Return of the King

Ledley King's comeback from injury in our 2-0 victory over West Ham on Monday coincided with us stretching our run without conceding a goal to a record four straight games.

The defender believes the feat is down to a back-line and team as a whole that is willing to fight tooth and nail for each other when our backs are against the wall.

Ledley feels this was epitomised by goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes' Man of the Match display in our goal-less draw at Fulham on Boxing Day, as well as the outstanding recent form of fellow centre-half Michael Dawson.

And the Club Captain suggests the solid foundations on which Harry Redknapp's side is building itself allows our attacking players to do their job effectively at the other end of the pitch, as was displayed in our defeat of the Hammers.

Luka Modric opened the scoring early on but we couldn't find the all-important second goal until 10 minutes from time, meaning we required a resolute rearguard action in-between times.

Ledley said: "Teams have found it hard of late to come to the Lane and score, let alone win. We're happy with the way things are going at the moment, we're working hard for each other, and we have a good shape about us.

"‘Daws' has always been brilliant whenever he's called upon and never lets you down. I've played with him for a number of years now so I know the quality he has and he's making the centre-back position his own at the moment.

"Gomes has also been fantastic, especially against Fulham when he earned us the point, and that's what a team is all about, we have to bail each other out sometimes.

"We kept it solid at the back again on Monday and he didn't have a great deal to do, which enabled us to push forward.

"At half-time we spoke about the importance of getting the second goal and we had plenty of opportunities to kill them off but it didn't seem to be coming.

"It's just about keeping your focus, making sure you limit your opponents' chances, and taking your opportunity when it comes, which we eventually did."

It was Ledley's first start since he limped out of our win over Sunderland in early November with a hamstring strain, so he is hoping to put that problem well and truly behind him.

He added: "It was good to be back in the starting lineup as no player enjoys being sat on the sidelines watching.

"I've had a few niggles with the hamstring this season and this particular injury took a little longer to settle down in order to make sure there was no reoccurrence. Hopefully that's the end of that now and I can remain fit for the rest of the season."
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Harry's delight as JD strikes

Harry Redknapp was delighted to see Jermain Defoe's thunderbolt secure maximum points in a match we dominated against West Ham on Monday.

The striker smashed home his follow up shot after Robert Green parried out his initial effort to make it 2-0 with eight minutes left and that's how it stayed at the Lane.

The manager's delight - seen clearly in the photograph, above - stemmed from the fact that the visitors had just enjoyed their best spell of a game we'd bossed from the first whistle.

Luka Modric marked his first start since fracturing his fibula in August with the opening goal but try as we might, we couldn't find that second. Defoe, Peter Crouch and Tom Huddlestone all went close in the first half and Huddlestone hit the post 10 minutes into the second half.

The Hammers came back into the game between 65-80 minutes without really carving out a clear-cut chance before Defoe's clincher.

The final statistics showed efforts at goal 21-3 in our favour but, as Harry pointed out, at 1-0 the game is never over. "It was a game we dominated but we needed a second goal," he said.

"We hit the inside of the post at 1-0 and had some great chances. No disrespect, but they hadn't really created anything and you do feel sooner or later that something could drop in the box, they could stick one away and suddenly it is a different game.

"We played some great stuff in the second half, really opened them up and we eventually got that second goal.

"It was difficult for West Ham. They lost Parker and Ilunga early in the game and they had to shuffle around early. They gave everything for sure but we were stronger than them, there's no doubt about that. We played well and were always in control."
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Opposition view

Gianfranco Zola was pleased with how his West Ham side coped with two early injury setbacks as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Lane.

Scott Parker and Herita Ilunga both left the action by the 20th minute, replaced by Luiz Jiminez and Jonathan Spector respectively.

We were 1-0 up by then thanks to Luka Modric's early strike but despite dominating, it took us until the 82nd minute to secure the win when Jermain Defoe lashed home.

"I'm delighted with how the players reacted and how the team played," said Zola.

"In the second half we played really well against a very strong team. We were pushing them and they were struggling but when you have a team with the quality they have they can score at any moment. If we keep that spirit we can do important things.

"With that spirit and attitude it won't be long until we are winning again. We lost to one of the best teams in the country."
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Defoe's hammer blow

Luka Modric and Jermain Defoe struck the goals to secure a deserved 2-0 win against West Ham at the Lane on Monday.

Modric marked his first start since fracturing his fibula in August with the opener in the first half and having knocked, knocked and knocked again, Defoe finally smashed home the second goal to secure the points with eight minutes remaining.

