Quite a nice come-from-behind victory for Harry Redknapp and Spurs today as they overcome an early goal from Robinho goal to claim the three points behind two Darren Bent goals at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Followed this one by gametracker early on, knowing that there'd be a replay on FSC at 1:30 p.m., but the recent Spurs renaissance had me glued to the computer early this morning (okay, I would've been doing that even if they hadn't been taking points lately!).
This really was a bit of an oddity of a game, given that there were three red cards handed out and that there wasn't any nasty stuff going on between the two sides from what I could see, it's just that the precedent of what was going to be allowed was set early on and after that there could be no deviation.
Robinho got his goal in the 16th minute on a rebound shot, but City's Gelson Fernandes received two yellows in the first 26 minutes, leaving the home side with 10 men for the balance of the match.........until much later. Spurs leveled just a couple of minutes later when Richard Dunne made an error on a clearance, allowing Bent enough space and time to race forward to drive the ball past a jumble of City defenders and goalie Joe Hart.
Bent got his second goal and gave Spurs a deserved lead in the 64th minute, but City managed a couple of attempts on goal that Heurelho Gomes did well to deflect, particularly shots from Stephen Ireland and Robinho that were impressive in their own right. I must say that the uneasiness I'd felt earlier this season watching Gomes wasn't to be found today.
Dunne got sent off in the 83rd minute for a tackle on David Bentley, leaving City with just nine, but Spurs didn't capitalize on that advantage, and just a few minutes later, the game was reduced to 10 on 9 when Benoit Assou-Ekotto for Spurs was given the red card for a hard tackle on Pablo Zabaleta.
At the end of the day, Spurs were certainly deserving of all three points, Luka Modric in particular being active on the front end of things early on in establishing offensive movement.
Up next Saturday is a visit to Craven Cottage and Fulham, who were victors over a hapless Newcastle side as well today 2-1; it should be a good battle between two London clubs that deserve to stay in the EPL. Come on you Spurs!!!
BBC , GUARDIAN
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