Source: Daily_Mail
Wigan 0 Tottenham 0: Spurs fail to rise to the small occasion
Tottenham manager Harry Redknappjoked that the Real Madrid scout would have gone home 'scared stiff'after watching his side labour against bottom side Wigan. Certainly Spurs will have to play agreat deal better than this to have any chance against Jose Mourinho'sside in the Bernabeu on Tuesday. It said everything that their best player was Heurelho Gomes, who saved from Conor Sammon and Tom Cleverley. Close up: Jermain Defoe's effort is blocked by Gary CaldwellBut at least Spurs did not pick up any more injuries. Redknapp expects Gareth Bale to befit for the Champions League match, although that news is offset byexpectations that Cristiano Ronaldo will play, despite Mourinho's claimthat he is injured. Redknapp admitted: 'I didn't enjoythe game. We didn't play well and didn't pass the ball as well as wenormally do. I think the Real Madrid scout must have gone home scaredstiff!' Full stretch: Aaron Lennon (left) attempts to block a pass by Wigan Athletic's Maynor Figueroa (right)Of Bale, who has a hamstring injury,he said: 'Gareth should be fit for Madrid. We are going to need pace inthose wide positions for sure. But Gallas is struggling.' MATCH FACTS Wigan 4-5-1: Al Habsi; Boyce, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Watson, McCarthy, N'Zogbia (Di Santo 85min), Cleverley, Moses (Sammon 66); Rodallega (Diame 85). Subs (not used): Pollitt, Gohouri, Gomez, Stam. Booked: G Caldwell. Tottenham 4-4-2: Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Van der Vaart (Lennon 68), Sandro, Jenas, Modric (Kranjcar 85); Pavlyuchenko, Defoe (Crouch 57). Subs (not used): Cudicini, Huddlestone, Rose, Pienaar. Booked: Sandro. Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands).A point was not enough to lift Wiganoff the foot of the table but their performance suggested they stillhave a chance of beating the drop, particularly as the bottom of thetable is so tight. Gomes pulled off a fantastic save tostop Cleverley's curler and Michael Dawson threw his body in the way ofCharles N'Zogbia's shot after Gomes had parried an effort from VictorMoses. The best chance of all fell to Sammon, who burst through in the closing minutes but failed to beat Gomes from eight yards. Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said:'Conor's run showed his talent but Gomes was clever in holding hisposition to make the save. And the save from Cleverley was world-class. 'I am proud of my players in how they defended against a team as good as Spurs. I'm confident we can stay up. 'There are 21 points for us to try to get and we're going to give our lives to do that.' PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE:The action from around the grounds as it happenedLet the respect campaign begin: Remember we will be naming and shamingWigan Athletic FC news, features and opinion Tottenham Hotspur FC news, features and opinion Explore more:People: William Gallas, Harry Redknapp, Aaron Lennon, Victor Moses, Ben Watson, Michael Dawson, James McCarthy, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermaine Jenas, Peter Crouch, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe, Roberto Martinez Places: Spain