Looking Forward

Burnley  (Away)

League Cup Fourth Round

Tuesday 9th November 2004

Coverage

TV :
Sky Sports 1 - Live coverage

Radio :
BBC Radio London (94.9 FM) - London area only

Internet :
www.spurs.co.uk   Live webcast  - subscribers only
Planet football - http://play.www.planetfootball.servecast.net/downloads/sky/spurs_match_new.ram (free - only available when match is on)

Jensen

Roche
Duff
Cahill
Camara

Sanokho
Hyde
Grant
Branch (Valois 42 [Pilkington 83])

Duffy
Blake (c)

Unused subs:
O'Neill
Scott
Yates  

Robinson

Pamarot (Ifil 78)
Naybet
King
Kelly

Mendes (Davies 62)
Brown
Carrick
Ziegler

Keane (Kanoute 65)
Defoe

Unused subs: 
Keller
Redknapp
   

None

Tottenham Hotspur

Keane 32
Keane 53
Defoe 59

The biggest surprise of the evening was probably the inclusion of Stephen Kelly at left back, especially since he seemed incapable of kicking with his left foot.  This aside, the youngster had a solid game and hopefully will play a large part in Tottenham’s future.  Carrick started in midfield at the expense of Redknapp, and was commanding throughout the game, showing that he is clearly too good to be playing and against Championship teams.  He will surely relish playing in the top division again. 

The first half was a nervy affair for the team in white, Paul Robinson having to make a series of saves, all which were followed by sly winks and giving the ‘thumbs-up’ to the travelling faithful who already consider England’s finest to be one of their own.  The nippy Blake who shot wide in the middle of the first half constantly exposed Naybet’s age and lack of pace.  Maybe playing week in, week out is getting to Naybet’s elderly bones, as he is constantly being exposed as the weak link in our much-improved back four.  Surely a new centre back is high on Arnesen’s Christmas shopping list.  The Moroccan is a good squad player, but is past playing regular Premiership football. 

Robbie Keane’s two goals either side of half time were prime examples of a quality striker being in the right place at the right time.  His first was slotted in from close range after Carrick drove down Burnley’s left flank and put it on a plate for him.  The cold Lancashire night got a bit warmer as the familiar ‘smoking gun’ celebration was executed in style.  The Irishman’s second came about in similar fashion – Defoe stopped the ball from going out of play with an exquisite touch, played a one-two with Zeigler and curled the ball with the outside of his right foot across the Burnley goal.  Keane once again crept in behind the defence and celebrated in front of the cheering Spurs fans. Only then did the cry of ‘Martin Jol’s Blue and White army’ fill the air. 

In midfield Ziegler was doing a superb twin job of covering Kelly and causing problems for the Burnley defence.  The Swiss youngster was magnificent and will surely have cemented his place on the left for the forthcoming derby against Arsenal.  On the opposite wing Mendes was operating out of his favoured position, but such was his demeanour and obvious class that an uninformed observer would have been none the wiser.  He was full of running, clever passes and constantly chased lost causes.  Michael Brown was the perfect foil for Carrick – running, worrying the opposition and when winning the ball, making space and supplying his more talented team mates. 

All memories of the defeat when we last came to Burnley were eradicated beyond doubt by a trademark Defoe goal.  Keane flicked the ball to the England striker who turned, looked up and from 25 yards put the ball in the corner of the net beyond the grasping ‘keeper’s hand.  The familiar smile shone brightly as jubilant Spurs players mobbed him. 

This left the able defence to do their job, which they performed competently.  The only worry for Saturday being Pamarot leaving the pitch through injury to be replaced by the youngster Ifil. 

The omens are looking good for us in this competition – lets just take this form to the Lane for Saturday!

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - MICHAEL CARRICK

Some clinical finishing determined the tie in Tottenham's favour and the way that Spurs performed was more confident and more fluent than for a few weeks now.  Jol has got the team pushing players forward a bit more and the support and supply for the strikers paid dividends.