The win took us into fourth place in the Barclays Premier League at the final whistle and, notably, made it four-successive clean sheets in the league going back to Kevin Doyle's early goal for Wolves back on December 12.

Harry Redknapp made four changes from the Boxing Day draw at Fulham. Ledley King returned for his first start since Sunderland on November 6 and was joined by Modric, Tom Huddlestone and Defoe in the starting line-up.

Sebastien Bassong, Jermaine Jenas, Niko Kranjcar and Robbie Keane returned to the bench after starting at Fulham.

West Ham actually had the first sight at goal when Scott Parker dragged his shot wide in the ninth minute.

Two minutes later though and we were on our way. Defoe sent Aaron Lennon racing away down the right, his cutback clipped off James Tomkins and with the ball bobbling up, Modric arrived to make the finish look easy from 16 yards.

Parker soon limped out of the action as the visitors were forced into two early changes, Herita Ilunga following the midfielder down the tunnel in the 19th minute. They were replaced by Luiz Jiminez and Jonathan Spector respectively.

The rest of the half was one-way traffic with the exception of a routine save from Heurelho Gomes down to his right from Jack Collison.

Huddlestone sliced just wide and then dragged wide after being found by Assou-Ekotto, Peter Crouch was denied a certain goal when Tomkins slid in to divert his effort after Wilson Palacios burst forward, Jermain Defoe shot straight at Green from Lennon's pass and then angled a 30-yard free-kick inches wide.

It was all Spurs and Gianfranco Zola must have been delighted to hear the half-time whistle.

Not that anything changed after the break. The lads were straight onto the front foot with efforts from Defoe, Huddlestone, Lennon and Palacios all inside the first seven minutes, Palacios' fierce strike hitting Matthew Upson and flying wide.

We inched closer to a second goal when Vedran Corluka picked out Huddlestone's run into the box and the midfielder's shot arrowed across Green only to hit the foot of the post.

Lennon was again the provider for the next chance, crossing deep for Crouch, who elected to nod back across the goal for Defoe. Play continued, West Ham hesitated and suddenly Corluka was on the rebound but headed on to the roof of the net - 65 minutes on the clock, still 1-0.

If a warning was needed, it came via Diamanti's whipped ball into the box cleared by Michael Dawson and Radoslav Kovac's decent strike over from 25 yards in West Ham's best spell midway through the half, but we were never overstretched defensively.

However, as the Hammers tried to push on, spaces were appearing and a counter-attack led to Defoe's decisive goal.

Lennon inevitably led the break and found Defoe, left side of the box. The striker ran across the 18-yard line left to right and unleashed a powerful drive that Green could only parry out before smashing the rebound so hard it almost took the net into Paxton Road. The goal made it four points over Christmas and a Happy New Year for all at Spurs!

However, Assou-Ekotto was forced off in the 87th minute with a hip problem and had to be replaced by Gareth Bale.



Spurs: Gomes; Corluka, King, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto (Bale, 87); Lennon (Jenas, 89), Huddlestone, Palacios, Modric (Kranjcar, 84); Crouch, Defoe. Subs: Alnwick, Bassong, Hutton, Keane.

West Ham: Green; Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga (Spector, 20); Collison (Stanislas, 79), Parker (Jiminez, 12), Behrami, Kovac, Diamanti; Franco. Unused subs: Stech (GK), Da Costa, Nouble, Payne.

Officials: Referee - Mr C Foy. Assistants - Mr R Ganfield, Mr D Bryan; Fourth official - Mr S Attwell.

Attendance: 35,994
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Harry's programme notes

As part of our build-up to home games, we publish Harry Redknapp's exclusive column from our official matchday programme.

Not at the Lane?

You can purchase our home programmes online - CLICK HERE...

HARRY'S NOTES v WEST HAM, DECEMBER 28

We enjoyed a good week leading up to Christmas with two terrific results in different circumstances against Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers.

It was important that we bounced back after the disappointment of the Wolves game, even though I felt we didn't play badly against them.

We put in a fantastic performance against Manchester City for 90 minutes and I couldn't have asked for more. We did everything right.

I thought the work-rate, the passing, the closing down, the movement and the goals were all top-class against an extremely good City side who had only suffered one defeat previous to that all season. It was a great night and a great atmosphere at White Hart Lane.

I would say that along with the Liverpool game on the opening day of the season it was the best performance of the campaign when you take into account the quality of the teams. They are two top teams and we thoroughly deserved both wins so that was terrific.

I was pleased to see Niko Kranjcar get two goals too. He has been in fantastic form since he arrived here and I have been delighted with his performances as I was with the whole team that night.

