Source: Team_Talk
Blues hit back to earn their Spurs
Jermain Defoe had looked to have put Spurs on course for a double over Blues and condemn them to a second defeat in four days.[LNB]But Ridgewell popped up in the dying seconds to rescue a share of the spoils for the home side.[LNB]The visitors were the better side for long periods with David Bentley impressing on the right wing and full-back Gareth Bale getting forward on the opposite flank to good effect.[LNB]And the poor finishing of City striker Christian Benitez highlighted why Alex McLeish is in the market for a striker, with Spurs' Roman Pavlyuchenko remaining top of his wish list.[LNB]But Birmingham this season have had that never-say-die quality about their performances - and it surfaced again.[LNB]Blues leading scorer Lee Bowyer had a good chance to open the scoring after four minutes.[LNB]James McFadden linked up well with Benitez before playing the ball into the path of the midfielder 15 yards out.[LNB]But Bowyer did not make a full contact with his low drive and Heurelho Gomes was able to save away to his right.[LNB]A mistake by Bowyer almost proved costly after his loose pass was seized onto by Bentley.[LNB]His shot was blocked by Liam Ridgewell but the rebound fell invitingly to Luka Modric who would have been disappointed to screw his shot past the far post.[LNB]McLeish seemed unhappy with the way his side had started judging by the verbal volley he aimed at his players who were guilty of some casual and sloppy play.[LNB]But Birmingham squandered another good opening on the counter-attack with Benitez this time guilty of some poor finishing.[LNB]Cameron Jerome created the chance and then Benitez found himself with only Gomes to beat after turning inside Michael Dawson.[LNB]But he fired a low weak drive straight at the Brazilian keeper when he could have picked his spot.[LNB]Bentley continued to pose a threat to the home side and he went past Ridgewell before unleashing a fierce shot from a narrow angle which Hart turned aside for a corner.[LNB]Birmingham forced a trio of corners in quick succession and the third of them from McFadden flew right across the six yard box but no-one was able to apply a finishing touch.[LNB]Tottenham began the second half on the offensive and Hart went down to his left to smother a shot from Bentley 12 yards out and was able to gather the rebound.[LNB]Crouch missed Spurs' best chance of the game to date after 52 minutes.[LNB]Defoe was released by Wilson Palacios and then slightly miscontrolled the ball, but it fell invitingly to Crouch who stabbed a weak effort wide.[LNB]Johnson became the first player to be yellow carded after 57 minutes for showing dissent towards a referee's assistant.[LNB]Then Palacios was booked for bringing down Bowyer on the edge of the Spurs box[LNB]The cautions were now coming thick and fast with Bowyer going into the notebook for a lunge at Palacios.[LNB]Tottenham's pressure finally paid off after 69 minutes when Bale's centre was flicked on by Crouch - and Defoe did the rest from close range.[LNB]Birmingham tried to retaliate and Benitez beat the offside trap to find himself clear of the Spurs defence.[LNB]But the Ecuador international opted to cut back inside and, by the time he elected to shoot, Spurs had enough players back to block his shot.[LNB]Defoe was booked for deliberate handball as the home side tried to build up some momentum.[LNB]McFadden sliced a shot wide after a deflected drive from Jerome had fallen into his path.[LNB]Then in injury time Ridgewell equalised for City after Jerome had headed a McFadden centre back across goal.[LNB][LNB]
