• Date: Sat 22 March 2008
  • Venue: White Hart Lane
  • Ref: Dowd, P
  • Attendance: 35,998
Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur

Bent (80)

O'Hara (82)

2 - 0

Tottenham Hotspur vs Portsmouth

Team Lineups

Tottenham Hotspur

Paul Robinson
Jonathan Woodgate
Alan Hutton
Pascal Chimbonda
Michael Dawson (Darren Bent, 70)
Didier Zokora
Aaron Lennon (Jamie O'Hara, 70)
Steed Malbranque
Tom Huddlestone
Robbie Keane (Teemu Tainio, 83)
Dimitar Berbatov

Portsmouth

David James
Hermann Hreidarsson
Glen Johnson
Lucien Aubey
Sylvain Distin
Niko Kranjcar
John Utaka
Richard Hughes (Arnold Mvuemba, 90)
Miguel Pedro Mendes
Sean Davis
Nwankwo Kanu (Milan Baros, 83)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's finished 2-0, those two late goals from substitutes Bent and O'Hara winning it for Spurs.

89
Substitution
 

Hughes goes off, Arnold Mvuemba replacing him

88

Approaching injury time and the game is up, Spurs in total control now

85

Spurs appear to have won the game now with those two late goals from the substitutes

83
Substitution
 

Milan Baros also comes on for Pompey, Kanu makes way

83
Substitution
 

Keane goes off for Teemu Tainio

82

The two substitutes have changed the game and suddenly Spurs are two up

81
Goal
 

O'Hara makes it 2-0, turning home Bent's cross

80
Goal
 

Bent heads Spurs in front from close range

79

Pompey have grown in confidence in the second half and are having more of the possession at the moment

76

Zokora has to clear Kanu's header off the line after Robinson is caught out of his goal

74

Ramos will be hoping those changes fire his side up because it's gone a bit scrappy at White Hart Lane in the second half

71
Substitution
 

Jamie O'Hara also comes on in place of Lennon

71
Substitution
 

Spurs make a double change, Dawson goes off for Darren Bent so Zokora reverts to defence

68

Richard Hughes' challenge is well timed to deny Hutton

66

Huddlestone blocks Kanu's shot as Spurs boss Juande Ramos prepares to make his first substitute

64

A lack of clear chances so far in the second half

61

Another Lennon run ends with the ball coming back off him for a Portsmouth goal-kick

59
Yellow Card
 

John Utaka is booked after clashing heads with Chimbonda but it looked a harsh yellow card

58

It's still Spurs who look the more likely scorers with almost an hour played

55

Lennon goes up the other end and, after a great run, his shot is just wide

54

Johnson breaks forward for Portsmouth but Woodgate does brilliantly to deny him

52

The snow has returned to North London as Chimbonda defends well

49

Huddlestone's effort from the edge of the area flies narrowly over

48

The home fans find their voice as Pompey clear from a Spurs corner

46

No changes from either side at the break

Second half
 

The second 45 minutes begins

Half time
 

Level at the break but Spurs have had the better of it with Dawson's effort off the bar the closest they have come to scoring

45

Huddlestone fires a half-volley just over as one minute of injury time is added

43

Portsmouth will be pleased to get in at the break level after a poor display from them so far

40

Chimbonda wastes possession and a Spurs attack breaks down

38

Spurs will be frustrated that they are not in front yet after wasting several good opportunites as we head towards half time

35

Berbatov wastes a good opening for Spurs as he steers his shot wide

33

Johnson heads clear another Spurs corner, the pressure continuing to build on the visitors

31

That is the best chance of the game so far, Dawson's powerful strike clattering off the bar

30

Aubey has to put the ball behind for another corner from which Dawson's strike comes back off the crossbar

28

Keane plays Dimitar Berbatov in but the Bulgarian is offside although he continues on and puts the ball in the net anyway, the whistle had long gone though

25

Huddlestone wastes a corner for Spurs with a poor delivery

24

Spurs have shaded the opening half so far but it remains goalless

21

Distin's poor clearance falls to Woodgate but the defender fires it over

19

Chimbonda picks up a loose ball and strikes a decent effort just wide, plenty of action though early on at White Hart Lane

17

Sean Davis almost chips Robinson but the Spurs keeper reacts well and tips it over

16

Keane almost steals the ball from James after the Pompey keeper rolls it out not knowing Keane was behind him, James just manages to clear though

15

Huddlestone curls a free kick on target but James gathers it comfortably

14

Keane strikes an effort at goal but David James saves well - the first real chance of the game

13

Spurs have had the better of the openning minutes

11

Pascal Chimbonda was almost in but the Pompey defence again clear well at the last minute

10

Distin does well to clear the ball behind for a corner but Spurs don't make the most of it

7

Aaron Lennon's cross is cleared by Lucien Aubey

6

It's been a lively start to the game as the snow that was falling at kick off subsides

3

Tom Huddlestone's free kick is cleared and Pompey launch a quick counter-attack but Spurs defend well

1

Steed Malbranque handles the ball and Pompey get an early free-kick

Kickoff
 

The action gets underway at White Hart Lane

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Tom Huddlestone comes in for Jermaine Jenas while Michael Dawson replaces Ledley King for Spurs. Pompey make six changes with Lucien Aubey, John Utaka and Richard Hughes all starting. Milan Baros drops to the bench.