Tuesday January 1, 2013 Day 21 Finished White Hart Lane

Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 1 Reading

  • Dawson 10’
  • Adebayor 51’
  • Dempsey 79’
  • Pogrebnyak 4’

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  1. Premier League - Tottenham down sorry Reading

    Premier League - Tottenham down sorry Reading

    Tottenham dominated a beleaguered Reading to comfortably win their Premier League encounter 3-1 at White Hart Lane. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Tottenham Hotspur
    • Reading
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+4' The full-time whistle goes at White Hart Lane, and Tottenham have comfortably beaten Reading 3-1 courtesy of goals from Dawson, Adebayor and Dempsey after Pogrebnyak put the visitors in front in the fourth minute. The win lifts Tottenham above Chelsea into third place in the table, while Reading remain in 19th spot. Thanks for joining us, and a very happy new year to you all!
    • 90+3' Reading pass the ball around at the back, and the visitors are just desperate to get this match over with now.
    • 90+2' Lennon takes the ball down the right and almost manages to pick out Defoe, but it's slightly overhit.
    • 90+1' Naughton hammers a low shot straight at Federici, and there will be four added minutes.
    • 90' Parker drives a tremendous shot from range to draw a very fine save from Federici, and that was very nearly a goal for the midfielder!
    • 89' Lennon has had a superb game for Spurs, and he continues to run Harte ragged.
    • 88' It's Livermore's 50th appearance for Spurs, and he immediately gets a few touches in midfield for the rampant hosts.
    • 87' Adebayor trudges off after a fine display in attack with a goal to his name, and Jake Livermore comes on for Spurs.
    • 85' Tottenham are not satisfied with their two-goal cushion and continue to press for further strikes.
    • 84' Defoe fires wide yet again with the goal gaping at his mercy, and he has had too many chances to count this afternoon.
    • 83' There's a third and final change for Reading now, with Noel Hunt coming on for Pavel Pogrebnyak.
    • 82' Lennon continues to enjoy the freedom of the right wing before clipping a delivery to the far-post, but Alex Pearce is there to head behind with Adebayor waiting just behind him.
    • 81' Dempsey's first three touches have led to this match being effectively ended as a contest as the hosts press forward in search of a fourth.
    • 79' GOAL! Clint Dempsey nets his fourth goal of the season to surely put the game to bed, and it's extremely fortunate as his speculative strike from range takes a looping deflection off Mikele Leigertwood to lob the helpless Federici!
    • 78' Reading go agonisingly close again as Alex Pearce heads wide from inside the six-yard box, and he really should turn the ball in!
    • 77' What a chance for Reading! Dawson switches off as he looks to play the offside trap, and Kebe should score as he dallies in front of goal and Walker is able to slide in and concede a corner!
    • 76' Sigurdsson is the man to make way for Dempsey, and he has put in a very good performance against his former club.
    • 75' Reading keep the ball at the back very patiently, and they need to play with a bit more urgency.
    • 74' Dempsey looks set to come on imminently, and Spurs are about to make a second change.
    • 73' Despite all of Spurs’ possession and abundance of chances, Pogrebnyak squanders a glorious opportunity to level with a close-range header after Hugo Lloris parries his initial strike in what is Reading’s first real attack of the second half!
    • 71' Sigurdsson races on to pick up a loose ball before driving a shot wide, and he is dismayed to not be awarded a corner.
    • 70' No team has collected fewer points over the past six Premier League games than Reading (4), and they do not look set to pick up any more today.
    • 69' Naughton lets fly from 25 yards, and the ball flies over the bar, but it was a very clean strike from the full back.
    • 67' Dembele is given a break as he is replaced by Parker, as Villas-Boas makes his first change.
    • 65' Reading continue to give the ball away whenever they get it back, and Spurs are being gifted possession.
    • 64' Lennon continues to run riot for Spurs, and he creates yet another chance, this time for Adebayor, with a cut back, only for Leigertwood to intervene.
    • 63' Defoe fires wide from inside the Reading box following fine work from Lennon once more, and he has had more than his fair share of chances!
    • 62' Villas-Boas is preparing a few changes now with Scott Parker set to come on.
    • 61' It's very controlled from Spurs as the hosts keep the ball comfortably in the Reading half and bide their time in front of goal.
    • 59' Robson-Kanu charges forward, but his intended pass for McAnuff is extremely poor.
    • 58' The first change of the afternoon is made from Reading as Jem Karacan makes way for Hal Robson-Kanu.
    • 57' Sigurdsson whips over Spurs' fifth corner of the match, but it's too deep for everyone inside the box.
