Tottenham 2 Portsmouth 0: Crouch and Kranjcar haunt former club

27 March 2010 17:20
Tottenham remained ahead in the race for fourth place as PeterCrouch and Niko Kranjcar both scored against their old team in a 2-0win over bottom club Portsmouth at White Hart Lane. [LNB]Spurs, chasing a fifth successive Barclays Premier League victory,started slowly, but went ahead when Crouch nodded in a deep cross fromGareth Bale before Kranjcar netted from close range five minutes beforethe break. [LNB] Tall order: Peter Crouch opened the scoring to strengthen Spurs' Champions League chances[LNB] [LNB]Pompey - who are all but relegated following a nine-point deductionfor going into administration - had the better of the early exchanges. [LNB]However, Anthony Vanden Borre failed to beat the goalkeeper whenclean through and the visitors then lost defender Hermann Hreidarssonto what looked a serious ankle injury at the start of the second.[LNB] England goalkeeper David James also went off - and could now be adoubt for the FA Cup semi-final date at Wembley in a fortnight againstSpurs, who are five points clear of Manchester City in the race for thefinal Champions League qualifying place. [LNB]It had been a bright start by Pompey, who were thrashed 5-0 at home by Chelsea in midweek. [LNB]Kanu - who scored the winning goal in the 2008 FA Cup final for thenPompey boss Harry Redknapp at Wembley - tried his luck from 25 yards,but dragged the ball wide.[LNB] Pompey continued to have more possession, but without making any real threat in the final third. [LNB] Agony: Hermann Hreidarsson adds to Pompey's injury woes[LNB][LNB]Spurs captain Michael Dawson had to be alert to cut out a low right-wing centre from Kanu at the near post. [LNB]In the 16th minute David Bentley - recalled to the starting XIfollowing his fine second-half display in the midweek FA Cup win overFulham - swung the ball over from the Spurs right and found Crouch atthe far post, but the former Pompey striker could only guide his headerback across goal.[LNB] It should have been 1-0 to the visitors when Frederic Piquionneplayed a clever one-two with Vanden Borre to put the Belgian clear inthe area, but Heurelho Gomes came out to smother his shot. [LNB]At the other end, James - whose mis-kick had handed Chelsea the leadin midweek - was on hand to collect a goal-bound deflection fromHreidarsson as Spurs delivered another teasing cross into the Pompeydanger area. [LNB]Tottenham grabbed the lead in the 27th minute as Bale charged downthe left and chipped the ball into the penalty area and Crouch gotahead of the defenders to nod the ball down past James for his 11thgoal of the season. [LNB] [LNB] Two easy: Niko Kranjcar doubles Spurs' lead[LNB]It was nearly 2-0 when Dawson flashed a header wide after he connected with another fine delivery from Bentley. [LNB]After such a promising start, Pompey were somewhat unfortunate to find themselves now chasing the game. [LNB]Tom Huddlestone cracked a 25-yard effort against the crossbar, before Crouch's dipping volley also came back off the woodwork, glancing the outside of the far post, and the second goal  came with five minutes of the half remaining. [LNB]Luka Modric's shot was blocked and the ball fell kindly to Kranjcar, who flicked it on into the bottom right corner to also net against his old club. [LNB]Pompey then almost pulled a goal back immediately when Kanu's downward header found Michael Brown, but Gomes was again out quickly to deny the former Spurs midfielder. [LNB]Play was stopped at the start of the second half when Hreidarsson fell awkwardly at a Spurs corner. [LNB]The Icelander was eventually carried off on a stretcher, taking gas for the pain with his ankle strapped in a protective cast. Danny Webber, the former Manchester United trainee, came on and Vanden Borre dropped into right-back as Portsmouth regrouped.[LNB] As the hour mark approached, Gomes needed two attempts to gather in a low, 20-yard drive from Kanu. [LNB]Brown then flashed a shot wide from just outside the penalty area as Pompey continued to take the game to the hosts.[LNB] In the 61st minute, Spurs were forced to make a change as Dawson hobbled off to be replaced by Younes Kaboul - another former Pompey player now at White Hart Lane.[LNB] Kanu latched onto a loose backpass, but could only fire his angled shot wide and at the other end James saved well from Sebastien Bassong's downward header.[LNB] Pompey's miserable afternoon was complete when Webber also left the field on a stretcher following an innocuous-looking challenge with Benoit Assou-Ekotto, while James was also forced off by injury. [LNB]During the eight minutes of stoppage time, Crouch dragged a shot wide after cutting into the left side of the penalty area. [LNB] Harry Redknapp claims Portsmouth star Kanu is 49 but still 'King' Tottenham chase former Arsenal and Chelsea man Lassana DiarraTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC

Source: Daily_Mail