- Boateng (59)
- King (29), Defoe (45)
- Date:2009-10-17
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Fratton Park
- Attendance:20821
- Referee:Dowd, P
Live Commentary
90mins
The referee blows the whistle for full time, bringing this thrilling game to a close
90mins
Brown is sent off after picking up a second caution for a foul on Lennon
90mins
Assou-Ekotto is cautioned as well as the game reaches a close
90mins
Michael Brown picks up a booking
88mins
John Utaka comes on for Finnan
88mins
Palacios picks up a booking. It has been a scrappy couple of minutes
87mins
Huddlestone had a good game for Spurs but Redknapp will be desperate for his team to focus on defending in these final minutes
86mins
Michael Dawson comes on for Huddlestone as Spurs look to protect their lead
84mins
Yebda, who has been threatening for Portsmouth this afternoon, heads the ball harmlessly over the bar
82mins
Piquionne has a great chance to equalise for Pompey but his header from close range misses the target
79mins
Piquionne shoots after good work from Finnan but Gomes is once again equal to his effort
78mins
Paul Hart decides to take off Mokoena, who has been great for the home side today, in order to bring on Nadir Belhadj
78mins
A large part of Pompey's revival can be attributed to the manner in which Mokoena has been playing in this second half
76mins
Gomes, who has pulled off some terrific saves this afternoon, isn't troubled by Boateng's shot
73mins
Yebda sends a strike harmlessly over the bar
72mins
Spurs are really hanging on in this game, with Portsmouth very much in the ascendancy
71mins
Yebda picks up a caution for unsporting behaviour
70mins
Huddlestone, not one to shy away from taking a shot, strikes but the ball misses the target
68mins
Gomes pulls off a terrific save after Hassan Yebda unleashes a ferocious volley from inside the box
67mins
That latest substitution, a defensive one from Redknapp, is a good indicator of the test Pompey are providing Spurs with now
65mins
Wilson Palacios comes on for Kranjcar
63mins
The game has turned around completely now, with Portsmouth growing in confidence playing against ten men and with a goal pulled back
62mins
Frederic Piquionne replaces Smith
62mins
Crouch misses a glorious chance to further Spurs' lead. His shot goes narrowly wide
60mins
Defoe is sent off for violent conduct after stamping on Mokoena. Awful play from the Spurs striker
59mins
Boateng deservedly pulls one back for Pompey at the near post
55mins
Peter Crouch comes on for Keane
55mins
Gomes punches clear from Smith's shot and Pompey win another corner
54mins
Portsmouth aren't afraid to shoot at goal now as Dindane has yet another attempt. This effort misses the target
52mins
Mokoena shoots but his effort flies harmlessly wide
50mins
Kranjcar takes the free kick but it comes to nothing
50mins
Aaron Mokoena picks up a yellow card for a foul on Jenas
49mins
Portsmouth are pressing forward in these early minutes of the half
47mins
Dindane, who faded away in the latter stages of the first half, takes a shot but it's blocked by King, who has played very well so far today
45mins
Boateng tries to pull one back for Portsmouth at the start of the second half but Gomes makes a good save
45mins
The second half is underway at Fratton Park
45mins
The players leave the pitch as the first half comes to an end. Spurs really look in control of this game now
45mins
Defoe scores against his old club after nipping in front of Steve Finnan and finishing well for Spurs
43mins
Lennon's shot is blocked well by Ben-Haim
40mins
Niko Kranjcar commits a needless foul on the edge of the box
40mins
Robbie Keane makes a good clearance from a free kick from Boateng. Important interception from the striker there
38mins
Boateng has yet another shot but it's blocked by King this time
37mins
Portsmouth are starting to come back into this game, with Boateng looking the most likely to score at the moment
36mins
Boateng's shot from a headed clearance from Tom Huddlestone fails to bother Gomes
33mins
Portsmouth look stunned after conceding that goal. They need to calm their play down, especially in midfield
30mins
Sebastien Bassong takes a free kick for Spurs
29mins
Ledley King powers a brilliant header past the helpless David James in the Pompey goal
26mins
Lennon bombs down the right for Spurs and wins a corner after getting past Tal Ben Haim
24mins
This game really shouldn't still be goalless. An entertaining clash so far this afternoon
23mins
Gomes produces a cracking save from a deflected free kick that looked a certain goal
22mins
Jermaine Jenas is booked for a foul on Boateng
21mins
A scrappy couple of minutes after a high-tempo start, as fouls on Defoe and Dindane bring the game to a halt
19mins
Smith's corner is cleared by Vedran Corluka
17mins
Dindane won't want to watch a replay of that miss, that's for sure. However, Portsmouth are growing into this game after early domination from Spurs
14mins
Tommy Smith plays a fantastic ball across to Dindane but the Pompey man produces the miss of the season from just two yards out. Stunning miss from Dindane
13mins
Kevin-Prince Boateng's long-range shot fails to trouble Heurelho Gomes
11mins
Dindane, who has looked lively so far, shoots but the ball flies harmlessly over the bar
9mins
Aruna Dindane heads the ball across the face of the goal but there's nobody there to take advantage for Pompey
8mins
Defoe's shot from inside the box glances the post
7mins
Spurs look very dangerous so far this afternoon, as Aaron Lennon sends in a promising cross which Defoe can't quite manage to get on the end of
3mins
Harry Redknapp was given a warm welcome prior to kick off by the Pompey fans, which is good to see
1mins
Jermain Defoe shoots at goal but David James is equal to his attempt
0mins
Referee Phil Dowd gets the game underway
0mins
Portsmouth, who have just 3 points after 8 games, badly need to secure at least a point today but it won't be easy for them; they've beaten Spurs just once in their last nine meetings
Match Preview
Harry Redknapp will be the man of the moment at Fratton Park on Saturday when he takes Tottenham back to his former Portsmouth stamping ground.
