{"id":29182,"date":"2026-09-14T23:07:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T23:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/?page_id=29182"},"modified":"2026-09-18T06:19:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T06:19:44","slug":"nut30102011","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/nut30102011\/","title":{"rendered":"QPR (Home) 30.10.2011"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nPREVIEW<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nWith a 1-0 win over Chelsea’s nine men last week, hopefully Spurs can keep their full complement on the pitch to see how QPR will fare in another London derby.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is a long time since last Rangers were last at the Lane for a league match and that ended in a Teddy Sheringham goal winning the game for Tottenham.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Things have changed a lot since then.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

QPR are one of the richest clubs in the league and Spurs have been in the Champions League for one season.\u00a0 With a squad packed with big names, Rangers have risen to the top flight without spending tons of cash.\u00a0 Bringing in Championship specialist Neil Warnock as manager has worked for the West London side, but he now has to pit his wits with other top bosses to keep them there.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He has assembled a team with Premier League experience and younger legs, as the likes of DJ Campbell, Anton Ferdinand, Daniel Gabbidon, Luke Young, Joey Barton, Kieron Dyer, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Heidar Helgusson all having participated in Premier League teams.\u00a0 Jamie Mackie, Adel Taarabt, Armand Traore and Hogan Ephraim give the side a youthful energy, while other experienced players such as Danny Shittu, Fitz Hall, keepers Paddy Kenny and Radek Cerny, Jay Bothroyd, Rob Hulse, Tommy Smith and Shaun Derry add some old heads to the exuberant approach of the youngsters.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But there is a steel core to the QPR team, with Derry and Barton taking no prisoners in midfield, with Hall and Ferdinand solid in defence, but these players perhaps lack the pace that might be necessary to keep tabs on the quicker players in the league.\u00a0 Shaun Wright-Phillips is the only player in the Hoops side who is approaching the pace that is needed to open defences, but there are wily players who have the reading of the game to counter their aged legs.\u00a0 However, it will be an interesting contest with the passing and movement game that Tottenham play against the more Championship style play of the visitors, with a direct attacking style.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It might be that Rangers have not met a side how are quick on the break and the wide play of Bale and Lennon might cause their full backs problems, with Rafael van der Vaart in good scoring form at the moment partnering Emmanuel Adebayor.\u00a0 The team will be safe in the knowledge that they will not be playing again for a week when they play Fulham next Sunday, with a young team heading out to Russia to meet Rubin Kazan in midweek.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Spurs will need to be wary of Helgusson, who is a player who twists and turns and wriggles his way through defences, so must be pushed away from goal when he is on the ball, with Alejandro Faurlin and Adel Taarabt being the players who create in midfield.\u00a0 Taarabt we have seen flit through the Spurs first team before being allowed to leave for Rangers, with no guarantee that he could make a consistent contribution in the top division.\u00a0 I am sure he will be keen to prove Tottenham wrong and will be fired up, but sometimes, when playing like that, his temperamental nature becomes his most difficult opponent.\u00a0 Faurlin was the player who almost coast QPR their promotion with the wrangle over his third party ownership, but he ticks the team along by passing the ball simply and effectively, not trying anything too fancy and then slipping through players to have a chance at goal.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For Tottenham, this is a chance to extend their good run, but they will need to be wary of a side who can defend on their day, but are also capable of letting in six against Fulham.\u00a0 They hung on against a Chelsea side who had two players sent off and for Tottenham to win, they will need to capitalise on the openings they make and put the game out of reach, rather than keep the interest going until the end of the match as they have done in the last two games.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nPREDICTION : –\u00a0 \u00a0Tottenham\u00a0 2\u00a0 \u00a0 QPR\u00a0 1\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For more information on the opponents and their history, including full result history of matches between the two teams, click here<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n		3<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nQUEENS PARK RANGERS<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n		1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n		(2)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n(0)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nDate : –\u00a0 Sunday 30th October 2011<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n		Kick off : –\u00a0 16.00<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nCompetition : – Premier League<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n		Venue : –\u00a0 \u00a0White Hart Lane<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nCrowd : –\u00a0 36,147<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nReferee : –\u00a0 Howard Webb (Yorkshire)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nLinesmen : – Mr. -; Mr. –<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nFourth official : –\u00a0 –<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nVAR official : –\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nVAR Assistant : – –<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nWeather : –\u00a0 –<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nQPR kicked off the first half attacking the Paxton Road end<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPlaying time : –\u00a0 \u00a090 + – minutes<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nQUEENS PARK RANGERS<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nGOAL-SCORERS<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Bale\u00a0 20\u00a0 (asst Lennon)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>Bothroyd\u00a0 62\u00a0 (asst. Helgusson)<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n \"\"<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 van der Vaart\u00a0 33\u00a0 (asst King)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Bale\u00a0 72<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 (asst Lennon)<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nCARDS<\/u><\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 –<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 –<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nTEAM<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n24.