According to Bill Edgar of The Times, always a source of useful (or just silly) statistics, Manchester City’s 10 home goals of the season mean that they have broken the previous record for smallest amount of home goals in a campaign in the league. In any division. Ever. That's out of 8174 league campaigns since 1888. Despite all their problems in finding the net at all they have actually scored nearly twice as many away from home. So you could really bank on the fact that they would get one in here… All part of the entertainment. As are the sumptuous goals by Keane and Berbatov that we are so blessed with. The build-up to the first goal was a thing of beauty: King passed the ball to Gardner and made a run through the middle while Gardner found Berbatov, who flicked the ball with trademark elegance and uncanny precision back to King. King found Jenas, Jenas lifted the ball over the defenders, Keane swivelled and volleyed in.
Next up came a pass from Gardner, finding Berbatov via a Lennon dummy which sent Richard Dunne sprawling on the ground. It was a wonderful trick, and Berbatov continued the tricks as he tried to send the ball back to Lennon without taking his eyes off the defender in front of him. When the ball was, after all, intercepted, he got it back and smacked it past two defenders and goalkeeper into the corner. The direct route does work…
City came back with some pressure and a goal, the build-up of which had begun with an unfortunate Gardner back-pass. Hamann crossed for M’Penza, who headed in. Michael Johnson headed over an empty goal after Robinson had saved a shot from M’penza and our England goalkeeper had to make another cracking save from a powerful header by Beasley. Defoe, on as a substitute again, could also have added a goal to his name when he stepped up to take the penalty awarded for Dunne’s pushing of Zokora, but not only shot it within Isaksson’s reach – he then fired the rebound over the bar.
Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Gardner, Lennon (Malbranque 75), Jenas, Zokora, Tainio, Keane (Defoe 81), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Huddlestone, Assou-Ekotto.
Booked: Gardner.
Goals: Keane 10, Berbatov 32
Manchester City
Isaksson, Onuoha, Dunne, Distin (Hamann 28), Jordan, Vassell, Jihai, Johnson, Ireland, Beasley (Samaras 81), Mpenza.
Subs Not Used: Weaver, Dickov, Laird.
Booked: Vassell.
Goals: Mpenza 40
Referee: S Bennet
Celebratory hug between Keane and Berbatov, a regular feature these days (Image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)
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