Redknapp may have led the South Coast club into the Premier League and their first piece of major silverware in more than 50 years with victory in the 2008 FA Cup Final, but he is still likely to be given a rough ride by the home fans.
Since his surprise departure just over 12 months ago, Pompey have imploded with severe financial difficulties - brought on by Redknapp's hectic transfer activity - leading to the dismantling of a once successful team.
Redknapp hasn't helped his cause by raiding Fratton Park to sign star players like Jermain Defoe and Niko Kranjcar for cut-price fees before declaring this week that he is relishing the prospect of returning.
"I've been the best manager they ever had and I am very proud of what I achieved there," he declared.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to have done wrong, so I'm not bothered in the slightest."
Portsmouth have at least managed to record their first win of the season after edging out Wolves 1-0 before the international break.
Paul Hart's side remain two points adrift at the foot of the table, but they have at least overcome the first hurdle and gone some way to easing the pressure which was threatening to engulf the club.
A repeat of their 2-0 victory over Spurs at Fratton Park last season would do wonders for morale amongst a much-criticised squad.
Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) and Hermann Hreidarsson (foot) remain on the sidelines through injury.
Spurs arrive on the South Coast without several key players and looking to recapture the early season form which saw them briefly set the pace at the top of the table.
Luka Modric (broken leg), Jonathan Woodgate (groin), Giovani Dos Santos (ankle) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (calf) are missing, while captain Ledley King is a doubt.
advertisement
advertisment
Match Report
Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe went from hero to villain as Harry Redknapp's return to Fratton Park ended in victory.
Defoe bagged what proved to be the winner to lead Tottenham to within three points of the top of the Premier League table but was later sent off for stamping on Portsmouth captain Aaron Mokoena.
Tottenham manager Redknapp was branded 'Judas' by Pompey fans after quitting to take charge at White Hart Lane last October.
Portsmouth drafted in extra stewards to protect the Tottenham dugout but Redknapp was given a surprisingly muted reception as he emerged from the tunnel prior to kick-off.
Defoe came within inches of giving Spurs the lead in the ninth minute, racing in behind the Portsmouth defence on to Tom Huddlestone's threaded pass before rifling a right-foot shot against the left-hand post.
Portsmouth should have been in front two minutes later when striker Aruna Dindane produced a contender for miss of the season.
Tommy Smith cleverly turned Vedran Corluka down the right touchline before whipping in a pin-point cross only for Dindane to blaze over the crossbar from three yards with the goal at his mercy.
Portsmouth were denied by a wonder save from Heurelho Gomes in the 23rd minute. Younes Kaboul's driven free-kick struck Smith's heels and looped up towards the top right corner before Gomes flicked up a despairing left arm to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Tottenham owed a huge debt of gratitude to Portsmouth goalkeeper David James when they went ahead in the 29th minute.
Niko Kranjcar's corner brought the England international racing out of his goal but James got nowhere near the ball and Ledley King had the simple task of heading into an empty net.
Defoe, who was booed every time he touched the ball, rammed the Pompey fans' taunts down their throats by doubling Tottenham's lead on the stroke of half-time.
Jermaine Jenas was given too much freedom on the edge of the 18-yard box and Defoe slid in to turn his centre past a stranded James before wheeling away to celebrate in front of the home supporters.
The match was turned on its head by two incidents in the space of two minutes at the start of the second half.
First, in the 59th minute, Kevin Prince-Boateng reduced the arrears, firing past Gomes at his near post with a sublime half-volley from Michael Brown's cross.
But Defoe was then shown a straight red card for stamping on Pompey captain Mokeona after the South African had slid in for a challenge.
The home side could not take full advantage and force an equaliser and were also reduced to ten men late on when Brown was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Aaron Lennon.
Portsmouth Team
Tottenham Hotspur Team
Portsmouth | Tottenham Hotspur |
Corners
| 10 | 9 |
Fouls
| 14 | 13 |
Goal attempts
| 23 | 9 |
Shots off target
| 10 | 4 |
Offsides
| 7 | 1 |



90mins
Lennon has a great chance to score a third for Spurs but his shot is sent wide