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Brad FRIEDEL<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n1.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Paddy KENNY<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n28.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Kyle WALKER<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n13.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Armand TRAORE<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n26.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Ledley KING\u00a0 (c)\u00a0 \"\"<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n35.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Anton FERDINAND\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n4.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Younes KABOUL<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n4.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Fitz HALL<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0 (\u00a0 6.<\/span> <\/span>\u00a0 Danny GABBIDON\u00a0 9)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n32.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0 Benoit ASSOU-EKOTTO<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n18.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Luke YOUNG<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n7.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Aaron LENNON\u00a0 \"\"\u00a0 \"\"<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n11.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Alejandro FAURLIN<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n14.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Luka MODRIC<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n4.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Shaun DERRY\u00a0<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0(\u00a0 12.<\/span> <\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 Jamie MACKIE\u00a0 46)\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n8.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Scott PARKER<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0 (\u00a0 30. <\/span>\u00a0 SANDRO\u00a0 86)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n7.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 <\/span>Adel TAARABT<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span> (\u00a0 10.<\/span> <\/span>\u00a0 Jay BOTHROYD\u00a0 46\u00a0 \"\"<\/span>)\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n3.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0Gareth BALE\u00a0 \"\"\u00a0 \"\"<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n17.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Joey BARTON\u00a0 (c)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n 32.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Shaun WRIGHT-PHILLIPS<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n11.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Rafael van der VAART\u00a0 \"\"\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n22.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 <\/span>Heidar HELGUSSON\u00a0 \"\"<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n10.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Emmanuel ADEBAYOR<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nSUBSTITUTES<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nSubstitutes<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n23.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Carlo CUDICINI<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n26.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Brian MURPHY<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n19.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Sebastien BASSONG<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n3.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Clint HILL<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n13.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 William GALLAS<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n14.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Akos BUZSAKY<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n29.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Jake LIVERMORE<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n21.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Tommy SMITH<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n18.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Jermain DEFOE<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n9.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0 Roman PAVLYUCHENKO<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0 \"\"\u00a0 = Assist\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0 =\u00a0 Goal scored\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"\u00a0 =\u00a0 Own goal scored<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Manager : –\u00a0<\/span> Harry Redknapp<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nManager : –\u00a0 Neil Warnock<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kit Supplier : – <\/span>Puma23<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nKit Supplier : –\u00a0 <\/span>Lotto<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shirt Sponsor : –\u00a0 Aurasma<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nShirt Sponsor : – Air Asia<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Colours : –\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nColours : –\"\"\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Images of kits courtesy of the marvellous Colours of Football<\/a><\/span> website<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nMATCH REPORT<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nWith a sublime first half behind them, Tottenham were pushed back at the start of the second half, which lead to a QPR goal and a nervy twenty minutes, before the home team re-asserted their dominance and gained another goal to see out the game as 3-1 winners.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Tottenham’s play in the first 45 minutes was as complete a performance as you might hope to see.\u00a0 The only thing missing was the finishing that saw Spurs missing too many openings and leaving Rangers just two goals adrift at the interval.\u00a0 Some fine goalkeeping by Paddy Kenny surprised me, but he made several very good stops to keep Spurs out, while others were guilty of not hitting the target in the first place.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon wide, the pace in the team was designed to give Rangers problems, but it was Kyle Walker rather than Lennon who more often threatened to go past the visiting defenders.\u00a0 With Scott Parker anchoring the midfield against the likes of Shaun Derry and Joey Barton, who both tried to disturb his influence, but failed, Spurs had a platform that allowed Modric and van der Vaart to roam and pull QPR players out of position.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

