Spurs show some stickability

WHEN Harry Redknapp sits down this morning to reflect on a victory that takes his side back into the Premier League top four, the Tottenham manager could be forgiven for concluding that he did a pretty fine job, considering how events appeared to conspire against him.

Players and staff at the club were struck down one-by-one throughout last week by a mystery virus, Redknapp learned before kick-off that key men Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley all face significant periods on the sidelines with groin injuries and Tom Huddlestone, his midfield linchpin, left the field on a stretcher early into the second half.

Even Champions League rivals Manchester City managed to win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday for the first time in 17 years.

By Redknapp’s own omission, they are not favourites to beat Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa in the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot, but they are the team in possession, albeit only on goal difference over Roberto Mancini’s City. Question marks remain over their mental toughness, but Tottenham certainly should not be written off.

And if White Hart Lane is going to host Europe’s finest next season, they could well rely on the world class talent of Modric. The Croatian playmaker oozed class and was at the hub of everything the hosts created, capping off his performance with a wonderfully taken goal and linking effortlessly with his team-mates throughout the 90 minutes.

“The most important thing is the way we played and I really enjoy being in charge of a team that plays as well as we did in the first half,” Redknapp explained.

“The pressure is not on us and Aston Villa to finish in the top four – people expect it from Manchester City and Liverpool. Modric is back to his best and his goal was a fantastic finish from a great player who could perform in any team in the world.”

While Redknapp seemed phlegmatic and keen to downplay his side’s top four chances, his Everton counterpart, David Moyes, was bullish in suggesting that the Toffees might be able to do it themselves, despite sitting 10th in the league and 11 points off contention.

Everton’s first-half performance defied their fine recent form – underlined by victories over Manchester United and Chelsea – as they fell to just their second defeat from their last 13 league outings.

“We didn’t turn up for the first half but I think a draw would have been a fair result after our second-half performance,” Moyes reflected. “After our start to the season it’s going to be difficult to finish fourth. We need to go on an incredible run between now and the end of the season but it’s a long shot.”

Tottenham took the lead in the 11th minute with their first real opportunity of the match. Jermain Defoe fired the ball across goal from the right for Pavlyuchenko, a forgotten man as recently as two weeks ago, to gratefully slide in for his fifth goal in seven days.

Modric doubled the lead with a moment of pure class made in Croatia. After passing moves with his compatriots, Niko Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka, Modric defied the angles to clip a beautiful shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Moyes responded by bringing on Phil Jagielka for Leon Osman at half-time and his team came out with a new purpose after the break. And on 54 minutes Yakubu scrambled the visitors back into the game.

The home crowd sensed panic and the visitors looked likely to take a point back to Goodison Park. And somehow, 13 minutes from time, Everton substitute Landon Donovan missed an open goal from two yards after Rodwell’s cross was deflected into the American’s path. “I though it was going in, it was a big miss for us,” said Moyes. Maybe, after the way his weekend seemed to be going, Redknapp deserved a little luck.

Match rating: *** – High-octane encounter in which both teams played their part with lovely passing football. Quality dropped as both teams became desperate at the end.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent) 7 – Played good advantages in the second half as attacks pulsed one after another. Did well to ignore calls to send off Phil Neville.