Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 0 Portsmouth

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Saturday Mar 22 2008 12:45

Darren Bent made a vital impact as a Tottenham substitute as he helped his side record a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth at White Hart Lane.

Bent has been forced to wait for his chance in the first team, but showed his ability when he came off the bench to score the first goal and set up fellow substitute Jamie O'Hara for the second.

The £16.5million club record signing has struggled to force his way past Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, but insists he is happy to stay at the club and showed Juande Ramos he is ready to fight for his place in the team.

Tottenham started the match brightly and could have opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Keane saw his low drive saved by David James who dived low to his left to keep the effort out.

James was almost embarrassed by Keane three minutes later. The Republic of Ireland international was running behind the shot-stopper in the box and almost took the ball off the Portsmouth keeper who managed to clear the ball to safety in the nick of time.

His opposite number, Paul Robinson, then showed why he is still challenging for an England place when he made a brilliant 16th-minute save.Sean Davis' chip from the edge of the box produced a superb save from Robinson who did well to tip the ball over the bar.Pascal Chimbonda almost broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion three minutes later when his spectacular right-foot volley flew inches past the post.

Tottenham striker Berbatov had the ball in the back of the net on 28 minutes but was adjudged to be in an offside position.

The home side continued to create the better chances in the first half and went close to breaking the deadlock in the 31st minute when Michael Dawson turned on the half-volley but smashed his effort against the bar.

Ten minutes after the break, Aaron Lennon then used all his pace to burst clear of the Portsmouth defence but drilled his shot narrowly past the post.

Robinson should have been a lot quicker out of his goal to stop Kanu heading the ball over him, but was thankful that Didier Zokora was in the right place to knock the effort away from danger.

Tottenham finally broke the deadlock in the 80th minute. Berbatov mis-hit his shot into the ground but the ball bounced up for Bent who made no mistake heading the ball past James into the corner of the net.

The home side sealed their victory two minutes later when Bent weaved his way into the box and cut the ball back for O'Hara who fired home from close range.

Live Commentary

90
It's finished 2-0, those two late goals from substitutes Bent and O'Hara winning it for Spurs.

89
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
Milan Baros also comes on for Pompey, Kanu makes way

83
Keane goes off for Teemu Tainio

82
The two substitutes have changed the game and suddenly Spurs are two up

81
O'Hara makes it 2-0, turning home Bent's cross

80
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
Jamie O'Hara also comes on in place of Lennon

71
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
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

45
The second 45 minutes begins

45
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

0
The action gets underway at White Hart Lane

0
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.

Statistics

Tottenham Hotspur

Shots on target	8
Shots off target	8
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	8
Offsides	3
Corners	7

Portsmouth

Shots on target	4
Shots off target	0
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	13
Offsides	2
Corners	2

See Live Commentary