Source: Telegraph
Jonathan Woodgate header claims points for Tottenham
Jonathan Woodgate left the field on Monday night with his forehead cut open, blood pouring down his face, turning his white shirt red after a nasty collision. But this was nothing to the damage the Tottenham centre-half inflicted on Hull City. [LNB]After Michael Turner had equalised Aaron Lennon's opener, Woodgate lifted Spurs to 14th in the Premier League, easing their relegation fears with a late header but these remain troubled times for Hull. [LNB]This game had meant so much to both clubs. Each had distractions elsewhere, Spurs in the Uefa and Carling Cups while Hull are involved in the FA Cup, but Premier League survival was of paramount importance. With relegation a real concern, nerves jangled all over the pitch, particularly in the goalmouths where poor defending at corners characterised a frenetic, error-strewn first half spiced by goals from Lennon and Turner. [LNB]Brown's players had clearly not been learning from the short-corner routines Spurs had been running through. When Anthony Gardner conceded a 16th-minute corner with a sliding tackle on Darren Bent, Hull seemed to pause, admiring the ex-Tottenham defender's expertise. It was a fine tackle but there was work to be done. [LNB]Luka Modric and Robbie Keane had combined by the flag before, delaying the delivery of the ball to give team-mates a chance to lose markers. This time they took the low road, Modric exchanging passes with Keane before shifting the ball to Lennon on the edge of the area. [LNB]At 5ft 5in, the Spurs winger may be the shortest player in the Premier League but that was no reason for Hull to mislay him. Unmarked and dangerous, Lennon let fly from 20 yards. As Bent ducked helpfully out of the way, Lennon's shot sped into Matt Duke's net. Hull needed to be far more assertive in their goalmouth, an area all Duke and hazards. [LNB]As Spurs players celebrated, as their sizeable following chanted about Sunday's visit to Wembley, Hull's fans knew their team faced a real test of character. The supporters responded strongly, meeting exhortations to raise the roof. Local defiance was captured on the front page of the Hull Daily Mail with a banner headline of "Your Tigers Need You", urging fans to "roar home our heroes'' down the final straight. [LNB]Mention was made of epic performances this season, the victory at Arsenal and battling draws at Liverpool and Chelsea. Reacting positively to the fans' noise, Hull's players dug deep, summoning up the spirit that served them so well in the past. [LNB]Lacking the technical class of their white-shirted opponents, Hull clawed their way back into the game through sheer graft. Ian Ashbee played the captain's role, driving his team through the middle, making life hugely uncomfortable for Jermaine Jenas and Wilson Palacios. Dean Marney, formerly of Spurs, joined the resistance movement, charging down the right, exposing Benoit Assou-Ekotto's defensive naivety. [LNB]With Modric often drifting in from his left-sided station, Marney enjoyed even greater space. Spurs defence became increasingly rattled. Michael Dawson, arguably their best centre-back this season, was left on the bench as Ledley King partnered Jonathan Woodgate. [LNB]Even with all this experience on show, Tottenham were surprisingly rattled. Vedran Corluka, the Croatian international, unnecessarily conceded a 26th-minute corner, and Hull had their chance. Andy Dawson's productive left foot curled the ball across, aiming for the thicket of milling players, pushing and shoving on the six-yard line. [LNB]Carlo Cudicini attempted to reach the ball but suffered a Gomes moment, flapping badly, succeeding only in pushing the ball on to Palacios. It rebounded back towards goal where Turner reacted quickest, hooking it into the roof of Spurs net. [LNB]A Tottenham fan in his youth, Turner understandably overlooked any past affiliations and celebrated the moment enthusiastically. A £350,000 signing from Brentford in 2006, Turner has proved an outstanding defender for Hull capable of some important goals, including last-ditch strikes against Burnley and QPR last season that helped their successful promotion drive. [LNB]Redknapp had clearly gone to work on his players' minds at the break, reminding them that they in a fight for their Premier League future. A greater appetite for the fray could be detected in Spurs movements, and their heightened tempo was almost rewarded shortly after the restart. [LNB]When Kamil Zayatte gifted possession to Keane, the Irishman dashed into the broken ranks of Hull's defence. Making good ground down the inside-left channel, the Irishman checked before lifting the ball to Palacios, who met it with real venom. Gardner knew little about the shot that crashed into him, although he certainly felt it. Intentional or not, it was a vital block by Gardner. [LNB]Still Spurs pressurised, again almost seizing the lead after 66 minutes. When Modric lifted in a free-kick, Corluka leapt well, twisting his body to meet the ball and impart some power, his header clipped the bar and disappearing over. [LNB]Enjoying more possession, Spurs remained vulnerable on the counter, particularly when quick balls were hoisted into the area. Cudicini again lacked authority, particularly when one delivery from Sam Ricketts dropped towards him, scaring the living floodlights out of him.[LNB]"Come on City" came the constant chant from the terraces, and again the players responded. Another Dawson corner alarmed Spurs, the ball met by Zayatte, whose downward header eluded the diving Cudicini but not the post. [LNB]How cruel. With six remaining, Spurs nicked the lead. Again a short-corner routine troubled Hull. When the home side failed to clear properly, Assou-Ekotto crossed and there was Woodgate, who had remained up, doing brilliantly to head home. Spurs are upwardly mobile, Hull desperately needing a jump-start from somewhere. [LNB]