    • 56' Pogrebnyak is having to drop very deep indeed to pick up the ball, and he's a very isolated figure. /// @Hilman_Hzm fancies Defoe to score in the second half and Spurs to win comfortably if they improve their finishing. What do others think?
    • 55' Lennon comes close as he combines with Defoe and Adebayor before dragging a low shot just wide of the far post from inside the Reading box!
    • 53' The way Spurs are keeping the ball here could mean a very long afternoon for Reading, who are chasing shadows at the moment.
    • 52' Reading simply cannot get out of their own half now, and Tottenham continue to press forward.
    • 51' GOAL! Adebayor puts Spurs in front with a very fine header at the back post from Lennon's sublime delivery from the right byline, and it's a terrific finish from the forward with Federici unable to make the save! It's what the home side deserve.
    • 50' STAT: No player has hit more shots without scoring than Gylfi Sigurdsson in the Premier League this season (27).
    • 49' Adebayor backheels into Sandro's path from the edge of the Reading box, but the midfielder shoots well wide!
    • 47' Neither manager has deemed it necessary to make any changes so far, and Spurs are rampant already.
    • 46' The second half is under way, and Tottenham are straight back on the attack with Reading immediately pinned back.
    • - Remember, you can keep up to date with all the latest action across every Premier League game by following the official Eurosport account on Twitter - @EurosportCom_EN
    • - What did you make of that first half? What will the full-time scoreline be at the Lane? Get in touch with your thoughts via Twitter - @Dan_Eurosport
    • 45+1' The half-time whistle goes at White Hart Lane, and it's 1-1 between Tottenham and Reading with Dawson's powerful header cancelling out Pogrebnyak's fourth-minute opener. Spurs have dominated and peppered Federici's goal, but Reading remain on terms.
    • 45' There will be just one added minute at the end of a pulsating first half.
    • 44' Sandro drives a low shot which takes a vicious deflection and really tests Federici, who makes a fine save down low to his left after having to change direction!
    • 43' At the other end, Walker is nearly caught napping as Kebe charges in at the back post to fire wide from Karacan's delivery.
    • 42' This time it's Dembele who gets a shot away from the edge of the Reading box, but Federici does well to smother the ball with Adebayor lurking ominously.
    • 41' Defoe twists and turns before miscuing a tame effort straight at Federici, but it's relentless pressure from the hosts now.
    • 40' STAT: Spurs have averaged only a point a game in the games Gareth Bale has missed this season, compared to 1.94 when he has played.
    • 39' Sigurdsson curls in a sumptuous delivery into a really dangerous area, but Federici is out quickly to punch clear.
    • 38' Lloris does well to clear upfield to Sigurdsson, who is penalised for a barge on Gunter - seems pretty harsh.
    • 37' That was very close to being Defoe's 15th goal of the season, and he's a livewire on the edge of the Reading box.
    • 36' Defoe jinks inside two challenges once more and fires a fierce shot agonisingly wide of the far post with Federici left flat footed and helpless - what an effort!
    • 35' Gunter bundles over Defoe out on the right, and Sigurdsson will stand over this set piece.
    • 34' STAT: This is one of only five fixtures in Premier League history to see 10+ goals when Tottenham beat Reading 6-4 in December 2007.
    • 33' Sandro charges inside from the left and bends a promising effort just wide of the far post with Federici slightly concerned.
    • 32' Kebe does very well to intervene as Defoe lines up a shot from the edge of the Reading box, and that was crucial.
    • 31' Sigurdsson continues to drift from the centre to the left, and Reading are really struggling to pick up their former player.
    • 30' Naughton is marauding down the left at every opportunity, as is Walker on the opposite flank.
    • 29' Kebe and Leigertwood are beginning to get on the ball more often now, and Reading need to keep the ball better in midfield.
    • 27' All the play for Spurs is down the right, and it's clearly their strategy to target Harte's lack of pace with Lennon's abundance of it.
    • 26' Pogrebnyak is battling extremely hard to hold the ball up for his side in the final third, and he's occupying Dawson and Vertonghen.
    • 25' It's incessant pressure from Spurs now, before a foul from Dembele on Karacan gives Reading some much needed respite.
    • 24' STAT: Sandra has made more interceptions than any other Premier League player this season (75).
    • 23' Another dangerous Sigurdsson corner causes havoc in the Reading box, and Sandro fluffs a shot as the ball breaks loose.
    • 22' Lennon does very well to win a corner with a burst of pace down the right, and Harte concedes the set piece.
    • 21' Defoe jinks inside from the right and looks very dangerous before he loses the ball to Leigertwood.