From the start Spurs threatened and Modric’s shot fell kindly to Rafa, whose first time shot was well saved low to Kenny’s left inside the first three minutes.\u00a0 From the resulting corner, VDV hit Gareth Bale at the near post and his header was again beaten out by the keeper.\u00a0 An interesting contest occurred shortly after, when Tottenham got a free kick on the right hand corner of the box, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto pushing van der Vaart away to grab the ball to take the kick.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Benny’s effort was a yard over the top and no better nor worse than the Dutchman’s have been recently, leaving another chance going begging.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rangers lost Fitz Hall with an injury in the tenth minute, but replacing him with Daniel Gabbidon in a\u00a0 like-for-like switch was not something that would have disrupted their pattern of play, which was mainly back towards their own goal for the bulk of the first half.\u00a0 After Barton had tried an early “frightener” on Benny and lost out to both the referee and the Cameroon defender, he put in a\u00a0 few more foul tackles, with one on Bale on our left wing resulting in a VDV free-kick that Adebayor rose to head at the far post and unopposed, he put his header wide, while a header in a straight line with his approach to the ball might have beaten Kenny.\u00a0 Thirteen minutes gone and it could easily have been 3-0.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The much awaited return of Adel Taarabt was nothing more than a damp squib, but it was nothing to do with the constant drizzle that showered through the first half.\u00a0 his passing was sloppy, with a few heading straight off the pitch rather than to the feet of their intended target, while he rarely took the ball at the Spurs players to commit them.\u00a0 his most notable contribution was an outrageous attempt at a volley from the right hand corner of the box that was flying towards the corner flag until Heidar Helgusson stuck out a leg and deflected it goal-wards, but over the bar and slightly off target.\u00a0 It was the only real effort worth mentioning that QPR had all half.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And it lead in a strange way to Tottenham’s opening goal.\u00a0 Friedel took the goal-kick, Adebayor won a header to VDV, who fed it on to Aaron Lennon, coming in from the right wing.\u00a0 He took the ball to the ‘D’ and played it left to Bale, who didn’t have to break his run to strike the ball left footed with great power past the sliding challenge of Anton Ferdinand and the dive of Kenny.\u00a0 It was a great piece of technique by Gareth and a route-one ish goal but a sign that Spurs can score all sorts of goals.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bale could have had a second when Spurs broke down the right, Emmanuel Adebayor crossing the ball across the box to be returned back in by Assou-Ekotto for the Welshman to scoop it over from the edge of the six yard box with the ball slightly behind him as it came in very quickly in the 28th minute.\u00a0 But the wait for the second goal wasn’t too long after that.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It was a comical build-up with a Spurs attack, with\u00a0 the ball in the area being brought out by a Rangers defender, who was hassled by Adebayor, resulting in his clearance going straight to the returning Ledley King.\u00a0 The Spurs skipper moved forward, with the QPR defence opening up in front of him, so he decided to let go a shot from 25 yards out.\u00a0 Unfortunately, it was going well wide for a goal-kick, until it picked out van der Vaart just inside the area and his quick thinking sent Kenny the wrong way, as he netted the ball to the keeper’s left.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Spurs were in their pomp now and Rangers could do little to stop them.\u00a0 A VDV corner on the left picked out Modric on the left hand corner of the box and his chest control and instant volley had Kenny left standing as the ball whizzed a foot beyond his far post, with what would have been a Goal of the Season contender if it had been a little more to the left.\u00a0 Five minutes before the break, the little Croatian had another chance, when Benny’s low ball into him was toe-poked at goal, but surrounded by defenders, he could not get it on target and then Adebayor was set free down the left, but he tried to curl his shot around Kenny from a wide position and failed to get enough bend on his effort, so it went wide.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At half-time, Neil Warnock had seen enough of the erratic Taarabt and the labouring Derry, replacing them with Bothroyd and Mackie – two forwards.\u00a0 This seemed to suit their game more and some good passing movements didn’t necessarily get them further forward, but built confidence in being able to hold onto the ball.\u00a0 However, still the chances came for Spurs.\u00a0 Five minutes into the half, a throw-in on the right wing was allowed to travel to the edge of the box – right of centre – and van der Vaart hit a first time shot with the outside of the foot that looked like it was fading away from Paddy Kenny and into the net, until he reached out to tip the ball wide.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Spurs were almost undone by Shaun Wright-Phillips for the first time in the match when a long ball was being shepherded out, until the little winger flicked it up and back over Walker, pulling it back for Helgusson, whose shot was blocked for a corner.\u00a0\u00a0 But in the 62nd minute, Rangers did score and it was a sloppy goal to let in.\u00a0 A shot was deflected for a corner on the Tottenham left.\u00a0 As Barton played it in, Helugsson won an easy header and put his effort towards the near post, where Bothroyd jumped unimpeded inside the six yard box to nod into the net.\u00a0 So, the lead was reduced to a single goal, when Spurs had been so dominant for so long, but it was the same old story … not taking chances looked like it might cost us again.\u00a0 The goal was also a bit worrying, as Friedel had stayed on his line for the corner and then not really challenged for the second ball, leaving Bothroyd an easy task.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So, Tottenham had to put the game to bed, but Rangers had their tails up now and were going forward, rather than being pushed back.\u00a0\u00a0 Although a van der Vaart free kick was patted own by Kenny for Adebayor to nip and and be denied, then the striker retrieved the ball and played in Bale near the penalty spot and his shot was pushed out by Kenny, Rangers also had openings.\u00a0 Friedel had to dive to push wide a low Faurlin drive from 22 yards out and there was a hint of desperation in some of the Tottenham defending.