Defeat gives Hoddle food for thought

QPR 3 Tottenham 2

Glenn Hoddle has some serious thinking to do before the start of the Premiership season if Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Second Division Queen’s Park Rangers is anything to go by.

Goals from Matthew Etherington and Ron Henry could not hide the deficiencies of a lacklustre Spurs side missing some big names in the summer sunshine at Loftus Road.

All the incisive attacking play came from Ian Holloway’s outfit, who won the match with goals from Andy Thomson, Clarke Carlisle and Matthew Rose.

Spurs looked lightweight without Teddy Sheringham, Gustavo Poyet, Dean Richards and Darren Anderton.

There was no place for midfielder Tim Sherwood, who had publicly criticised the club’s ambition.

Sherwood is widely tipped to leave White Hart Lane since the arrival of Jamie Redknapp, and he sat out the action with a hamstring injury.

Anderton also missed out after playing in the 2-1 win over Gillingham on Saturday amid rumours of a swap move involving Leeds’ Robbie Keane.

By contrast Rangers manager Holloway selected a starting XI close to the one likely to start the Nationwide League season, including midfielder Marc Bircham, who joined the club from Millwall this summer.

Spurs dominated the opening exchanges, with Steffen Iversen twice going close after slick moves. But QPR took a 35th-minute lead through substitute Andy Thomson, who replaced Kevin Gallen on the half-hour mark.

Clarke Carlisle’s header beat the advancing Neil Sullivan in Tottenham’s goal, but Thomson slid in on the goal-line to claim the credit.

And they were two goals up five minutes later when Carlisle rose to meet a Richard Langley corner unchallenged and beat Sullivan from six yards.

Milenko Acimovic came close to pulling one back shortly after the break, but Rangers goalkeeper Fraser Digby tipped his lob around the post.

Spurs substitute Henry was denied on the goal-line with Digby beaten minutes later, before the impressive Etherington finally got Spurs on the scoresheet with a smart low shot from the edge of the area.

But the home side struck back shortly afterwards through Matthew Rose after a slick one-two between substitute Wes Daly and Thomson.

Tottenham looked lethargic in the blazing sun, playing their second match in two days, and Gary Doherty wasted a free header in front of an open goal to compound their frustration.

But Henry grabbed a consolation goal late on to give Hoddle some hope in the young talent ready to break through at White Hart Lane.