    • 20' Dembele lashes a fierce drive wide of the near post after a powerful run, and he's looking very bright.
    • 19' Spurs continue to keep the ball very comfortably in midfield, and Kebe is twice berated by McDermott for losing the ball.
    • 17' The Spurs skipper is quickly back on the field after being treated for the cut, and he has a new shirt with blood all down his original one.
    • 16' Dawson suffers a rather nasty cut on his nose after a clash with Pogrebnyak, and he's treated on the touchline.
    • 15' Adebayor is causing havoc with his physical presence early on, and he should have scored with that early header.
    • 14' McDermott is barking orders at his players, and he seems extremely concerned about Dembele pulling the strings.
    • 13' Dembele is enjoying a lot of the ball in midfield, and Reading are giving him far too much time and space.
    • 12' Sigurdsson is playing superbly early on for Tottenham, and he has a shot deflected over the bar from the edge of the Reading box. It's a corner to the hosts.
    • 11' STAT: Reading have allowed more shots on target than any other side (114).
    • 9' GOAL! Captain Michael Dawson heads Spurs level from a Sigurdsson corner, and the defender ghosts in front of two Reading players to meet the pinpoint delivery! The hosts are back level within five minutes, and parity is restored!
    • 9' It's been a dream start for Reading, but they find themselves very much under the cosh now.
    • 7' It's all Tottenham at the moment, and the early goal has really energised the hosts, who are piling on the pressure.
    • 6' There's a glorious early chance for Adebayor, who is picked out by Lennon at the back post, but he cannot head on target from close range! He really should have at least tested Federici there.
    • 5' STAT: Reading are the only team to score four goals and lose twice in the Premier League.
    • 4' GOAL! Reading are in front! It's Ian Harte who eventually takes the set piece, and he's denied by the crossbar as Pogrebnyak pounces in the six-yard box to head home from close range! What a start for the visitors, and the White Hart Lane crowd are stunned.
    • 3' There's a very dangerous free kick for the visitors now as Pogrebnyak is tripped by Vertonghen, and Guthrie and Ian Harte stand over it...
    • 2' Lloris gets a few early touches as the hosts settle into the match with some good possession in their half.
    • 1' We are under way at White Hart Lane, with Tottenham in their traditional white, while Reading are in their away strip of all-yellow.
    • 14:55 We're five minutes from kick off now, and referee Howard Webb leads the players out of the tunnel. It's a crisp, sunny afternoon in London for this new year's day clash.
    • 14:50 The satchel swingers have priced this match as follows - Tottenham 1/3, Reading 9/1, Draw 4/1. What do you predict the scoreline will be today? Does anyone fancy an upset with a Reading win, or will Spurs come through this match comfortably? You can get in touch via Twitter and your predictions can be published. @Dan_Eurosport
    • 14:45 You can keep track of the latest action across the Premier League games this afternoon by following the Eurosport Twitter account for live updates - @EurosportCom_EN
    • 14:40 Last week's win over Southampton leaves Villas-Boas' side in fourth, although fifth-placed Arsenal have a game in hand over their bitter rivals and sit only three points adrift. Brian McDermott's men, meanwhile, sit second-last in the standings, five points from safety with 20 games having already been played. Premier League table
    • 14:35 Spurs will be without Gareth Bale, of course, today with Sigurdsson coming in to replace the winger. Bale received his fifth domestic yellow card of the season against Sunderland, prompting a row about a string of bookings for diving. "It's the same thing every time. I've been booked for no reason again," Bale protested after that match.
    • 14:30 Villas-Boas had this to say prior to today's match: "The problem with that fixture is that we have done extremely well away from home, but we have to keep up the momentum. We have to keep our home form going and it would be silly for us not to continue at this level, so it is a fixture in which we really want to get the three points to close finally the festive fixtures with three wins, hopefully, and one draw."
    • 14:25 Spurs can cap a near-perfect festive period with a New Year's Day victory at White Hart Lane after ending 2012 with seven Premier League points from nine. The only blip was another disappointing home result, a goalless draw with Stoke that preceded victories at Aston Villa and Sunderland
    • 14:20 The teams are in - Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton, Sandro, Dembele, Lennon, Sigurdsson; Adebayor, Defoe. /// Reading: Federici; Gunter, Harte, Mariappa, Pearce; Karacan, Leigertwood, Kebe, McAnuff; Guthrie, Pogrebnyak
    • 14:15 Welcome to live text commentary of Tottenham's Premier League clash with Reading at White Hart Lane.