The win at Blackburn was a different kind of game. It wasn't like the free flowing football that we had played against Man City but it was three more terrific points and a second straight clean sheet.

It was a slog and it was tough. Ewood Park is never an easy place to go and achieve a result. The conditions were difficult with sleet coming down throughout. It wasn't conducive to great football. It was the type of game that Tottenham have lost in the past. Sometimes you have to scrap and we did that in order to earn a great result.

Hopefully we can carry on this run this afternoon as we welcome Gianfranco Zola and his West Ham team to White Hart Lane. It is a London derby and these fixtures are always special occasions.

Gianfranco has endured a difficult season so far this year, losing several key players to injury, as well as Dean Ashton sadly being forced into retirement. Overall I think since Gianfranco started out at Upton Park, the football he has played has been top-class.

Everybody I speak to who has worked with him has nothing but good things to say about him and I certainly wish him and West Ham every success after today's game.

The most important thing for me now is making sure Tottenham do well. We have got to continue picking up results as we are and playing the football I know we are capable of. We have got an attacking team that plays great football and we are a pleasure to watch. I am proud to manage such a good team that can play the way we are at the moment.

There have been some amazing results this year, which is why it is such an open division. The top teams are losing games they weren't in previous years. Although I am writing these notes prior to our Boxing Day clash against Fulham, to be coming into this stage of the campaign where we are demonstrates we have enjoyed a good first half of the season.

Hopefully we can continue to earn points at this rate in order to keep ourselves up there and pushing for a European place in 2010.

On behalf of everybody at Tottenham Hotspur I would like to wish you all a happy and, more importantly, healthy New Year.

I look forward to seeing you all again back here at the Lane next year.
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Daws on...Daws

Michael Dawson smiled when asked about the one subject he doesn't like tackling - himself.

'Daws' has been outstanding in recent weeks, scoring in our fine performances at Villa and Everton, following up with arguably his best display in the 3-0 win against City and leading by example with the captain's armband in Saturday's 2-0 win at Blackburn.

His form has won the praise from team-mates and management alike.

Boss Harry Redknapp said: "Michael Dawson's been great and he and Sebastien Bassong have done ever so well - they defended for their lives at Blackburn."

"He's an unbelievable player, the defence give me so much confidence," said goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Peter Crouch added: "Daws has been brilliant. He heads everything, tackles everything and throws himself in."

Told that everyone else had been singing his praises instead, Michael laughed again. "I don't really like talking about my own game, no," he said.

"I just like to keep doing what I'm doing and let everyone else do the talking.

"I try to keep things on the level and not get too carried away when things are going well, because it can all change so quickly. I'll concentrate on my form and just try to continue doing what I'm doing.

"When you are in a winning team it makes it that little easier. Everyone is doing well at the moment and we've had some goods results, two wins on the trot after Wolves and good points at Everton and Villa before that, plus Wigan not too long ago.

"Things are going well but we have to continue that in two tough games over Christmas."

The first of those fixtures - two London derbies - is a cracker against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Boxing Day (1pm) before West Ham at the Lane on December 28.

Fulham beat United 3-0 last weekend and Daws added: "It's always a tough place to go - as United found out on Saturday.

"They have players who all know their jobs and are a hard-working team. It's a busy schedule, two derbies in three days, but hopefully we'll get plenty of points."
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Awesome Dawson!

Peter Crouch reflected on his turn to grab the spotlight in front of goal at Blackburn - but soon turned that spotlight on Michael Dawson.

The big striker scored both goals as we came through a tough test to beat Rovers 2-0 at Ewood Park on Saturday.

‘Crouchy' opened the scoring at the ideal time - added time at the end of the first half - when he rose above Ryan Nelsen to head home Niko Kranjcar's cross.

We battled through the home side's best spell at the start of the second half and Peter put the issue beyond doubt when he clinically finished a one-on-one chance past Paul Robinson with seven minutes left.

Crouchy, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe now have 30 goals between them in all competitions this season with JD level with Didier Drogba at the top of the Premier League goalscoring chart on 13.

"If you look throughout the team you know there are goals there," said Crouchy. "We've got players capable of scoring throughout the team so if Jermain doesn't get one, Robbie will get one and if he doesn't, then I'll get one.

"We've players all around the park who can score goals and that's important, but we can't forget the lads at the back as well, in the last few games they've been fantastic, especially Michael Dawson, he's been top-class.

"He's been brilliant," Peter continued on Daws. "He heads everything, tackles everything, throws himself in.