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As is often the case, Spurs’ best form of defence was attack and the ball was worked short from a corner to Assou-Ekotto on the right corner of the box and with space and time, he hit a shot that was heading for the top left hand corner of Kenny’s goal until he threw himself up to palm it out.\u00a0\u00a0 Then 10 minutes after Rangers got back into the game, Spurs had their third goal that almost sealed the win.\u00a0 A run down the right from Kyle Walker saw him knock the ball to van der Vaart.\u00a0 As he moved inside, he played the ball to Aaron Lennon on the edge of the area to the left of the ‘D’.\u00a0 Two one touch 1-2s between him and Bale gave the Welshman the opportunity to fire left footed high into the net past Kenny’s despairing dive to restore the two goal margin for Spurs.\u00a0 it was a well-worked goal that was expertly dispatched by Bale and while Lennon was not having the greatest of matches as he still works his way back into form after injury, he had set up his second goal of the game.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Adebayor should have made it a bigger gap when the ball was played to him eight yards out and his low poked effort went wide, as he scuffed his shot rather than got a clean strike away.\u00a0 it could have been costly, as a free kick on the edge of the D for a foul on Helgusson saw Faurlin step up, but he curled his effort over the wall, but over the bar too.\u00a0 With five minutes left, it should have been 3-2, as the ball was worked across the pitch to Wright-Phillips cutting in from the left and with only Friedel to beat, he curled a shot towards the far post, but like Adebayor in the first half (albeit from a better position), he got too much on it and we breathed a sigh of relief as it flew wide.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As time ticked away, Scott Parker made way for Sandro and he received a standing ovation form the Tottenham crowd.\u00a0 it was well deserved for a performance of tenacity and simple passing that stopped Rangers gaining any momentum in their play.\u00a0 Sandro put in a couple of his long-legged challenges, but when Rangers did open Spurs up near the end, it was left to Younes Kaboul to clear the ball from in front of the goal when Mackie flicked a cross on, with Friedel beaten.\u00a0 The player was there again when the ball came in from the corner, but couldn’t get his shot away and then the whistle blew to signal another Tottenham win.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It was never going to be as easy as Fulham’s 6-0 win over Rangers, as Warnock’s side had learned their lesson.\u00a0 However, the failure to put the game to bed in the first half almost came back to bite Spurs on the bottom and only a very good goal to make it 3-1 put the task beyond Rangers, who must tighten up their defending and get a goal-scorer as eight n ten games is not the sort of strike rate you need to stay up in the top flight.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For Spurs, it is on to Russia for the reserves and on to Fulham next Sunday for the A team.\u00a0 A meeting with Martin Jol, which Spurs will need to win to maintain their position near the top of the table.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kirk Hammerton.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nMATCH NOTES<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • –<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nREACTION<\/strong><\/span>
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\nFor what must seem like the first time in living memory, Spurs fans were heard to give a prolonged bout of applause to Scott Parker when he ran back thirty yards and tackled a QPR player to bring the ball away and launch an attack.\u00a0 It was a moment not usually associated with praise by the White Hart Lane faithful, more usually reserved for great goals, passes or saves, but it was one which indicates the importance of Parker to the side.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Not just that he is a gritty tackler and closer down of the player on the ball, but that he is a vital influence on the team going forward.\u00a0 His short passing, his availability to receive the ball and his strength in holding players off when in possession, make his contributions as important as those of a similar nature of Luka Modric.<\/span><\/p>\n

    To have two such dynamic player sin the midfield makes it very difficult for the opposition to concentrate on their own game, with the Spurs men causing them problems that require the attention of their players.<\/span><\/p>\n

    It will be interesting how Harry plays things when he has (or should I say if he ever has) a fully fit midfield to select from.\u00a0 Sandro is another wonderful player, but he is shaded out of the side at the moment, with Pienaar, Huddlestone, Kranjcar and the emerging Jake Livermore all needing to push for a place in the side.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A nice position to be in and one that leaves the manager the opportunity to switch the team around in other competitions.\u00a0 Hopefully, with some success in them.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Sparky Marky<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    <\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nOTHER RESULTS<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nChelsea<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWoolwich Wanderers<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n5<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nEverton<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nMancashter <\/span><\/strong>United<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nMancashter City<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWolverhamp<\/span><\/strong>ton Wanderers<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nNorwich City<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nBlackburn Rovers<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nSunderland<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nAston Villa<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nSwansea City<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nBol<\/span><\/strong>ton Wanderers<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWest Bromwich Albion<\/b><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nLiverpool<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWigan Athletic<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nFulham<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nStoke City<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nNewcastle United<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nPREMIER LEAGUE TABLE 