Spurs 2 Portsmouth 0: Pompey limp to Wembley as old boys pile on pain

29 March 2010 00:41
Portsmouth fear they will travel to Wembley for their FA Cup semi-final with a subs' bench full of youth-teamers after sustaining a casualty list that keeper David James calls 'carnage'. [LNB]But James, who limped off with a calf injury, has vowed to put his club's interests before England. [LNB]Pompey boss Avram Grant named only six substitutes for this match - and his already threadbare squad was depleted by three more serious injuries. [LNB] Tall order: Peter Crouch opened the scoring to strengthen Spurs' Champions League chances[LNB] [LNB]Spurs are Portsmouth's semi-final opponents, so they could scarcelybelieve their luck as the south coast club's players dropped like fliesat White Hart Lane. [LNB]Enlarge First, Hermann Hreidarsson was carried off in the 51st minute with asnapped achilles, leaving the defender in tears after the game. [LNB]Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admitted: 'The players heard it go - it went off like a bloody gun.' [LNB]Then, with two subs already used, James and Danny Webber wereinjured at roughly the same time. Webber hurt his right knee and, likeHreidarsson, was carried off wearing an oxygen mask, while Jamessuddenly felt a pain in his calf. That forced the team to play with 10men for the final two minutes - plus eight minutes' injury time. [LNB]James said: 'We lost Nadir (Belhadj) and Wilo (Marc Wilson) intraining and the match was carnage. People were going down left, rightand centre. [LNB]'My calf didn't feel right and, rather than risk 10 minutes at theend of the game and then be out for three weeks, I thought it wasbetter to come off. [LNB]'My concern is doing what I can for Portsmouth. I'm not worrying about not being fit for England.' [LNB] Agony: Hermann Hreidarsson adds to Pompey's injury woes[LNB][LNB]James, 39, views his side's problems philosophically, though. 'We still have a wonderful job,' he said. [LNB]'The biggest annoyance for me, even in our position, is when peopledon't try. I said to the lads at half-time, "We're 2-0 down and I amnot prepared to accept another five-goal thrashing".' [LNB]Tottenham went 2-0 up thanks to a clever back-heel by Niko Kranjcar,but he refused to celebrate because scoring against his former club -and watching their suffering - was a bitter-sweet experience. And theimminent Cup semi-final will bring back poignant memories for theCroat. [LNB]'It was out of respect to Portsmouth and the fans that I didn't celebrate,' said Kranjcar. [LNB] [LNB] Two easy: Niko Kranjcar doubles Spurs' lead[LNB]'It is sad to see what's happened. We won the FA Cup, we wereplaying European football. [LNB]MATCH FACTSTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2): Gomes 7; K Walker 7, Bassong 6, Dawson 6 (Kaboul 61min, 6), Bale 7; Bentley 7, Huddlestone 7, Modric 6, Kranjcar 6(Assou-Ekotto 66, 6); Crouch 7,Gudjohnsen 6 (Pavlyuchenko 78).[LNB]PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): James 6 (Ashdown 88); Mullins 5, Hreidarsson 6 (Webber 51, 6), Mokoena 4, Finnan 5; Brown 6, Hughes 6, Bassinas 6 (Owusu-Abeyie 83), Vanden Borre 7; Piquionne 6, Kanu 6. Booked: Hughes.[LNB]Man of the match: Gareth Bale.Referee: Kevin Friend. [LNB]'We never knew that the owners or whoeverspent more than they were able to. That team could have been playingregularly in Europe.' [LNB]One of that team, Peter Crouch, scored Tottenham's first with a header in the 27th minute following Gareth Bale's cross. [LNB]Spurs missed Wilson Palacios's ball-winning abilities in midfieldbut he is expected to be fit for the semi-final on Sunday week. [LNB]Given their daunting schedule - Tottenham face Chelsea, Arsenal andManchester United next month - Redknapp needs his key men fit. But isthis a must-qualify season as regards the Champions League? [LNB]'If I say it is now or never, the chairman will ******* sack me,' said Redknapp.[LNB] Tottenham set to extend Gudjohnsen's loan deal at White Hart Lane Harry Redknapp claims Portsmouth star Kanu is 49 but still 'King' TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC

Source: Daily_Mail