Premier League - Redknapp watches Spurs win

Eurosport - Mon, 27 Oct 09:06:00 2008

Incoming Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp saw his new side get their first league win of the season at the ninth attempt as they beat Bolton 2-0 at White Hart Lane.

FOOTBALL 2008/09 Premier League Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko celebrates scoring against Bolton - 0

Redknapp - who agreed to replace sacked coach Juande Ramos late on Saturday night - watched Roman Pavlyuchenko and substitute Darren Bent score to give Spurs their first league win since May and their first at home since March - against a Trotters side who were reduced to 10 men.

The win means that the north London side remain at the foot of the table, but the gap between them and second-bottom Newcastle is reduced to a point.

Following their domination of the possession from the kick-off, midfielder David Bentley's 16th-minute cross from deep on the right was an inviting one, and Pavlyuchenko escaped his marker to glance a perfectly-placed header in off the far post, giving Bolton keeper Jussi Jasskelainen no chance.

Pavlyuchenko limped off in the second half, but his replacement Bent made his own mark on the match as he was brought down by Jaaskelainen with just over 15 minutes left. The Finnish keeper felt aggrieved at the decision - for which he received a yellow card - but his protests could not prevent Bent placing the ball on the penalty spot and blasting a solid low strike into the corner of the net.

Having picked up three red cards in their previous two matches, Tottenham's change in fortune continued as Bolton midfielder Gavin McCann was sent off 10 minutes into the second half for two bookings, one for dissent and another for a foul on Tom Huddlestone. Following the latter, McCann began to walk off the pitch before referee Andre Marriner had time brandish the relevant cards.

Despite reserve team boss Clive Allen being the man offically in charge as caretaker manager, Redknapp took his place on the Tottenham bench less than 24 hours after previous incumbent Ramos and his staff were sacked, as well as sporting director Damien Comolli, whose role has now been scrapped by the club.

Allen restored Bentley to the Spurs starting line-up after being dropped for the UEFA Cup trip to Udinese, and he responded by putting in his first performance of consistent quality since his big-money summer move from Blackburn Rovers.

Tottenham were potentially facing a defensive crisis, with duo Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson suspended and Jonathan Woodgate injured, but they were boosted by the return of Vedran Corluka and captain Ledley King keeping his place in the side, and the skipper put in another commanding performance in the Tottenham back line.

Bolton boss Gary Megson named the same starting 11 that lined up in the 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers eight days previously.

Pavlyuchenko was close to opening the scoring in the sixth minute, when Bentley's corner swung towards him at the far post, only for Andy O'Brien to get his head in the way before the Russian could complete a simple tap-in.

Spurs had things their own way before and after the goal, but as the half drew on Bolton began to get into the match, and in a frantic spell around the half-hour mark Kevin Davies, Matthew Taylor and Johan Elmander all had chances to score, with the Swedish striker seeing his close range effort blocked on the goal-line by King after one of the several occasions that Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes fumbled the ball.

Tom Huddlestone and Jamie O'Hara also had good chances for Spurs but it was Bolton who went into the break on top.

They picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, as every set piece saw plenty of men come forward to put pressure on the flapping Gomes, who had his wrist bandaged up during the first half.

Kevin Nolan fired a strike over the bar, but Tottenham - in particular Luka Modric - re-asserted their authority on the fixture.

O'Hara was replaced by Aaron Lennon with 20 minutes to go and Tottenham were soon two goals to the good.

Bolton still continued to create chances as the match drew to a close - most notably Jlloyd Samuel's shot across goal that whistled past the far post - and Jasskelainen was called upon to make two saves within moments of each other from Jermaine Jenas and Modric before the final whistle was blown.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 84 - 103 of 103

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  1. So Spurs beat a 10 man substandard Bolton outfit with the aid of some benevolent refereeing.Hardly merits a National Day of Celebration.
    Wait until 'arry loses 3 on the bounce,the Brainless Bagel Levy has another hissy-fit and St Redknapp is on his bike.
    Levy is the real clown Spurs need to get shut of - after all did he not appoint Jol & Ramos,or was that another grinning idiot?

    From steve, on Mon 27 Oct 12:20PM

  2. ..... Confidence is a winner in itself. Bolton have always been a bogey side to us so to beat a worse team than Spurs is a start... Harry will give the team the confidence that Ramos could'nt get over! Beckham and Crouch on the way.... ;0)

    From John, on Mon 27 Oct 11:55AM

  3. Spurs wont do any better under Redknapp.They didnt need to sack RAMOS some of the players need to have a good hard look at themselves.

    From Eric, on Mon 27 Oct 11:50AM

  4. WOO!! When Tottenham win they do it in true style!
    2 brilliant goals and i read a comment from Jon H and it said weldone Clive Allen beause Harry hasnt done anything yet, that is not true. Harry Redknap got right down into buisness and he picked our team.