  • Summary

    • 90' Parker drives a tremendous shot from range to draw a very fine save from Federici, and that was very nearly a goal for the midfielder!
    • 79' GOAL! Clint Dempsey nets his fourth goal of the season to surely put the game to bed, and it's extremely fortunate as his speculative strike from range takes a looping deflection off Mikele Leigertwood to lob the helpless Federici!
    • 78' Reading go agonisingly close again as Alex Pearce heads wide from inside the six-yard box, and he really should turn the ball in!
    • 77' What a chance for Reading! Dawson switches off as he looks to play the offside trap, and Kebe should score as he dallies in front of goal and Walker is able to slide in and concede a corner!
    • 73' Despite all of Spurs’ possession and abundance of chances, Pogrebnyak squanders a glorious opportunity to level with a close-range header after Hugo Lloris parries his initial strike in what is Reading’s first real attack of the second half!
    • 63' Defoe fires wide from inside the Reading box following fine work from Lennon once more, and he has had more than his fair share of chances!
    • 55' Lennon comes close as he combines with Defoe and Adebayor before dragging a low shot just wide of the far post from inside the Reading box!
    • 51' GOAL! Adebayor puts Spurs in front with a very fine header at the back post from Lennon's sublime delivery from the right byline, and it's a terrific finish from the forward with Federici unable to make the save! It's what the home side deserve.
    • 44' Sandro drives a low shot which takes a vicious deflection and really tests Federici, who makes a fine save down low to his left after having to change direction!
    • 36' Defoe jinks inside two challenges once more and fires a fierce shot agonisingly wide of the far post with Federici left flat footed and helpless - what an effort!
    • 9' GOAL! Captain Michael Dawson heads Spurs level from a Sigurdsson corner, and the defender ghosts in front of two Reading players to meet the pinpoint delivery! The hosts are back level within five minutes, and parity is restored!
    • 6' There's a glorious early chance for Adebayor, who is picked out by Lennon at the back post, but he cannot head on target from close range! He really should have at least tested Federici there.
    • 4' GOAL! Reading are in front! It's Ian Harte who eventually takes the set piece, and he's denied by the crossbar as Pogrebnyak pounces in the six-yard box to head home from close range! What a start for the visitors, and the White Hart Lane crowd are stunned.
    • 14:20 The teams are in - Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton, Sandro, Dembele, Lennon, Sigurdsson; Adebayor, Defoe. /// Reading: Federici; Gunter, Harte, Mariappa, Pearce; Karacan, Leigertwood, Kebe, McAnuff; Guthrie, Pogrebnyak

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      8 6
      Defenders
      6.5 7
      Goal 8 7
      8.1 6
      6.5 7
      Midfielders
      7.3 6
      Substitution Out70′ 7.2 7
      7.8 8
      Substitution Out76′ 6.7 8
      Strikers
      7.3 6
      Goal Substitution Out88′ 7 7
      Subs
      Substitution In70′ 6.8 6
      Substitution In76′ Goal 7.6 7
      Substitution In88′ 6.4 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4.6 7
      Defenders
      4.3 6
      4.3 6
      4.3 7
      4.3 5
      Midfielders
      4.3 7
      3.8 5
      Substitution Out57′ 4 6
      Strikers
      4.3 6
      Substitution Out73′ 4.1 6
      Goal Substitution Out84′ 5.1 6
      Subs
      Substitution In73′ 3.3 6
      Substitution In84′ 3.8 6
      Substitution In57′ 3.3 6

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