Source: SKY_Sports
Spurs v Birmingham live!
90 + 4 ALL OVER: Tottenham's 100 per cent start to the season continues as Lennon's late winner earns a 2-1 win over Birmingham at White Hart Lane. Stay with us for all the post-match reaction.
Late devastation for Birmingham as Carr slips when on the ball and Spurs break. Lennon eventually gains possession to cut in from the left and fire a low effort past Hart from the edge of the box.
90 + 4 GOAL LENNON (2-1)!!!
90 + 3 Birmingham win a late corner, but play it short hoping to keep possession.
90 + 2 Larsson has put in a good shift and gets a breather as Gary McSheffrey enters the fray.
90 ADDED TIME: There will be four minutes added time, as Johnson heads a great chance over the bar from close range.
88 Huddlestone receives a yellow card as Spurs' frustration is clear when he chops down Ferguson.
87 Hutton goes in the book as he hauls down Benitez, who has made a good impression since coming on.
85 It looks like this one is heading for a draw. Tottenham have failed to threaten since being stunned by the equaliser and, if anything, Birmingham are the more likely to score.
82 Terrible miss from O'Connor! Benitez again causes problems
and from five yards O'Connor side-foots into the netting wide of the goal. That could have been the winner.
79 We have a break in play as Defoe is down following a collision with Larsson. That is the end of Defoe's match as he walks off and is replaced by Roman Pavlyuchenko.
Tottenham get in a mess at the back as Hutton, under pressure from Benitez, and Carlo Cudicini hesitate and allow Bowyer in for a simple tap in. Game on!
75 GOAL BOWYER (1-1)!!!
73 Birmingham respond with an attacking move as Benitez comes on for Carsley.
Crouch has changed the course of this game as he garbs the goal his performance deserves. Huddlestone delivers a free-kick from wide on the right and Crouch jumps above Johnson to head in from a tight angle.
72 GOAL CROUCH (1-0)!!!
71 Birmingham are falling further back as we enter the final 20 minutes and appear to be running out of legs for their counter-attacks. Substitutions could be imminent.
69 Larsson does well down the right, but his cross only finds an empty penalty area, with no other Birmingham players in attack.
66 Tottenham immediately win a corner and Crouch again gets his
head to the ball. But his header is cleared off the line by Carsley. Spurs claim the ball went over the line, but replays show that is not the case.
65 Crouch hits the cross bar as Keane finds his strike partner, who towers above Carr only to nod against the wood work.
63 White Hart Lane is again full of noise as Tottenham press forward. Birmingham, though, remain calm and O'Connor is still causing Assou-Ekotto and Bassong problems.
60 Crouch is making a difference as he unselfishly heads across goal. He could have possibly gone for goal himself. Birmingham are on the ropes again.
59 O'Connor follows Carr into the box as Lennon proves too quick for him. No complaints.
57 Birmingham want a penalty as Wilson Palacios appears to trip McFadden. There is definite contact, probably accidental, but referee Walton is not interested. McLeish is not impressed.
56 The resulting free-kick deflects behind for a corner, but the kick is just over Crouch's head and Birmingham survive the danger.
54 A cynical foul from Carr on Lennon earns the Birmingham full-back a booking as Spurs were breaking.
52 The game has not got started since the interval and Modric's injury has disrupted the rhythm as Keane sets up Defoe only for the latter's touch to abandon him.
51 Plenty of fans wanted Crouch on at half-time, but Modric's creativity will be a sore miss. It will be interesting to see Crouch's battle against the similarly lofty Roger Johnson.
50 Modric's afternoon is over, a worry for Spurs, and Crouch has come on as a replacement.
48 From the resulting corner, Assou-Ekotto makes a hash of clearing and Lee Carsley heads narrowly wide. A great chance, wasted.
47 More concern for Spurs as Modric limps off after a challenge with Bowyer. Birmingham win a corner.
46 WE'RE BACK: Birmingham get the second half under way. Hutton has come on in place of King. It is understood the centre-back has a groin injury. Corluka has switched to the heart of defence, with Hutton at right-back.
