April Fool’s Day, and our Spurs really fooled us into believing that this was going to be an easy win; a forceful start, a convincing display and enough chances throughout to bag at least a handful of goals. But to no avail. The lads had brought all the skill, style and imagination which has recently become their trademark – but not the finishing touch. Despite not becoming the emphatic victory it could have been it was still three points in the bag for Spurs, meaning that the 50th game of the season became a fifth consecutive league win, moving the team up to 6th in the table, and – finally – a first clean sheet since October. The goal, furthermore, finally took Spurs goal difference in the league out of the negative – it is now 0...
A few excellent chances for Spurs opened the game; Dimitar Berbatov and Aaron Lennon freeing Steed Malbranque, who hit the bar, a Berbatov assist for Robbie Keane, who hit Marcus Hahnemann, a shot by Berbatov – saved by Hahnemann. Leroy Lita nearly scored for Reading as he headed a cross from Glen Little towards goal, but he, too, hit the post rather than the net. A lovely pass from Malbranque, at his creative best throughout and man of the match, found Keane who had superbly timed his run – but again the finishing was not quite up to scratch and Hahnemann saved comfortably. Robinson’s only truly meaningful save of the game came when a loose ball from a free kick ended up with Dave Kitson who fired a lethal shot towards goal.
A host of varied attacks by Spurs were all closed down by the Reading defence, which also managed to catch the Spurs strikers offside to an unusual extent. The second half was to see two goals disallowed for offside, as well as a frustrating amount of opportunities thwarted. Reading had done their homework and Coppell’s tactics paid off. Some of Spurs missed chances were just that, misfiring, but some were simply foiled by good defending. It is too tempting to praise the Premiership debutants in a patronising way; they are, quite simply, a good side who work well as a team.
A Spurs attack in the final minutes of the first half finally did yield a goal, as Greg Halford was adjudicated to have handled the ball while trying to take it from Keane. Referee Alan Wiley awarded a penalty and the Ireland striker dexterously placed it into the net. The decision was a bit harsh on Halford, Reading’s record signing from Colchester United, who, apart from that moment, had a very good game – displaying, among other things, his fabulous ability to throw a ball. Far. Very far.
An expertly taken free kick by Berbatov, forcing an equally expertly executed save, closed the first half and Hahnemann’s contribution to the match as injury forced him to be replaced by Adam Federici in the second half. The second half resembled the first, with lovely runs from Lennon, amazing ball control from Berbatov, lovely attacking play by Lee, great moves from Malbranque… Federici too had his shares of saves to make, from Didier Zokora, Berbatov and substitute Defoe, who, with his 15 minutes also managed to contribute to the toll of chances missed.
Reading, who were very effective defensively but essentially played with an attacking mind-set, nearly equalised when Lita sent another header just outside of goal. Their never failing spirit meant that the game was open to the very end, an equaliser never looking impossible. Spurs may have dominated the game and deserved the victory, but the missing ‘clinical’ finishing meant that it really could have gone either way.
Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Rocha, Young-Pyo Lee, Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque (Huddlestone 80), Berbatov, Keane (Defoe 75).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri, Taarabt.
Booked: Rocha.
Goals: Keane 41 pen.
Reading
Hahnemann (Federici 46), Halford, Duberry, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little (Oster 75), Harper, Sidwell, Hunt (Doyle 65), Lita, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Bikey, Gunnarsson.
Attendance: 36,067
Referee: A Wiley
No comments:
Post a Comment