    WOOO CATCHING UP WITH NEWCASTLE, 1 MORE POINT!

    From Andrew, on Mon 27 Oct 9:10AM

  5. Harry may have had nothing to do with picking the side yesterday but it was brilliant to see the side pick up a win. Harry is a good manager and I have every faith that more wins are on the way. COME ON YOU SPURS

    From JonH, on Mon 27 Oct 8:57AM

  6. Surely this is forum for people to quickly jot down their opinions. All this nonsense picking up on spelling mistakes is tiresome and pointless. get over yourselves

    From ali r, on Mon 27 Oct 8:55AM

  7. so the problem is that was then its now that counts , and spurs are @#$% , bolton are a really bad team so is it a great win ?? chelsea is a money team only not history team , liverpool keep saying about the past also but manu have the present say no more , harry a take spurs down

    From Chris, on Mon 27 Oct 8:44AM

  8. Don't you mean, "Well done Clive Allen?" Harry hasn't done anything yet.

    From Jon, on Mon 27 Oct 8:39AM

  9. Yesterday, we saw the white cockrel stand proudly over the lane flapped his wings and crowed very loudly for all the fans to hear! OH! OH! OH! OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Now he is going to peck his way up the English premier league. I am a proud spur today. Well done boys for breaking out of the dock in true spurs fassion. Now lets see the cockrels dazzle and fly up the league table.

    From Dennis U, on Mon 27 Oct 7:47AM

  10. Well done boys!!!!

    HARRY, HARRY , HOTSPUR!!!!

    From Craig, on Mon 27 Oct 7:29AM

  11. Pavlyuchenko super!!!

    From sashok25945, on Mon 27 Oct 7:06AM

  12. well done daniel levy at last it obvious has sunk in, ramos should have went 3 games ago he clearly is not up to the job the premiership is not suited to his mamngement style, by appointing harry spurs may just have saved themselves form the drop if anyone can motivate the average players at spurs its harry, arsenal liverpool will be hard to get any points from but the team now should feel confident enough to start playing.

    From james t, on Mon 27 Oct 7:03AM

  13. What is 'back' luck??! Talk about dyslexia being rife...or rifle, riffed, rive, rave, fire, fiver...?! There are limits to our ability to decipher decifer deciber decibel decider all this bad/back/ball spelling, you know - yahoo reporters not least! (first instead of worst, my foot/woot!)

    From joeblogs, on Mon 27 Oct 6:51AM

  14. What is 'back' luck??! Talk about dyslexia being rife...or rifle, riffed, rive, rave, fire, fiver...?! There are limits to our ability to decipher decifer deciber decibel decider all this bad/back/ball spelling, you know - yahoo reporters not least! (first instead of worst, my foot/woot!)

    From joeblogs, on Mon 27 Oct 6:30AM

  15. What is 'back' luck??! Talk about dyslexia being rife...or rifle, riffed, rive, rave, fire, fiver...?! There are limits to our ability to decipher decifer deciber decibel decider all this bad/back/ball spelling, you know - yahoo reporters not least! (first instead of worst, my foot/woot!)

    From joeblogs, on Mon 27 Oct 6:30AM

  16. What is 'back' luck??! Talk about dyslexia being rife...or rifle, riffed, rive, rave, fire, fiver...?! There are limits to our ability to decipher decifer deciber decibel decider all this bad/back/ball spelling, you know - yahoo reporters not least! (first instead of worst, my foot/woot!)

    From joeblogs, on Mon 27 Oct 6:30AM

  17. What is 'back' luck??! Talk about dyslexia being rife...or rifle, riffed, rive, rave, fire, fiver...?! There are limits to our ability to decipher decifer deciber decibel decider all this bad/back/ball spelling, you know - yahoo reporters not least! (first instead of worst, my foot/woot!)

    From joeblogs, on Mon 27 Oct 6:30AM

  18. What is 'back' luck??! Talk about dyslexia being rife...or rifle, riffed, rive, rave, fire, fiver...?! There are limits to our ability to decipher decifer deciber decibel decider all this bad/back/ball spelling, you know - yahoo reporters not least! (first instead of worst, my foot/woot!)

    From joeblogs, on Mon 27 Oct 6:29AM

  19. Redknapp overrated?? He just won the FA Cup with Portsmouth! He's just what Spurs need if they want to avoid the drop. Should have been done a long while ago.

    From Trick-G, on Mon 27 Oct 5:58AM

  20. Assuming that Harry stays until the end of the season and Spurs avoid relegation, do any Tottenham supporters expect him to be there next season?
    In any capacity?
    Mercenary Rambo Redknapp is looking for a final salary pension and it looks like the Spurs will be trustees of the fund!!!

    From Doc, on Mon 27 Oct 5:03AM
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