Lennon eases Bale pain
And all the evidence Redknapp needed to justify his confidence came in stoppage time when Aaron Lennon scored the equaliser that inflicted late despair on Newcastle for the second game in succession.
Lennon’s goal came when he cut in from the left-wing role he was given in the closing stages, persuasive evidence for Redknapp that he can fill in for Bale, with new signing Steven Pienaar filling the gap down the right flank.
Redknapp said: “It could be an opportunity for him to play on the left. If Gareth’s not fit, I could play him there for sure. I think he quite enjoys playing on that side.
“He gets in good positions and I think he will score more goals if he plays off the left because it’s easier for him.
“He only had to come inside and he had a shot at goal. On the other wing, he’s coming in on his wrong side and he’s not as happy. If he played wide left, he would get a lot more goals, I’m sure.”
Bale will have a scan today to check on his injury, but Redknapp admitted: “I just hope it’s not too bad again. It’s been dragging on and he needs it sorting out.”
The Tottenham manager did not sound optimistic about Bale’s prognosis, but even the absence of the Welshman will not make him think again about his attacking approach this season.
He said: “We do play an open game with two wide men, that’s how we are. But if you look at the great teams, such as the Manchester United team which was flying a few years ago, they had Beckham and Giggs. I like playing that way and it suits us fine.
“I like the way we play football. I like to see teams play and I wouldn’t get any satisfaction out of seeing the team lumping it and chasing it.
“Look at the size of my team today. That must have been the smallest team in history — Lennon, Modric, Van der Vaart, Pienaar, with Defoe up front.
“We only had two people in the team who could head the ball in Gallas and Dawson. They had about five and I thought that might be a problem today. But I said to them that if we stop passing the ball, we’ll be dead.”
In fact, they did appear dead and buried going into the closing stages — and would have been if Newcastle had accepted a splendid chance only moments before Lennon’s leveller.
If only Ranger had be able to emulate the finishing power of Fabricio Coloccini, the defender, who chested down Danny Guthrie’s cross and powered a shot past Carlo Cudicini in the 59th minute.
The goal was complemented by a solid defensive performance by the Argentina international on a special day when he celebrated his 29th birthday and 100th appearance for Newcastle.
He said: “It was one of the best goals I’ve ever scored — it was certainly different. I normally score a header or a simple push over the line. To have 50,000 people singing a song about it is unbelievable. I’m not from this country and my family are in Argentina, but I feel the love of the fans.
“I feel really good here. It is the best I’ve felt in my career. It was my birthday and that was the perfect present.
“I am really pleased to hear what the manager has said. I am calm, I’m quite quiet really, but sometimes you need to be like that as a defender. I like to try and anticipate what is going to happen in the game.
“For the manager to describe me as one of the best defenders he has worked with is good. He has a lot of experience in the Premier League and he watches a lot of centre-backs so I’m proud to hear that.”
Manager Alan Pardew had certainly singled out Coloccini, saying: “He was brilliant — the outstanding player in the game. Once he chested the ball down and brought it inside I fancied him to get a good hit. It was a great, great goal and I’m please for him because he’s such a likeable character.”
And goalkeeper Steve Harper agreed, although he was surprised to see Coloccini in the opposition penalty area.
“Why my centre-half was on the left wing I don’t know and I still don’t know, but I don’t mind if he finishes like that. It’s just the Newcastle way.
“He is a great lad and a good pro. He didn’t speak the language when he first came over with his family and it takes time to settle in, but in the last 18 months to two years he has been excellent.
“You just know he will be there every week and he is a great lad to have around the place.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
