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Tottenham
Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion
White Hart Lane,
Tottenham. 20th April 2005, 7.45pm. |
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Match
Preview |
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| Result |
Tottenham Hotspur |
1 - 1 |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Scorers |
Robbie Keane (52) |
Zoltan Gera (24) |
| Attendance |
35,885 |
| Teams |
4-4-2
1 - Paul Robinson (GK)
20 - Michael Dawson
14 - Erik Edman
34 - Stephen Kelly
26 - Ledley King
23 - Michael Carrick
7 - Simon Davies
4 - Sean Davis
19 - Andy Reid
18 - Jermain Defoe
10 - Robbie Keane |
4-4-2
(GK) Russell Hoult - 1
Neil Clement - 19
Thomas Gaardsoe - 4
Paul Robinson - 3
Riccardo Scimeca - 2
Ronnie Wallwork - 24
Richard Chaplow - 12
Kieran Richardson - 15
Kevin Campbell - 21
Zoltan Gera - 11
Nwankwo Kanu - 25 |
| Substitutes |
37 - Radek Cerny (GK)
24 - Timothee Atouba
31 - Dean Marney
16 - Reto Ziegler
15 - Ahmed Mido |
(GK) Tomasz Kuszczak
- 29
Martin Albrechtsen - 14
Darren Moore - 5
Junichi Inamoto - 33
Robert Earnshaw - 34 |
| Substitutions |
A Mido for S Davis (45)
T Atouba for E Edman (45)
R Ziegler for J Defoe (75) |
J Inamoto for K Richardson
(23)
D Moore for K Campbell (60)
R Earnshaw for N Kanu (83) |
| Yellow Cards |
Michael Dawson (8)
Andy Reid (90) |
None |
| Red Cards |
None |
None |
| Referee |
C Foy (Merseyside) |
In some ways, the game
was very similar to the Cup replay between the two sides back in
February. Albion dominated the first half, taking a 1-0 lead and
Spurs were the better side in the second. The main difference was
that the Albion of April is a much more confident and determined
outfit than the Albion of February. Spurs may have got the equaliser
in that spell just after half time when they threw everything at
the Albion defence, but once Albion had readjusted to the new Spurs
formation, they rarely looked like conceding again.
Ultimately, it was a well-earned and extremely valuable point against
a useful Spurs side that once again lifted the Baggies outside of
the relegation zone. Another win for Norwich means that the bottom
four are only separated by two points, but Albion remain in the
driving seat of the mini league with a game in hand.
It was a new look Baggies side that started the game with Richard
Chaplow making his full debut in the middle of the park in place
of the suspended Jonathan Greening - Kieran Richardson moved out
onto the left wing. Up front, an injury to Geoff Horsfield saw Kanu
make another start against Spurs and Albrechtsen's poor display
against Villa saw him replaced by Scimeca at right back.
Albion should've been ahead inside the first two minutes. Kevin
Campbell played a neat ball in between defenders to put Chaplow
through into the penalty area - the debutant squared it for Kanu
but he was tackled by Dawson as he was shooting. The ball fell invitingly
for Gera with a near open goal to aim at, but his mishit the shot
and it squirmed just wide of the post.
It set the tone for the first half as Albion dominated the game.
Clement struck the post with a wonderful 25 yard free kick after
seven minutes after Richardson was fouled by Dawson.
Spurs did have a couple of half chances, one of which was from Thomas
Gaardsoe whose attempted clearing header was looping under the crossbar
until Hoult pulled of a magnificent save.
On 23 minutes, Richardson was withdrawn as he was struggling with
a dead leg inflicted by Dawson in the earlier foul. That gave Junichi
Inamoto his first appearance in a Baggies shirt as he went into
central midfield with Chaplow switching to the left.
Within a minute of the substitution, Chaplow's corner flicked of
Michael Dawson's head and dropped at the feet of Zoltan Gera. The
Hungarian captain controlled the ball with his first touch before
firing the ball into the corner of the net to give the visitors
the lead.
Chaplow almost capped his full debut with a goal on the half hour
when he forced a save from Robinson when he got onto the end of
Kanu's low cross.
The home side had a few more half chances before the break, but
the Albion defence remained solid and held out until the half time
interval.
Jol decided he needed to change things for the second half and he
brought Egyptian Mido on along with Atouba withdrawing Edman and
Sean Davis. Mido went up front alongside Defoe with Keane playing
in the hole just behind. Atouba went to left back.
It certainly had the desired effect in the early stages of the second
period as Albion struggled to cope with the new formation. Suddenly,
the physical presence of Mido was causing problems for Gaardsoe
and Clement, and Keane was enjoying much more freedom. The whoe
Spurs team was much more attack-minded and Albion begain to feel
the pressure.
Mido had already missed a couple of good chances when, on 52 minutes,
he challenged Clement for a ball over the top, and the former Chelsea
man got no purchase on the header and it fell at the edge of the
box. Keane read it beautifully and ran onto it firing a fierce shot
into the corner of the net to score his fifth goal in four starts
against the Baggies.
Albion immediately went up the other end and almost grabbed an instant
reply. Gera played the ball behind the defence to Inamoto, and the
man from Japan fired a shot from an accute angle that Robinson saved
superbly.
Nonetheless, it was Spurs that were still on top and Robson made
an astute tactical change to bring on Darren Moore to add a little
more physical presence to the back line. Campbell was the man to
go off as Albion switched to a 3-5-2 formation with Gera moving
up alongside Kanu.
The change meade the game much more even as both sides had chances
to win it - Gera came closest with a volley that was inches wide
of the post.
Earnshaw replaced Kanu to little effect late on, but Albion looked
comfortable as the game drew to a close and they secured a very
valuable point.
For the first time in this mini-run, Robson was forced to call on
the strength of his squad for this match and he was not disappointed.
Scimeca, Chaplow, Inamoto and Kanu all put in good performances
that will leave the Baggies boss with some decisions to make at
'Boro.
Defeat for Palace at Blackburn means that Albion move back into
17th place, one point above Southampton and Palace with a game in
hand.
Marks
Russell Hoult - 7 - A decent performance from Russell with one outstanding
save..
Neil Clement - 6 - Not as good as he has been; particularly struggled
against Mido in the second half.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 5 - A few too many mistakes from Tommy although
he always got away with them.
Paul Robinson - 8 - Yet another accomplished display from Robbo.
Riccardo Scimeca - 7 - Impressive return to the starting line-up.
Ronnie Wallwork - 6 - Decent display from Ronnie.
Richard Chaplow - 7 - Extremely impressive debut from the youngster;
never looked out of place.
Kieran Richardson - 7 - Was having a very good game whe he was subbed.
Kevin Campbell - 6 - Decent link up play, but offered little else.
Zoltan Gera - 8 - MOM. Once again, he was at the centre of everything
good from the Baggies, plus he scored a great goal.
Nwankwo Kanu - 7 - Useful display from the former Gunner.
Junichi Inamoto - 7 - Neat and tidy; intelligent use of the ball
and solid in the tackle.
Darren Moore - 7 - Shored up the back line very well.
Robert Earnshaw - 5 - No impact and disappointing to see him disappear
down the tunnel without acknowledging the away support.
Bryan Robson - 8 - Good tactical move to stem the tide of Spurs
attacks and made good use of his squad.
Jon Want, 21st April 2005.
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