CARLING CUP ROUND THREE
WEDNESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER, 2009
PRESTON NORTH END 1 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 5 (2)
Preston scorer:-
Brown, 83
Spurs scorers:-
Crouch, 14, 77, 90
Defoe, 37
Keane, 87
Referee: - Phil Dowd
Attendance: - 16,533
Teams:-
Preston (4-1-3-2):- Lonergan (Capt.); Hart (sub Chaplow, 51), Mawene, Chilvers, Nolan; Shumulikoski; Jones, Carter, Wallace; Elliott (sub Mellor, 78), Parkin (sub Brown, 78)
Subs not used: - Henderson; Proctor, Smyth, McLaughlin
Booked: - Nolan (foul on Hutton)
Spurs (4-3-1-2):- Gomes; Hutton, Dawson (sub Corluka, 80), Huddlestone, Bale; Bentley, Jenas (Capt.), Palacios; Giovani (sub Lennon, 16); Crouch, Defoe (sub Keane, 70)
Subs not used: - Walker; Naughton, Dervite; Rose
Booked: - Hutton
Crouch quality shines through.
Spurs are making a habit of winning away games 5-1 this season! Once again, I would suggest that the scoreline was somewhat flattering for Spurs, but Preston flagged towards the end, and the true quality of the Premier League team shone through, especially that of Peter Crouch whose hat-trick goal was a sublime back-heel from 12 yards out.
Harry Redknapp fielded a stronger side than might have been expected, but still made seven changes to his line-up. Heurelho Gomes made his return, and was called upon to make several very good saves too. Michael Dawson made a safe return to the back, playing for 80 minutes, auguring well for Saturday’s game against Burnley. Gareth Bale made his first start of the season, and created the first goal with a superb cross to the back post. I wish I could offer glowing praise to David Bentley, booed here because of his Blackburn association, but he didn’t take full opportunity of his chance to make an impact in this game, often being guilty of slowing down a move or failing with his final ball.
We hoped to see lots of exciting action from Giovani, who did hit the bar with a shot, but having taken a heavy tackle had to be replaced by Lennon after 16 minutes, thus strengthening the Spurs team even more.
One strange element about the Spurs set up was that Giovani/Lennon was given a free role in front of the midfield trio, but it was almost as if the player was put in that position to oppose the Preston defensive midfielder – Macedonian Veliche Shumulikoski. As a result, Spurs flanks were often left weak, and with Bentley on the right and no-one on the left, the home side came at Spurs with gusto and not a little success in those areas. Left back Eddie Nolan gave Alan Hutton plenty to think about. In the midfield Ross Wallace was voted the home man of the match, and he did play a big part in the danger that Preston often offered to the Spurs goal, despite them not using their first choice strikers on the night. Spurs were a little shaky at the back in those early stages.
That early Giovani effort came after five minutes, as Defoe sent him away on a right to left run, before he unleashed a rising left foot shot that rebounded into play off the bar. Bale did well and cleared a Preston free kick after Huddlestone had been harshly penalised by referee Phil Dowd, who was showing no sympathy to the away side in the face of some tough tackling. Gomes made his first important save after 8 minutes, when Jones met a Hart cross with a quite powerful effort.
However, Spurs dealt with the pressure and took a lead in the 14th minute. The ball had been played from right to left across the middle, before Bale launched a deep cross to the back post, where Crouch met it with a well placed right foot shot.
Gomes made another great save after 25 minutes, when the big man Parkin hit a cracking shot, that Gomes could only turn away for a corner, as the ball curved on its course. Elliott, who is not the biggest of players, managed to hold off Alan Hutton to win a long ball which was laid off for Darren Carter to take a shot at goal, passing wide. Then Jones mis-hit an effort that went safely outside Gomes’ left post. It was against the run of play then, when Spurs went two up, but they were demonstrating how to take chances, even if Jermain Defoe needed two bites at this particular cherry. Jenas hit a good ball to Defoe’s feet, and the striker carried the ball past two defenders before hitting his shot at the goalkeeper, who saved. The ball bounced up, and Defoe headed home the rebound.
Preston did not give up, and when Hart crossed, Dawson missed his header, whereas Parkin did not and Gomes had to save again.
After the break, Shumulikoski and Elliott worked the ball down the left flank and the ball was crossed deep to the far post, where Gomes was secure again. Hart had to withdraw with injury and was replaced by Chaplow who went into the midfield, with Jones covering at right back.
Spurs now started to dominate proceedings with plenty of possession football, but not so much excitement. Bentley took a quick free kick to Lennon who was now getting down the right flank more. Lennon crossed and Huddlestone fired a shot in from the edge of the box, which the goalie just about managed to scramble away for a corner at his left post. Two minutes later, Lennon cut in from the right and hit a good low left footed shot, again pushed away for a corner by Lonergan. Bentley’s corner reached Huddlestone whose shot passed just wide.
Palacios was punished for seemingly falling over in front of a Preston player, and Gomes made a terrific save from Wallace’s free kick. Two minutes later Gomes patted away another good effort by Wallace, before Elliott fired wide... Spurs needed another goal to be secure and it came from Crouch just after he had hit one shot over the bar. Palacios sent Lennon away down the left side with a great pass, and substitute Robbie Keane and Crouch were running inside Lennon. When the cross came, the defence were beaten, the ball was just ahead of Keane, but easy for Crouch to finish in front of the numerous away fans.
Preston manager Alan Irvine made a double substitution, bringing on Brown and Mellor, whilst Corluka replaced Michael Dawson. The substitutes combined to get a goal back for the home side in the 83rd minute, as Mellor’s shot was mis-directed and fell to Brown, who fired home. Spurs just went up a gear in the closing stages, and scored two quality goals. Firstly Huddlestone released Keane with a deft short pass to the left. Robbie beat the keeper with a nice finish off the outside of his right boot.
In added time, Crouch delivered the coup de grace in style. Keane crossed from the right of goal, and Lennon returned the ball from beyond the post, when Crouch, with his back to goal, but clearly fully aware of his position, delivered a most deliberate back-heel from about 12 yards out. It was a great way to score a hat-trick goal, and to send Spurs emphatically into Saturday’s fourth round draw.
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