Spurs undone by a familiar tactic
Ahead of Birmingham’s home game against Tottenham, British Prime Minister David Cameron predicted a 1-0 triumph to the latter, but as in Zurich, it was a bid looking to be on course before it ultimately unravelled in the last few minutes.
The clash in the midlands survived the adverse weather conditions, though Spurs fans in hindsight may have wished it had gone the way of Blackpool’s match with Manchester United and been postponed.
This was certainly an opportunity missed for Spurs to creep up on the Premier League elite.
The draw does neither side any good when looking at their respective ambitions for the season, though Birmingham, who struggled for large parts of the game, will be the happier of the two with the point.
If Tottenham want to be considered contenders for the Premier League title by someone other than Harry Redknapp, then these are the kind of games the north London side need to be winning.
In a squad that boasts 25 full internationals (Manchester United are the only other team that can quote this), beating a side that played in an exhausting midweek derby game should be easier than bribing a FIFA official.
Defeats at Bolton and West Ham and a home draw with Sunderland is not the form of potential champions — though with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United having slipped up this season against similar teams, you never know.
Meanwhile, Birmingham are hanging around dangerously close to the relegation zone, but when you consider three points on Saturday could have propelled them up to ninth, it would be premature to hit the panic button just yet at St Andrew’s.
What will infuriate Tottenham will be the way they let Birmingham back into the game — a tactic employed by Alex McLeish all too close to home for Harry et al.
After Spurs had taken a well-deserved first-half lead through Sebastien Bassong, the home side struggled to get back into the game, and only Craig Gardner looked to be having a go at the Spurs defence.
McLeish turned to Plan B — does throwing on a tall, lanky striker sound familiar?
Step forward Nikola Zigic, whose stock amongst the Birmingham faithful is increasing after his winning goal against fierce rivals Aston Villa last Wednesday and now this excellent cameo performance when the Blues looked dead and buried. The giant 6ft 7ins Serb was thrown into the fray with 30 minutes to go — having trained with Peter Crouch all season, you’d think William Gallas and Bassong may know how to deal with this sort of player, but the goal was simple route one stuff.
“They brought Zigic on and he started to win a few headers. I’ve watched him a few times and that’s the best I’ve seen him play,” reflected Redknapp after the game.
And win a few headers he did.
The crucial one came nine minutes from time, a lovely cushioned pass into the onrushing Gardner, excellent all day, who looped the ball over the line, sending Tottenham back down the M1 motorway with only a point. Redknapp opted for two goalkeepers on the bench, in the form of Carlo Cudicini and the Croat Stipe Pletikosa, which highlighted the extent of his side’s current injury woes.
“When we were leaving yesterday I had 16 outfield players. (David) Bentley’s ankle was sore so he wouldn’t travel,” explained the Spurs manager. “I could have gone and grabbed a kid but we’ve got enough subs anyway.
“We had one (sub) spare so I thought I’d stick the goalie on the bench because you never know.”
“It’s a hard place to come to and they always do well,” concluded Rednapp. “There are no easy games — Bolton away, Blackburn away. They’re all tough. Three points today and we would be in great shape.”
Tottenham aren’t a side to let a bad result like this one affect their season too dramatically though, especially with Redknapp at the helm, and are still only three points behind Manchester City.
However, costly slip-ups like this, if added to, may prove vital for all the wrong reasons come the end of the season.
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