It has been a long time coming, but after Wednesday night’s game at the Reebok Stadium, Spurs look like returning to grinding out results and winning games. Sunday’s match at White Hart Lane, which had Blackburn arrive, but the players didn’t come out of their bus, was no indicator of a return to form.
In the past couple of months, or since the late in January, when we played against Manchester City, we went from Premier League title challengers, to a team that forgot how to play football. Of the total of 42 points, we managed to secure 16, dropping 26 points. It’s hard for anyone to explain how or what happened, and various scenarios are given by pundits and reporters, but the fact remains, serious damage was suffered.
Fabrice Muamba, made his first appearance, after suffering heart failure, 46 days before, at White Hart Lane. He strolled on to the pitch to thank the support he received and was greeted by rapturous applause and had both the home and away supporters, singing his name.
The first half had Tottenham dominating, controlling the game, and on the 36th minute, a fabulous dipping shot was fired by Luka Modric, from outside the box, into the far corner that left Bogdan, Bolton’s goalie with no chance.
From the start of the second half, Bolton Wanderers pressured Spurs and after 5 minutes they were rewarded, by Nigel Reo-Coker, with an equaliser. On another night, maybe Bolton could get away with it, but tonight, it was a big mistake! Harry Redknapp, kept the same starting 11 he used for the Blackburn game and, it was without any doubt a very well balanced team. Even though Ekotto and Parker were absent, Rose and Sandro, slotted in as replacements, comfortably. With no King, Gallas stepped in to partner the now solid and dependable Kaboul, as centre backs. Kyle Walker sat on the opposite side of Rose, as the two very fast attacking full backs capable of doubling up on Lennon and Bale, the devastatingly fast wingers that terrorise the sidelines, and supply crosses to the striking partnership of Adebayor and Van de Vaart.
It took Van de Vaart just over 9 minutes to find the net, with only a further minute and a half for Adebayor to make it 3 -1. Shell-shocked, Bolton had nothing in the cupboard, but that didn’t stop a fourth goal from Adebayor coming on the 70th minute.
Tottenham are now 1 point 1 goal adrift from Arsenal, fighting for third place. Fast rewind back 2 months and Arsenal were 10 points behind Spurs. How things change in football!

Teams

Bolton  Adam Bogdan,Dedryck Boyata,David Wheater,Tim Ream,Samuel Ricketts,Chris Eagles,Nigel Reo-Coker,Mark Davies,Martin Petrov,David Ngog

Tottenham Hotspur  Brad Friedel,Kyle Walker,William Gallas,Younes Kaboul,Danny Rose,Aaron Lennon,Raniere Sandro, Luka Modric,Gareth Bale,Rafael Van der Vaart,Emmanuel Adebayor

MOTM Luka Modric