News for Tottenham fans, it looks like there is going to be a change. It appears that Alan Hutton will be coming on as the Scotland full-back was changing into his kit.
Birmingham fans Scott Davies, Stephen Jackson and Jamie Jackson are in confident mood and they think Birmingham could sneak something at White Hart Lane. Stephen wants to see Christian Benitez and Kevin Phillips come on.
Greg Rogan, Kerim K and Oliver Harding-Edgar want to see Peter Crouch brought into the game to give Tottenham some variety. They feel Birmingham will soon run out of steam.
45 + 1 HALF-TIME: The first half ends with the score at 0-0.
Tottenham started with understandable confidence. But Redknapp's troops became frustrated by a stubborn Birmingham side, who will be delighted with their performance so far. What changes need to be made in the second half for Spurs? Can Birmingham hang on or even sneak a goal? Let me have your thoughts at peter.fraser@bskyb.com.
43 Thankfully, half-time is almost upon us. Everything has got scrappy and the game needs a break as O'Connor fouls Assou-Ekotto when Birmingham are on a messy attack in the Spurs box.
41 The corner is poor and Huddlestone heads away for Defoe to break. But the England striker is greedy and attempts to go it alone when Keane is again in acres away to the left.
40 Birmingham win a corner to a big cheer from the travelling fans.
39 Further proof of Spurs' dilemma as Huddlestone gets his radar wrong and smashes a cross-field pass out for a throw in to Birmingham.
38 Birmingham are looking stubborn. The game is limping towards half-time at the minute as the bright opening has died out. Tottenham are frustrated.
36 If Spurs have genuine top-four aspirations, these are the games they have to win. They need to discover a way through visiting opponents who arrive and 'park the bus', as Roger Johnson gets a vital flick to prevent Huddlestone breaking through on a rare venture into the penalty area.
34 Birmingham have another opportunity to take the sting out of the game as Defoe fouls Franck Queudrue on the edge of the Blues' 18-yard area.
32 Plan A is working for Birmingham at the moment. This could be tempting fate, but Tottenham appear to be stopping for breath against their opponents, who have 11 men behind the ball.
30 Premier League veteran Bowyer robs Modric of possession, to audible gasps around White Hart Lane, but the former Leeds ace's pass to O'Connor is cut out by King.
29 Spurs move forward again, but Keane's touch again lets him down. The Republic of Ireland international is not on top of his game at the start of the current campaign.
28 Modric again looks to skip past Parnaby, who will not be enjoying his afternoon, but the Birmingham left-back does a better job this time and manages to clear from Tottenham's danger man.
26 Larsson looks to play in O'Connor, but he is stopped for handball. Looked a bit harsh and Larsson is not impressed.
25 Spurs could live to regret these missed chances. There is more than enough evidence that Birmingham could take advantage on the counter-attack. But you do get the feeling that a Spurs goal is not far away.
23 From the resulting goal-kick, Defoe gets throw one-on-one with Hart but scuffs his effort wide. Keane is not impressed as he was in space to the left.
22 Spurs are almost stunned. A long throw is flicked on and Larsson sneaks past Bassong to drag an effort just wide of the far post. Sloppy defending.
20 Lennon is denied a goal as former Tottenham star Stephen Carr, who is playing out of position at left-back, blocks on the line when Hart was committed. A great clearance from a chance that followed more magic down the left from the excellent Modric.
The left-sided player is on fire at the moment.
19 Sebastien Bassong and King almost get in a mess with Ferguson
and McFadden quickly chasing them down, but summer signing Bassong boots high up the field.
16 Birmingham are struggling to get a touch against a very fluid Spurs midfield and Barry Ferguson is chasing shadows at the moment. The Blues are also failing to keep possession on the rare occasions they get hold of the ball.
15 Stuart Parnaby and Larsson are struggling to contain Modric and Assou-Ekotto down Spurs' left. The former is fortunate to avoid a booking when pulling down the latter.
14 Huddlestone plays in the advancing Assou-Ekotto, who has the freedom of the capital, but Birmingham just get enough men back to clear away from Keane and Defoe.
