Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
White Hart Lane, Tottenham, N17
Sunday 1st April, 2012, 4pm
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 (1) SWANSEA 1 (0)
Spurs scorers:-
Van der Vaart, 19
Adebayor, 73, 86
Swansea scorer:-
Sigurdsson, 59
Attendance:- 36,174
Referee:- A. Marriner
Assistants - G. Beswick, D. Richardson
Fourth Official:- Mr. L. Probert
Teams:-
Tottenham Hotspur(4-2-3-1):- Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto(Rose 88); Sandro(Lennon 71), Parker(Capt); Van Der Vaart(Livermore 85), Modric, Bale; Adebayor
Subs not used:- Cudicini; Nelsen; Saha, Defoe.
No Bookings
Swansea City(4-2-3-1):- Vorm; Rangel, Monk (Capt.), Williams, Taylor; Britton, Allen(Gower 90); Routledge(Dyer, 71), Sigurdsson, Sinclair; Graham(Moore 79)
Subs not used:- Tremmel; Tate, McEachran, Lita.
No Bookings
Spurs are back in the groove
I wasn't able to attend this game, due to a family commitment, so I am grateful to Ray Lo for his report, reproduced here. I can tell you it is far more nervous watching the match on TV, rather than being there, and able to vent one's feeling a bit more to relieve the tension. I did feel tension too, when Sigurdsson equalised Rafa van der Vaart's 19th minute goal with half an hour to go. All was well in the end though, as Aaron Lennon replaced Sandro, and Adebayor scored two headers, one of which was from a corner! That's the second consecutive game in which we've scored from a corner, after such a dearth of dead ball successes. Here is Ray's report:-
A lot of people were eagerly awaiting this game because it was between two open attacking sides and a good game was promised. We were not to be disappointed even if both managers set their sides up in the same formation. Gallas and Kaboul were in front of Freidel with Walker at right back and Assou-Ekotto on the left. Sitting in front of them was Sandro and Parker who both got forward when they could. Modric, sporting new bright orange boots the same colour as the visitors kit, was behind Adebayor with Van Der Vaart on his right and Bale to the left. These three would, as we have come to expect, move across the width of the pitch.
Spurs kicked off the game attacking the Park End with the two sides feeling each other out. Personal contests developed between Benny and Routledge on one side and Walker and Sinclair on the other. Each player had support from their other flank team-mate. The duelling lasted for most of the game with the Spurs players having the edge.
The first chance fell to the home side when Modric's cross to Adebayor was squared to Van Der Vaart who fired wide. The visitors responded with a long diagonal ball into the left corner for Sinclar to chase with Walker. Walker won the ball but Van Der Vaart's attempted clearance was intercepted and played up to Routledge in the centre. His low drive was just wide of the left post.
Bale got down the left and crossed for Adebayor to turn short of the near post. Bale's next cross was cleared by Taylor for a corner. Modric sent Bale away again and his cross was cleared straight to Van Der Vaart who fired it first time past Vorm to put Spurs in front.
Rangel failed to cut out a long diagonal and Bale was through again but this time his cross was cleared for a throw-in. On the half hour Rafa flighted a corner to the far post where Kaboul headed it back across goal but Vorm pushed it out to the incoming Rafa who fired over. Most of the chances were falling to the home side but Swansea still had plenty of possession and worked the ball forward without a telling a final product. They went close when Sigurdsson's corner was met by Williams who put it over the bar.
Sandro advanced through the middle until blocked and Bale hit the loose ball wide. Assou-Ekotto attacked up the flank moving the ball forward to Modric who passed it on to Bale but his effort was too high. As the half was ending Benny chased the ball in the away half until they gave it away to Bale who quickly moved it on to Modric who fired wide. There was still time for Bale to cross to Rafa who play it on to Adebayor who in turn tried to play in Sandro.
Spurs started the second half as they finished the first with Bale again providing the cross for Walker to head over. Sigurdsson hit a volley that Freidel pushed onto the post and away for a corner. This served as a warning as not long after Sigurdsson latched onto a poor clearance to strike a volley into the ground and to the left of Freidel for the equaliser.
(Ed:- In my view, at this point, Spurs were sitting too deep, and paid the penalty for their lack of adventure)
Bale set up Van Der Vaart for an effort that Vorm saved for a corner. From the corner the ball came out to Assou-Ekotto who fired over with the encouragement of the crowd behind him. Bale was next to be denied by Vorm. Swansea sent on Dyer in place of Routledge and Lennon replaced Sandro.
Kaboul made a sortie up field before playing in Adebayor to draw a save from Vorm. Lennon kept to the right touchline but was not receiving the ball which raised cries from the crowd until he finally got the ball to be followed by cheers. Bale 's effort from Van Der Vaart's corner was deflected for another corner. Rafa dropped this one onto the far post where Adebayor headed home to put Spurs back in front.
Sigurdsson sent a free kick just wide before Lennon played in Modric for an effort that was saved. Livermore came on for Van Der Vaart as Redknapp looked to add security in the centre of the pitch while Bale drew another save from Vorm. Lennon then got down the right and crossed to the far post where Adebayor headed home for his second and Spurs third.
With the two goal buffer Harry was able to take off Assou-Ekotto, who had needed some treatment earlier, for Rose. Sigurdsson saw his effort bundled away by Freidel for a corner which he took and Williams turned wide. As the game went into added time we saw ex-spur Gower come on for Allen. Adebayor fired wide before Gower had a hand in setting up Swansea's last chance. The ball was crossed into the area where it came back to Sinclair but Kaboul got a block on his shot which went for a corner.
The final whistle signalled Spurs drawing level with the gooners who lost yesterday at Queens Park Rangers. There were no bookings for either side as the game was played in an entertaining way in good spirit with most of the chances going the way of the home side but few taken. Adebayor scored twice with his head, and the last time that I remember him doing that was against us for Real Madrid. Anyway there was another goal from a corner. Bale also stayed mainly on the left where he did so much damage.
Ray
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