Source: Daily_Mail
Tottenham 3 Chartlon 0: Townsend debut goal and Defoe double helps Spurs forget about David Beckham
Never mind lifetime achievement awards at the age of 35, it will be quite an achievement if David Beckham ever manages to get a place in this Spurs team. [LNB]Not, one hastens to add, the shadow of a shadow XI - who struggled throughout the first half to lay a glove on a Charlton side punchy from recent beatings and the loss of manager Phil Parkinson last week - but the side who emerged from a half-time tongue lashing from Harry Redknapp to tear apart their London opponents with three stunning goals in just over 10 minutes. [LNB] Earning their Spurs: Goalscorers Andros Townsend and Jermain Defoe celebrate during Tottenham's win [LNB]Red mist and harsh words proved only part of the remedy, however. Redknapp's decision to replace wasteful Wilson Palacios - he of the somewhat bizarre combination of short-sleeved shirt and gloves - with that little genius Luka Modric at the interval changed everything, from the level of entertainment to the eventual outcome. [LNB]Although Jermain Defoe, with a double, and debutant Andros Townsend scored the goals, Modric was the creative catalyst. [LNB]His vision, touch, accuracy of passing and speed over a short distance unlocked all the bolts that Charlton had secured in attempting to deny their Premier League opposition. Keith Peacock, Charlton manager for the day, feared the worst when seeing the little Croatia midfielder standing at the side of the pitch at the start of the second half. [LNB] [LNB] Hot-spur: Andros Townsend marks an impressive debut by scoring Tottenham's first goal[LNB]'As soon as I saw who was coming on, I knew we were going to have a problem,' he said. 'You love to watch him, but you don't want to play against him. Modric is up there, as good as any player I have ever seen.' [LNB]Defoe benefited from the mesmerising Modric more than anyone. There were shades of Jimmy Greaves in the way Defoe dribbled to the right and whipped a shot into the corner of the net as a diversionary Roman Pavlyuchenko run took the Charlton defence in the other direction. [LNB]More build-up work from Modric and further trickery from Defoe, allied to a lucky deflection, brought the England striker a second goal. How he tried for a third as if desperate to make up for lost time. Defoe was returning from a three-match suspension considered unjust in these parts. [LNB] No go: Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp admitted before the game that the Beckham deal was off [LNB]Townsend, who helped Ipswich reach the League Cup semi-final during a loan spell there, had given Spurs the lead with a fine left-foot strike. [LNB]The 19-year-old had shown plenty of pace and guile down the right without always finding a colleague with his final ball. Now, who is expert at crossing from the right with pinpoint accuracy? [LNB]You got it. So maybe there is a place for the man who dominated this FA Cup tie without even being present. [LNB] Three and easy: Jermain Defoe strikes his second goal of the game to steer Spurs safely through to the next round[LNB]There was much pointing of cameras and cricking of necks even before a ball was kicked as all eyes tried to spot David Beckham in the stand. [LNB]The Spurs fans were too busy digesting the latest news about December's recipient of the BBC Sports Personality lifetime achievement award to bother with the usual chants and songs.[LNB]MATCH FACTS TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Cudicini 7; Corluka 5, Dawson 6, Bassong 6, Assou-Ekotto 6; Townsend 7, Palacios 4 (Modric 46min, 10), Sandro 5, Kranjcar 5; Defoe 7, Pavlyuchenko 6.CHARLTON (4-4-1-1): Elliot 7; Francis 6, Doherty 7, Dailly 6, Fry 6; McCormack 5, Semedo 6, Racon 6, Jackson 7; Wagstaff 6; Anyinsah 5 (Sodje 69, 5).Man of the match: Luka Modric.Referee: Michael Oliver 7. [LNB]As if in sympathy, Tottenham also failed to appear. Suddenly, looking towards the stand seemed preferable to watching the lack of action. [LNB]The game drifted towards half-time with Spurs creating little in the way of chances and Charlton generating practically none. It might have stayed that way but for Harry doing what Harry does and Modric doing what few others can. [LNB]Three goals later and nobody seemed to care much whether Beckham was coming to play, to train or to attend a fashion shoot for his son's latest collection. [LNB]Time to consider an omen and not just that old one about Spurs winning a trophy when the year ends in a 'one'. Fifty years ago to the weekend, in 1961, Spurs scored three goals in a third-round FA Cup win over Charlton. [LNB]That famous side of Danny Blanchflower, John White, Dave Mackay et al went on to win the League and Cup Double. [LNB] Battle: Wilson Palacios tussles with Alan McCormack at White Hart Lane[LNB] [LNB] Tottenham v Charlton: How the action unfolded at White Hart LaneBeckham deal off! Redknapp disappointed as Spurs loan switch hits insurance snag Beckham set to join Spurs in next 48 hours as Redknapp finishes off deal[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: David Beckham, Jermain Defoe, Harry Redknapp, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Luka Modric, Wilson Palacios, Danny Blanchflower, Jimmy Greaves Places: London, United Kingdom, Croatia