"I've been back heading my fair share of balls away but Daws does for it the whole game, every game. Blackburn was the type of match he's all about. You need his type of player at somewhere like Blackburn because you know he will stand up to it, he'll win his headers, win his tackles and credit to him and the defence for keeping us in the game."
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Harry's delight for Crouchy

Harry Redknapp was delighted to see Peter Crouch hit the goals to beat Blackburn.

The striker headed us into a vital lead just before the break of a tough encounter at Ewood Park before wrapping up victory with a clinical second goal seven minutes from time.

The double took 'Crouchy' to eight goals in all competitions so far this season.

"He finished both well and it was great to see Peter weighing in with a couple of goals," said Harry.

"He works hard for the team and the other week when Jermain got his five goals (against Wigan) Peter only got one, so for him to score twice was good.

"He's worked unselfishly for the team, he's a good professional and when he's been left out of the team his attitude has been world class. He deserved those goals."
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Loan watch

Troy Archibald-Henville played a key role as Exeter secured a vital 1-0 win against Southend in League One on Saturday.

The defender - up against former team-mate Lee Barnard - set-up the only goal of the game as Adam Stansfield raced onto his through pass to finish.

Staying in League One, John Bostock played 61 minutes as Brentford beat MK Dons 1-0 while Steven Caulker played 90 minutes, Ryan Mason 82 and Jon Obika came off the bench in the 55th minute as Yeovil drew 1-1 at Hartlepool.

Andros Townsend did his best to help Orient to victory as the Os let a 2-0 lead slip at Walsall. Andros created chances for Scott McLeish at 2-1 and 2-2 but both went begging.

In the Championship, Adel Taarabt and Kyle Walker met each other as QPR played host to Sheffield United at Loftus Road. Both teams scored early in the 1-1 draw. Adel played 90 minutes and went close twice in Paul Hart's first game as QPR manager. Meanwhile, Jake Livermore was an unused substitute as Derby lost 2-0 against Doncaster.

Jamie O'Hara played 90 minutes as Portsmouth grabbed their best win of the season so far at home to Liverpool while David Button made numerous saves but could do little about Shrewsbury's 4-0 hammering at Rochdale in League Two.
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Tip on 10

As most of you will know the Club has taken up the 10:10 challenge and has committed to a 10% cut in carbon emissions by 2010... and we'd like you to do the same!

The more people that get on board with 10:10 the better and it's not as difficult as you think.

To give you a helping hand we will suggest ways in which you can help cut your own carbon footprint, starting right now!

This week's tip - don't waste water!

Many of us don't think we waste much water, but the average person in the UK uses around 150 litres of water every day and around one third of this is wasted. The most common forms of water wastage are everyday acts such as brushing your teeth whilst leaving the tap running, which wastes around six litres of water a minute.

If you're serious about reducing your carbon footprint then be more conscious about the water wastage.

When you brush your teeth don't leave the tap running, just use what you need when you need it or even better fill a glass with water and use that.

For more information on 10:10 visit the official website - www.1010uk.org - CLICK HERE...
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Peter on his Rovers return

Peter Crouch said his striker's instinct took him into the box to score the key opening goal in the 2-0 win at Blackburn.

As the seconds ticked away in added time in the first half, ‘Crouchy' headed down for Tom Huddlestone to try a shot a goal. The midfielder sliced his effort wide and it looked like the ball was on its way out of play, only for the slice and spin on the ball to keep it in.

Niko Kranjcar worked wonders to hook it back into the box from the touchline and Peter climbed over Ryan Nelsen to head home off the underside of the crossbar.

It was the first of Crouchy's double to secure a hard-earned victory at Ewood Park.

"The first goal was a bit of a strange one," beamed the striker afterwards. "I think most of the players thought it was going to go out of play but I had an inkling it was going to stay in, so I made my move to get into the box.

"Niko did really well to get the cross in and it was just a case of holding the defender off and getting a header on target.

"I was really pleased with that. It was the last move of the half and it was important we went in 1-0 up. They were in the ascendency and it was great to get the goal to send us on our way."

The second goal with seven minutes left was a complete contrast. It came at the end of a fine move involving Vedran Corluka, Robbie Keane and Jermaine Jenas, who slid in to direct the ball to Peter, leaving him with plenty of time and Paul Robinson to beat - he did so emphatically.

"It was one of those...I knew if JJ got a touch then I was clean through on goal," said Peter. "I thought about hitting it first time but it was all about composing myself and picking my spot and once I'd done that, making sure I got it right in the corner.

"I was delighted to score because sometimes you can panic in those situations but I was happy with how I took it.

"Blackburn is always a difficult place to go so to come away with three points is fantastic. It's one of those games where you have to dig in and I thought we deserved it in the end but we had to work hard for it."
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hotspur - out now!