2011-2012<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\n<\/td>\nPlayed<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWon<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nDrawn<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nLost<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nFor<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nAgainst<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nPoints<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nGoal difference<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nMancashter City<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n9<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n36<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n8<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n28<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n+28<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nMancashter United<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n7<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n27<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n26<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n+15<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nNewcastle United<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n15<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n7<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n22<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n+8<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nChelsea<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n23<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n15<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n19<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n+8<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    5<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTottenham Hotspur<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n9<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n18<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n14<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n19<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n+4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nLiverpool<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n5<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n14<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n18<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n+4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    7<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWoolwich Wanderers<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n5<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n20<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n21<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n16<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    8<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nNorwich City<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n14<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n15<\/span><\/strong>
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n    		13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    9<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nAston Villa<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nSwansea City<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n15<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    11<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nStoke City<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n7<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    12<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nQueens Park Rangers<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n8<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n17<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-9<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWest Bromwich Albion<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n5<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n9<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n11<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    14<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nSunderland<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n14<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n+2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    15<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nFulham<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n+1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    16<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nEverton<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n9<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n5<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-3<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    17<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWolverhampton <\/span><\/strong>Wanderers<\/b><\/span><\/strong>
    \n<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n    		10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n9<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n17<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n8<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-8<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    18<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nBlackburn Rovers<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/strong>
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n    		6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n23<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    19<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nBolton Wanderers<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n8<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n27<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-14<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    20<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWigan Athletic<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n7<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n5<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n16<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n5<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n-11<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Position before the weekend : –\u00a0 5th
    \nPosition before the match : –\u00a0 6th<\/span><\/strong>
    \nPosition after the match : –\u00a0 5th<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong>
    \nPosition after the weekend : –\u00a0 5th<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    PREVIEW With a 1-0 win over Chelsea’s nine men last week, hopefully Spurs can keep their full complement on the pitch to see how QPR will fare in another London derby. It is a long time since last Rangers were last at the Lane for a league match and that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-fullwidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29182","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29182"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29216,"href":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29182\/revisions\/29216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mehstg.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}