12 Huddlestone has had a very good start to the season and is displaying his full range of passing skills as Spurs again attack. Keane, though, produces a poor touch to allow Hart to race out and collect.
10 McLeish's men have settled and Sebastian Larsson is beginning to look dangerous. But at the other end, Keane remains a threat and is finding space between the centre-backs.
8 Birmingham have a bit of a sniff, but King defends and Tottenham break to win another corner. Again the ball is played short to Huddlestone, however, his effort is well gathered by Hart as Defoe is lurking for any spill.
7 Hart does well to get down low and stop a Lennon effort, which eventually goes out for a corner. From the resulting short corner, a Tom Huddlestone shot deflects into the path of Robbie Keane, but Bowyer does well to block the Spurs skipper.
6 Birmingham's midfield is already camped just in front of Alex McLeish's defence and they are only looking for quick, long passes to Garry O'Connor. It is unlikely he will out-pace King.
4 Luka Modric is already pulling the strings as the Croatian looks to unleash Benoit Assou-Ekotto, but the pass is just over hit and rolls out for a goal-kick. Birmingham are being stretched.
3 An early chance for Spurs as McFadden fouls Aaron Lennon wide on right. The free-kick just misses the head of Ledley King. The pattern has already been set for this match.
2 A bit of a scruffy start as Birmingham snap into a few early challenges. Spurs are looking to play in passing style, while the Blues are backing off to half way.
KICK-OFF: Tottenham get the game going. Birmingham are again set up to frustrate with a packed midfield and Spurs will have to work hard this afternoon.
Kick-off is approaching at White Hart Lane, which is drenched in sunshine to cause the very British sight of ill-fitting shorts, dubious sun shades and painful looking sunburn among supporters in attendance.
Support for Tottenham is piling in. Conor Thomas and James Dixon both expect 3-0 wins. It must make a nice change for the Seven Sisters Road to be awash with such optimism in comparison with this time last season.
An anonymous emailer has been in touch from Sydney (revelling in post-Ashes celebrations?) to say that they support Arsenal and are worried Tottenham are going to pinch fourth place. Perhaps the Gunners follower is concealing his/her identity to save face?
We have our first Birmingham fan! Craig Roomes says: "Spurs will be going into this game with a lot of confidence and leave with NONE. I'm backing Birmingham for a 2-1 win over Spurs today with James McFadden and Lee Bowyer leading their team to victory!"
Are there any Birmingham fans out there in internet land? Get in touch at peter.fraser@bskyb.com. The teams are on the pitch going about there warm-up routines.
Oliver Harding-Edgar, another Spurs fan, says: "Defoe is too hot for any defence at this point in time. Spurs will win comfortably and Defoe will be all over the scoresheet!"
Tottenham fan Danny Ledger says: My friend said to me, 'you might just win the league' and I didn't realise my thoughts when I quickly replied, 'no! I want top 4...'... says a lot really... optimistically thinking a win with a clean sheet.
The bookies have been in touch. 1/3 Spurs, 7/2 draw, 10/1 Birmingham. Harry Redknapp's boys are a short price to continue their great run and in form Jermain Defoe is 7/2 to score the first goal.
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Birmingham team: Hart, Parnaby, Roger Johnson, Queudrue, Carr, Larsson, Ferguson, Carsley, Bowyer, McFadden, O'Connor. Subs: Maik Taylor, Phillips, Benitez, Espinoza, McSheffrey, O'Shea.
Tottenham team: Cudicini, Corluka, King, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Huddlestone, Modric, Keane, Defoe. Subs: Button, Hutton, Bentley, Pavlyuchenko, Crouch, Naughton, Giovani.
Can Spurs continue their blistering start to the season? Are they realistic top-four contenders, or just a flash in the pan? Can newly-promoted Birmingham, who tend to struggle in London, spring a surprise at White Hart Lane? Let me have your thoughts, opinions and jokes at peter.fraser@bskyb.com and I will publish a selection of the best comments.
Welcome to our live commentary of the Premier League clash between Tottenham and Birmingham. Team news to follow...