Tom Huddlestone is the main interview in the January issue of hotspur magazine.

Our in-form midfielder has been a regular starter in the current side and credits manager Harry Redknapp as a major factor in his ongoing consistency.

He explains: "When you're in and out of the team you can lose your edge or question your natural intuition, sometimes the temptation creeps in to try to over-complicate things when trying to impress.

"In contrast, when you're playing a few games in a row you know at the back of your mind that if you make a mistake the manager is still going to have faith in you...I feel a different player."

Tom also points to the stronger mentality running through the squad and that's a factor that Jermain Defoe also picks up on in a special spotlight on his five goals in the 9-1 demolition of Wigan.

Defoe says: "We're right up there confidence-wise, we're flying. We attack as a team and we defend in the same way, so we all have a part to play. It's a lot different to how it used to be - even going away from home we have a winning mentality now."

Teammate Michael Dawson agrees. He enjoyed watching our forwards run riot - but his sheer professionalism stops him from being totally satisfied with the performance.

"Unfortunately it wasn't 9-0...when you concede a goal it's always hard to take, even with such a winning margin," he says. "We were devastated...but that's how we have to be as a defensive unit."

Our January issue also includes a major exclusive interview with the great Jimmy Greaves while our current players tell us their wishes for the New Year. We also look ahead to the World Cup Finals from a Spurs perspective and striker Peter Crouch answers our questions and reveals that he could have had a career in advertising!

On the question of an alternative job had he not made it as a footballer, he says: "I would probably have followed my father into the advertising world as I did some work experience with him as a kid."

We catch up with actor Steve Mangan, star of Green Wing, Free Agents and those Barclaycard adverts, who tells us all about his love for Spurs. And manager Harry Redknapp again answers your questions as he looks ahead to our FA Cup third round tie against Peterborough and looks back on a few upsets as a player!

Having three top Croatian internationals at the Club has certainly put the name Spurs up in lights in Croatia so we talk to two top media men to assess how the club is seen back home. As Davor Lugaric, a sports journalist on 24sata (24 hours), points out: "People in Croatia want to read more about Luka, Vedran and Niko...and Tottenham Hotspur is now the most represented foreign club in the Croatian media."

Robbie Keane pens his own exclusive column as he reflects on his 500th club appearance and looks ahead to our January games. We catch up with Paul Stewart in our regular ‘Still Going Strong' feature while readers have a chance to win Huddlestone's signed match shirt and John Motson's new ‘World Cup Heroes and Villains' DVD.

For history fans, we look back to1908-09, our first season in the Football League when we shocked the status quo by immediately gaining promotion to the First Division.

It's all in the January issue of our official monthly magazine hotspur - on sale now!
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My 'unbelievable' defence - Gomes

Heurelho Gomes feels our fine defensive form can be best summed-up by arguably the most important few seconds of action in our 2-0 win at Blackburn on Saturday.



We were 1-0 up and in a real scrap at Ewood Park when Rovers carved out their best chance eight minutes into the second half.

Vince Grella clipped a cross in that just evaded Michael Dawson's leap and found striker Benni McCarthy. He chested it down and was presented with a clear strike at goal just six yards out. His low shot clipped off Gomes' legs, hit the inside of the post and rolled across the goal where Sebastien Bassong won the race against Franco Di Santo to clear, denying the Rovers man a certain equaliser.

Goalkeeper Gomes made a couple of fine saves - showing clean hands in difficult conditions - as we soaked up the pressure before Peter Crouch secured maximum points with his second goal of the game seven minutes from time.

It meant six points and successive clean sheets in the space of four days after the disappointment of losing at home to Wolves last weekend.

Asked to describe the form of his defence Gomes, full of smiles in the visitors changing room at Ewood Park, simply said: "They are unbelievable.

"They give me so much confidence," he continued. "They work so hard. Michael Dawson is an unbelievable player, Benoit on the left, Charlie on the right, Sebastien Bassong, they are in such good form at the moment.

"I made a couple of important saves, I helped my team and I'm happy with that. That's all that matters. I want to help the team win points. Sometimes the team needs me and I have to be ready to make a save, like I did today.

"This was a big win for us - it's been a great reaction to Wolves."

As for that key moment at 1-0, Gomes added: "I touched the ball, it hit the post and Sebastien was there to clear. Perhaps some players wouldn't be ready for that and the striker would score easily, but our defence has that full concentration all the time. It's so important for us.

"We've had two clean sheets in a week and that's great for us. We will enjoy this win today and Sunday but then Monday we start all over again and prepare for Fulham."
by: www.tottenhamhotspur.com