Harry Redknapp's first game as Spurs boss saw the club get their first league win of the season as they beat Bolton 2-0.
Bolton put to the sword by a rejuvenate Tottenham
It took Harry Redknapp just a few minutes to step off Tottenham's bench and start barking orders at his new charges, as his Midas touch had an immediate effect as Spurs picked up their first league win of the season at the expense of ten-man Bolton.
For much of this season Roman Pavlyuchenko has been almost emblematic of the club's overall malaise; an expensive import yet to deliver, but on Sunday he was the toast of the club's beleaguered faithful as he netted the game's opening goal with a fine header.
In the second half, after Bolton's Gavin McCann was needlessly dismissed, substitute Darren Bent made it two from the penalty spot after Jussi Jaaskelainen had been charitable in bringing down the striker in the box.
Upon swapping the home comforts of Portsmouth for the revolving door that is Spurs' dugout, Redknapp accepted his first job would be to toughen up a soft central belly and to be fair there was a controlled aggression to Tottenham's play, which had been conspicuous by its absence in Juande Ramos' last days at the helm.
David Bentley is one player who will unlikely shed a tear over Ramos' demise and it was the outspoken wide man - reinstated to Spurs' starting XI after being axed for European exertions in midweek - that proved the architect of Pavlyuchenko's goal.
A trademark pinpoint delivery from deep on the right found the Russian's head and directing the ball into the ground and beyond Jaaskelainen, Pavlyuchenko put the broadest of smiles on his new manager's face.
Gomes suspect
Bolton had not arrived in the capital to have their belly tickled though and as long as Spurs employ Heurelho Gomes in between their posts, the opposition are never out of the race.
Employing a kamikaze approach to his decision making, the Brazilian is presumably allergic to catching, as numerous weak punches presented Bolton with opportunities.
Kevin Davies drifted a cross-cum-shot a yard or so wide after Gomes got in a mix-up with Ledley King, while Matthew Taylor drilled wide when well placed.
A collective sigh of relief could be heard across the capital as Johan Elmander's stab for goal was cleared off the line as Bolton battled for parity.
Close clash
Tom Huddlestone will feel he should have scored in scooping over from no more than a few yards after a Jaaskelainen blunder from Bentley's set-piece delivery, before with a rasping drive the midfielder arched an effort a yard or so over.
With Bolton still very much in an evenly poised contest McCann, already booked, incensed his manager Gary Megson by seeing red in the 57th minute for an avoidable lunge on Huddlestone.
As Spurs smelt blood Luka Modric started to show the type of ability that so excited at Euro 2008, as he first tested Jaaskelainen from Huddlestone's cute through ball and then rifled into the side netting after a bright run.
Spurs' football was enterprising but Gomes was determined to make it a nerve jangling afternoon for Redknapp, as two hapless punches concluded with Kevin Nolan and then Fabrice Muamba lobbing just over the top of his bar.
Bolton chances
A jet heeled Bent, aided by fellow substitute Aaron Lennon, caused Bolton plenty of problems as he lashed over when put through by Modric's astute pass.
With the home side in the ascendancy and sniffing a second, Jaaskelainen showed the thin line that separates hero from villain, as he saved well from Huddlestone's drive from the edge of the box, before having a rush to the head in felling Bent in the area, despite the forward heading away from goal.
Bent dusted himself down and dispatched with clinical aplomb from 12 yards, before Modric and Jermaine Jenas were both denied by Bolton's Finnish custodian.
Redknapp will have seen enough in his opening 90 minutes as Tottenham boss to be encouraged, but with Arsenal at the Emirates in midweek, he'll also be savvy enough to realise Rome wasn't built in a day.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
Bolton Wanderers |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 8 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 10 |
Shots off Target |
11 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 3 |
Corners |
4 |
| 9 |
Fouls |
15 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
0 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
1 |
| 84.1 |
Passing Success |
56.2 |
| 18 |
Tackles |
22 |
| 88.9 |
Tackles Success |
95.5 |
| 63.4 |
Possession |
36.6 |
| 48.3 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.7 |
|
