Keane goal fails to save Tottenham’s blushes as Blades edge home
Spurs were pegged back to 2-2 at Hull on Saturday by a last-minute goal and lost here after going ahead.
Jamie Redknapp made his pre-season debut for Tottenham and was involved in the 19th-minute goal by Robbie Keane. The ball came to new signing Sean Davis following an interchange of passes between Redknapp and Johnnie Jackson and he chipped the ball into the box for Keane, who finished well from 12 yards. The home side were level within a minute though as Jon Harley, signed on a free transfer from Fulham this summer, smashed in a shot from 20 yards.
Spurs goalkeeper Kasey Keller denied Barry Hayles in a one-on-one after 33 minutes and Michael Tonge came close to putting the Blades ahead when his header flew just over four minutes later.
The winner was a real route one effort as Paddy Kenny’s 67th-minute goal kick caught Tottenham’s defence napping and 18-year-old Jonathan Forte lobbed the ball over Keller. Meanwhile, Simon Walton will never forget his first senior start for Leeds United against Valencia.
The 16-year-old Leeds-born midfielder scored their opener from the penalty spot and was then sent off for two rash tackles.
He was given a standing ovation by the 19,565 fans, who sense they may have found a natural successor to David Batty and Alan Smith.
It was the only black spot during an encouraging second half performance by Leeds, who came back from conceding two soft first half goals to square things at 2-2 thanks to Mathew Spring’s long-range free-kick.Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell was clearly impressed by Walton’s display and vowed he would not be trying to change the teenager, who is only two weeks into his Academy training.
Valencia manager Claudio Ranieri admitted that Leeds always make life difficult for him at Elland Road but was not unhappy with his side’s performance.
Mohamed Sissoko and Rafete were the Valencia scorers.
Chris Coleman would like to further strengthen his Fulham squad despite having brought in three new faces over the past fortnight.
Fulham continued their build-up to the new Barclays Premiership campaign with a pre-season friendly against Rangers as part of a series of matches to mark their return to Craven Cottage.
It has proved to be far from a happy homecoming for Coleman’s men, who have failed to score in three matches following the 1-0 defeat by the Ibrox side which came on the back of a 2-0 beating by Celtic and a goalless draw with Watford.
Danny Mills has accused referee Alan Greaves of failing to protect the Manchester City players at Doncaster on Saturday.
City drew 1-1 at Belle Vue in their second pre-season friendly, but the match was scarred by a series of mass flare-ups, the worst of which followed Joey Barton’s over-vigorous attempt to kick the ball away from Paul Green, who had trapped it between his legs.
Blues boss Kevin Keegan singled Barton out for stinging post-match criticism and, fearful the game could spill over at any point, was forced to abandon plans to field some of his younger first-team squad men in the second-half.
Mills admitted it did not look good, but pinned the blame squarely on Greaves’ shoulders for failing to act decisively when the first nasty challenges went in.
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