Though coach Juande Ramos refused to offer up an excuse of an emotional letdown after last Sunday's Carling Cup triumph, one may tend to view this match, with the resultant score, in that manner. However, it was a combination of Spurs failing to capitalize on their opportunites with a weakened starting line-up set with an eye on Thursday's UEFA Cup match with PSV Eindhoven, against a determined opponent not wishing to be relegated that resulted in the final score.
After all, Birmingham has drawn twice with league leaders Arsenal in the last six weeks, including last week's controversial match in which Blues defender Martin Taylor horrifically broke the leg of Arsenal's Eduardo on an ill-timed tackle.
The match was not on television here, so we were spared the visuals of this lopsided affair, but Spurs gave up the only goal in the first half off of a corner kick, when Mikael Forssell headed in a pass from James McFadden just seven minutes in for the home side.
With no Ledley King, Micheal Dawson or Jonathan Woodgate in the back due to injuries, and with Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane resting on the bench, Spurs really had no effective defense, nor did they have a consistent offensive attack, the stats of possession and shots on goal giving no evidence to the true nature of the match.
Forssell scored a hat trick in the second half, with goals in the 59th and 81st minutes, with a 55th minute goal from Sebastian Larsson sandwiched inbetween those goals. Jenas scored a mere consolation goal in extra time at the end of the match for mere window dressing on a miserable afternoon on the pitch.
Of the matches that were on television, it was a day for late goals affecting the outcomes, with the unfortunate news of Nicklas Bendtner scoring a goal seconds from end time to salvage a point at home with Aston Villa and with Newcastle being stunned at home 1-0 to Blackburn at the end of regulation time from a Matt Derbyshire goal, even though the Magpies had completely outplayed the Rovers for much of the game.
SPURS SOCCERNET REPORT
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