoe at the break, and played a great part in the third goal, with a lovely ball down the line from half-way for Bale to chase. Gareth won his race against Ricketts and hit a strong cross which Andy O’Brien turned in past the helpless Jaaskelainen. Whilst they had played some open football, Bolton did not look a side that was going to come back from a three-goal deficit, and as the half progressed the flag in the Bolton end looked more and more desolate.
Pavlyuchenko hit a good shot on target after a good ball from Bale. Jaaskelainen saved by parrying the shot, which was then cleared. Owen Coyle made a couple of changes with Riga and Elmander replacing Klasnic and Taylor. Riga had a couple of efforts, but Gomes was not strongly tested in this period, although he did save from Riga, pasty thanks to that positioning sense. Kranjcar replaced Palacios and Luka Modric played in a central midfield role, with Huddlestone withdrawing to the more defensive position .
Modric picked up a ball deep in that midfield and as he ran forward exchanged passes with Pavlyuchenko, before Modric’s shot was deflected out for a corner. Pavlyuchenko moves well, and he seems to have a good understanding with Modric in particular. After another chance for Riga, Spurs tested the Bolton keeper thanks to a Bale cross and a flick by Gudjohnsen at the near post which went straight to the keeper.
Harry Redknapp was able to introduce Danny Rose for Bentley, with 20 minutes left. Danny usually plays on the left but he did a good job down the right flank, and it was from his cross that Pavlyuchenko got the fourth goal with minutes left on the clock with a right foot finish in the middle of the area. Spurs finished off with some good passing moves, and Kranjcar had a right foot shot that passed wide.
This wasn’t a great performance by Spurs, but you can’t complain or argue about a 4-0 that takes us on a trip to Craven Cottage on Saturday March 6th for the quarter-final. Last time we played Fulham there in the FA Cup, we won 4-0!
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