Having said that, there were still some early scares that nearly put pressure on the team had Burnley been able to convert them.  Veteran striker Robbie Blake caused Spurs problems with his running with the ball and his movement, with his supplying of chances being more apparent than his taking of chances.  Five minutes in and he set up a volley for young Duffy, who only succeeded in finding the body of Robinson in the way.

The first opening for Spurs came from Ziegler's 9th minute free-kick that found Pamarot's head and Jermain Defoe was just unable to get to the nod back from the French full back.  Pamarot's presence in the box was in marked contrast to his instructions under Santini and he appeared to enjoy getting up in attack.

Two minutes later, Blake dragged a shot just wide and then there was a period of sloppy play before Keane fired a deflected shot at goal in the 19th minute.  A Ziegler corner was driven in with pace in the 22nd minute and Noe threw himself at the ball, just being late on it to glance it across the face of goal with the aid of a block by the keeper.  The Swiss lad was enjoying himself with a drive off the wet turf on 24 minutes and then was involved in a move soon after when Noe set up Robbie, whose drive was blocked too.  Jermain flashed a shot powerfully at goal, but way too high, before Burnley carved out a clear opportunity to score.  Blake stood up a neat cross from the left wing to Duffy, who rose above Kelly, but could only let the ball skid off his head and go wide rather than powering it at goal.

The missed opportunity proved costly as just past the half hour, Mendes, playing an unusual wide right midfield role put Carrick in running ahead of him.  With a twist and a turn, Michael lost his man marker and slid a left footed diagonal ball across the area where Robbie Keane had timed his run to perfection and slammed the ball in under the keeper's arm.  It was a typical Keane finish and one we haven't seen so far this season, as the service has been lacking.  How he must be pleased to see Carrick in the side.

Keano then turned provider, putting a slide-rule pass into the left channel of the box for Kelly to run onto and as he was being played in an unaccustomed left back role, he could not manage to get a ball into the six yard box before a tackle came in.  Just before the break at the other end, Camara made a very good left wing run and was put in by Blake.  The defender's cross was pulled back to Grant who made good contact with the ball and Paul Robinson was equal to it - pushing it aside for a corner.  When the ball came in from the set-piece Duff got to it first with his head and Robbo's save on his knees was tidied up by Mendes on the post.  As added time was being played a clever turn by Blake saw him past Naybet and he hit a shot, which went about a yard wide with a large amount of the goal visible.

At the start of the second half, Burnley were trying to push forward, but it was Spurs who hit them with a second goal, which started way back near the edge fo their own penalty area.  A throw-in by Kelly was nudged toward Defoe by Ziegler after nearly losing the ball.  Jermain stretched and kept the ball in play to Reto, who exchanged passes with Defoe, setting him away on the left.  He looked up to find his strike partner racing in at the far post to meet his low ball across the face of goal struck with the outside of his right foot.  All Keane had to do was fire it into the net where the ball subsequently ended up.

This was all just a precursor to the main course of Jermain Defoe showing what finishing is all about.  57 Minutes past and Keane cleverly flicks a through ball onto Defoe with a defender at his back.  Twisting one way and going the other, the defender was shaken off and a quick glance allowed him to hit a powerful shot from 29 yards just out of reach of the stranded keeper.  It was the finish of a master goal-scorer and had such power that the keeper never stood a hope of getting to it.

At 3-0, Jol made some changes to rest some and give others the opportunity to get some on-pitch action.  Tottenham then played some possession football and chances were created for Davies, Kanoute, Ziegler (twice) and Defoe, but Spurs failed to add to their score.  Blake nearly caused some problems from a free-kick, but Stephen Kelly was alert to the danger.  The only real opportunity the home side created in the second half was when Duffy burst through a couple of tackled on the edge of the areas, but he fluffed his shot, shooting straight at Robinson.

The tie was comfortable in the end and Spurs move on to Round Five.  But the most important thing was that there was a win for Jol.  And, for him, a win that contained some style.  His reactions showed he cares a great deal and I imagine that Chris Hughton will be crushed to death if Martin keeps giving him those bear hugs ... but then that will mean we have been successful !!

Burton Bradstock

Arsenal