UEFA Cup - Bent fires Spurs to victory

Eurosport - Fri, 07 Nov 09:26:00 2008

Darren Bent netted a brilliant hat-trick as Tottenham tore into Dinamo Zagreb in their UEFA Cup Group D clash to win 4-0 at White Hart Lane.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 UEFA Cup Tottenham-Dinamo Zagreb Darren Bent scores - 0

Tom Huddlestone was also on target as Spurs continued their impressive resurgence under new manager Harry Redknapp, who has now seen his side score 12 goals in the four games since he took over.

The result handed Spurs their first points of the group stage campaign but perhaps more importantly Redknapp and his charges were able to take away a bucket-load of confidence from this fixture, which they controlled from start to finish.

Two quick-fire goals from Bent midway through the first half got Spurs up and running, the striker netting his seventh and eighth goals of the season.

His first came on the half-hour mark when Huddlestone jumped over Luka Modric's cross; Bent took a touch before firing past Ivan Kelava via Igor Biscan's knee and the underside of the cross bar.

Three minutes later and Bent swooped for a second time to put Spurs two up, this time rolling the ball under the keeper after Huddlestone's neat pass had found him free inside the penalty area.

Huddlestone then turned finisher just before the hour, connecting first time with a David Bentley corner to smash a glorious volley home from 25 yards out.

Bent had a goal disallowed before he duly - and deservedly - completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes. Huddlestone was again involved, playing a killer pass for the striker to run on to and fire low past Kelava for a third time.

Four goals to the good and Redknapp could even afford the luxury of bringing on 16-year-old John Bostock to make his debut for the club - and become the youngest player to appear in Spurs' colours.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 34 - 53 of 53

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  1. glory tottenham­ hotspur!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    harry is the best maneger in­ the world

    From MARTIN, on Sun 23 Nov 12:29PM

  2. Tottenham doing good now!!!!!!!

    Congratulations Harry­ Redknapp

    From Nathan, on Sun 16 Nov 9:05AM

  3. jay is a gooner who posts on Early Doors blog regulaly,­ a total waste of space if ever there was one, bigger­ girl than i am

    From Roxy, on Fri 7 Nov 12:16PM

  4. jay you're a total @#$% you need a few volts to­ get your brain sorted keep out of here damn gooner

    From Roxy, on Fri 7 Nov 12:12PM

  5. Right lets knuckle down and get a result at Citey now!!

    From Wayne, on Fri 7 Nov 9:45AM

  6. I am beginning to support managers and not teams­ now.
    It seems everything Redknapp touches turns to­ gold.
    The second I heard he moved from Portsmouth I­ knew that Spur's was going to change for the­ better.
    It is amazing how the right manager can inspire­ so much from a team.
    Spurs are looking like the top­ flight club they are again.
    ...This coming from a Pompy­ fan

    From Nick B, on Fri 7 Nov 9:37AM

  7. comment#48 for the record im a gooner always have and­ always will be,good to see that one little pop can­ start winding you lot up,

    From etangdecoullcarp, on Fri 7 Nov 9:34AM

  8. Comment #45, Are you for real???? All teams and their­ players want to do well for their clubs. And as for­ finishing mid-table, well with Tottenham's present­ form after such a miserable start, I'd say it was­ odds on that Spurs will finish mid-table - it­ doesn't take a scientist to work that one out - Any­ more words of wisdom???

    From Paul, on Fri 7 Nov 9:11AM

  9. Comment#44 how come you haven't told us who your­ team is? Maybe you haven't got anything to laugh­ about... because it's the Spurs who are having the­ last laugh at the expense of morons like you who wrote­ us off at the beginning of the season.

    From Paul, on Fri 7 Nov 9:03AM

  10. Comment #40 just for the record Harry was brought­ supporting Arsenal, so it's quite likely that's­ where his true love lies and not West Ham - well, you­ know how it is, us North London boys have to stick­ together Ha!Ha!I don't care who Harry supports so­ long as he reigns supreme at the Lane!

    From Paul, on Fri 7 Nov 8:58AM

  11. John Mitchell......Don't worry about it..... you­ WILL still be able to watch your team play in Europe­ AND the Championship if they win either domestic Cup.­ Good luck with that!!

    From nick, on Fri 7 Nov 8:57AM

  12. Spurs are still bottom of the league. Even if they do­ "march on" they're not going to finish in­ the top 10. Their players will soon start letting arry­ down simply because thats the spurs way. Spurs will­ always be a mid table team, no matter how much they­ deny it.

    From doubt.it.man, on Fri 7 Nov 8:52AM

  13. you spuds fans make me laugh, a few decent results and­ you all think your gonna clean up, get real,the bad old­ days and ways will be back,and i for one will be­ laughing the loudest,

    From etangdecoullcarp, on Fri 7 Nov 8:48AM

  14. RE: English B - 1) Why would United want Rednapp and 2)­ Why would he be faithful to Spurs? NOBODy has accused­ him of being a loyal fella

    From johnrcotton, on Fri 7 Nov 8:06AM

  15. Oh yes, things are bright, they are Lilywhite !­ Haven't won anything, but confidence is going­ really well - THudd, Modric, Bentley and Lennon were­ all playing well - and now's the time we get to see­ payback for that 16mill, Benty can be a lethal­ finisher.

    Spurs go marching on, on, ON !!!

    From ispurs, on Fri 7 Nov 6:31AM

  16. GO SPURS!!!

    From mafiaboss, on Fri 7 Nov 6:31AM

  17. Great Harry when an English club wins in Europe I love­ it, but please Harry make sure the Spurs finish the­ season behind your true, love West Ham

    From Ronsenglish, on Fri 7 Nov 4:53AM

  18. As Greavsie says 'It's a funny old game' -­ What a difference a week makes - Well done lads! We­ still believe!

    From Paul, on Fri 7 Nov 3:13AM

  19. C'mon YE SPURS!!!

    can we already give harry the­ manager of the year gong?

    From Geordie4Lyf, on Fri 7 Nov 2:50AM

  20. Spurs are really getting into a good rhythm now, GO­ SPURS!!! Fantastic play by Tom Huddlestone and Darren­ Bent.

    From quilava_ex, on Fri 7 Nov 2:29AM
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