Source: Telegraph
Portsmouth 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2: match report
There were enough sub-plots at Fratton Park to fill a Dick Francis novel and, even despite the best efforts of Jermain Defoe, there was little doubt who was cast in the lead role.
It is a year since Harry Redknapp left Portsmouth for the second time and, on his return, the sporadic abuse from sections of the Fratton Park crowd was no less predictable than Defoe scoring in a Tottenham Hotspur victory.
The major twist, though, also involved Defoe, who faces an automatic three-match ban for violent conduct after receiving a straight red card for treading on the calf of Aaron Mokoena as the Portsmouth captain lay on the ground.
“If he kicked him, he deserves to be sent off,” Redknapp said. “I told him 15 times before the start: 'don’t react if you get kicked.’ Sure enough, he did react.”
Redknapp had also argued passionately in the build-up that he deserved only respect for his achievements at Portsmouth and, in truth, the club’s FA Cup-winning manager was generally welcomed back warmly. Indeed, Redknapp actually exchanged pleasantries and handshakes with several fans before signing autographs and heading for the dugout. He then showed further class by remaining motionless in his seat when Tottenham scored their two goals.
“There was no trouble, the fans were fantastic - I sat among them,” said Redknapp. “It was difficult coming here because of what people were saying. These are good people, they know the good times they have had - there was an old couple sat near me today with an FA Cup final scarf.”
It was actually the returning former Portsmouth players, particularly Defoe, who were singled out for most vitriol. Despite missing England’s World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Belarus with a hand injury, Defoe looked extremely sharp and almost put Tottenham ahead after nine minutes when his shot cannoned off the inside of David James’ near post.
Yet it was perhaps inevitable that another former Portsmouth player should be involved when Spurs did take the lead, with Niko Kranjcar’s 29th-minute corner headed beyond James by Ledley King.
The ease with which King found space in the Portsmouth penalty area will have infuriated Portsmouth manager Paul Hart, especially after his team had carried most of the first-half threat, only to be let down by a lack of confidence in front of goal.
Most culpable was Aruna Dindane, who somehow guided the ball over from three yards. Such profligacy was punished on the stroke of half-time when Jermaine Jenas exchanged a simple one-two with Tom Huddlestone and then crossed for Defoe to double the lead with his ninth of the season.
Portsmouth’s commitment never dipped and Kevin-Prince Boateng provided a lifeline when his shot flew past Heurelho Gomes from an unlikely angle. Defoe’s red card further galvanised Portsmouth but, despite playing for more than half-an-hour against 10 men, they could not find a way past the excellent Gomes. The frustration of another narrow defeat eventually got to Michael Brown, who was sent off in injury time for two bookings.
Aside from Defoe’s antics and the return of Redknapp, intrigue still surrounded events in the boardroom. New owner Ali al-Faraj did not attend yesterday’s match while non-executive chairman Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who has upset senior figures at the club with an interview in an Arabic newspaper, was also absent.
Amid the uncertainty behind the scenes, Hart drew hope from Tottenham’s position this time last year when they had only two points after eight games.
He said: “We have the squad and right qualities to emulate Spurs’ recovery last season.”
Fighting talk - and an opinion shared by the man regarded by many as Portsmouth’s finest manager.
“I fancy them to stay up - this is a tough place to come,” said Redknapp.
