Keane’s scowls give Trap cause to smile
Keane’s displeasure at being replaced after just 63 minutes was evident from the forward’s slow trudge across the pitch and his reluctant acceptance of a training top as he took his seat on the bench.
For Keane, the move brought only frustration. For Trapattoni, though, Harry Redknapp’s decision to replace Keane with Niko Krancjar meant his most important player was spared a potentially energy-sapping 27 minutes as Spurs fought to fend off Sunderland’s attempts to get back into the game and, more importantly, avoided any further risk of injury just seven days before France visit Dublin for the first leg of the World Cup play-off.
While Keane was visibly frustrated at his failure to make more of an impact on the game, his goal, a second in three games, indicated that the player has returned to scoring form at the best possible time for Trapattoni and Ireland.
Redknapp confirmed he made the switch on tactical grounds after his plan to employ Keane at the head of a midfield diamond failed to have the desired effect. The player’s early goal, a reward for the quick-thinking that meant he was the first to react when Peter Crouch headed the ball back across the face of goal, was a rare highlight as the home side laboured in the absence of any real width.
The manager admitted the decision had been a hard one to make. “When you are winning 1-0 and not playing well, Crouch is dangerous in both boxes, so sometimes it’s hard,” Redknapp said. “We weren’t playing perfect football and I thought Crouchie may be of more use to me at that time.
“Robbie wasn’t happy, but what’s he supposed to do, run off and say, ‘Well done Harry’! He’s got the hump when he’s subbed, of course he has. You don’t blame him. But the result was right so it was the right move.”
Tottenham certainly needed a lift at that point. Sunderland, inspired by the promptings of an impressive Andy Reid in central midfield, were the better team and would have been level had Darren Bent kept his nerve after winning a penalty five minutes after the break.
The striker endured a difficult two years at White Hart Lane that hit a low point when Redknapp claimed his wife would have converted a routine chance Bent missed in January’s draw with Portsmouth. It was no surprise, therefore that the forward left in the summer but if he felt he had a point to prove, he went the wrong way about stating his case.
The forward went down by Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes but while both managers agreed with the decision to award a penalty, Sunderland’s Steve Bruce believed the Brazilian should have been sent off, a view that no doubt hardened when Bent saw his spot-kick saved.
Gomes, though, took a different view, re-opening the debate on diving by claiming the striker had gone to ground too easily. “I think he dived,” the goalkeeper said. “It’s difficult. This time I didn’t get the ball but it was not a penalty either. Maybe when he dived he changed the game. I don’t accept something like that but you have to keep going when the referee gives a penalty, you have to try to save it.
“It’s a difficult situation but it is the striker’s job. The referee needs to know these things, that when a striker comes to the 18-yard box they try to dive for a penalty.”
The incident served to inspire Spurs and dishearten Sunderland who had little chance of recovering after Tom Huddlestone drilled home the home side’s second goal.
The defeat was harsh on Bruce’s side, who have improved steadily this season, with Reid exerting a greater influence on the side. Once again the midfielder showed he has adapted comfortably to his position in front of the back-four and almost capped another superb display with an outrageous volley that crashed against the post from 35 yards.
Bruce acknowledges Reid’s importance to his side and credits the player’s stricter conditioning regime with the improvement.
“He’s done it himself,” said the manager. “He’s stopped putting things in his throat, basically. It’s quite simple. I’ll take a leaf out of his book! But he enjoys his role and he’s done it well. I’m not going to take any plaudits. He was excellent in his role of a deep lying midfielder.”
REFEREE: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)4: Fudged the most important decision of the match when he failed to send Gomes off after the keeper conceded the penalty. Sunderland were right to feel aggrieved.
MATCH RATING: *** The drama surrounding Bent’s return and the missed penalty gave the match an added edge but overall Spurs were disappointing and Sunderland’s impressive approach play lacked focus.
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