Spurs’ late show ruins Harry’s return

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Portsmouth 1

Mido converted a harshly-awarded late penalty after referee Uriah Rennie gave handball against Gary O’Neil seven minutes from time, and substitute Jermain Defoe finished his own barren scoring run in the dying seconds.

Redknapp picked nine survivors from his first reign, which ended a year ago, and somehow they survived a near non-stop grilling by Tottenham for more than 80 minutes.

But after shocking their hosts with a goal after four blanks in previous matches, Pompey were denied a famous victory in Harry’s homecoming.

Redknapp, who lost 5-1 with Southampton at Tottenham in his first away match with them a year ago, looked the miracle worker as Lomana LuaLua’s spectacular 24th-minute strike put Portsmouth ahead.

And such was the grit and determination of their defending that it was not until 12 minutes into the second half that Spurs skipper Ledley King headed an equaliser from Michael Carrick’s corner.

It was largely a one-sided, ill-balanced game with Spurs making almost all the running, but long before the end they were tossing long balls into the penalty area aimed at Mido and were forced to bring on Defoe for Robbie Keane in the last 20 minutes, hoping the England striker would score for the first time since September.

When Andy Reid came on for Wayne Routledge, his first touch was a free-kick which seemed to strike O’Neil on the hand, but Rennie felt the contact was deliberate and pointed to the spot and Mido drove home.

Defoe celebrated his first goal in three months right at the end but the end result was flattering to Spurs, who lacked creativity against a side imbued most with effort and spirit.

TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, King, Lee, Jenas, Carrick, Davids, Tainio (Routledge 40), Keane (Defoe 69), Mido, Routledge (Reid 83).

PORTSMOUTH: Ashdown, Primus, O’Brien, Stefanovic, Griffin, O’Neil, Viafara, Hughes, Taylor (Robert 86), Pericard, LuaLua.

Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).