Stoke City sneaked their fourth win of the season, snatching a late 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Glenn Whelan was the hero for Stoke, rifling home the winner in the 86th minute to break Spurs' hearts and end their hopes of drawing level with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table.
Woodgate Withdrawn Early
Spurs began the match knowing that a win would allow them to draw level with Manchester united on 22 points at the top of the table and against 7-1 underdogs Stoke they clearly fancied their chances. Manager Harry Redknapp was able to afford himself the luxury of resting Ledley King and bringing back Jonathan Woodgate. With Michael Dawson also returning to duty after an injury ravaged start to the season Spurs appeared set to put their defensive worries to bed finally.
Yet it was Stoke who came charging out of the blocks. Woodgate, watched by Fabio Capello in the stands, performed heroically in heading clear Matthew Etherington’s goal bound drive, taking a heavy knock for his troubles. Sadly this head injury was to bring a premature ending to the defender’s afternoon, as he was withdrawn on 13 minutes.
Following this nervous start Spurs slipped smoothly into gear. Lennon continually found space down the right, sending over a number of teasing crosses. Palacios, scorer of a solitary goal this season, almost opened the scoring on 11 minutes, forcing Simonsen into a smart save. The Stoke keeper had only been called up after Sorenson’s eleventh hour withdrawal due to flu.
Tottenham Begin to Dominate
Simonsen was called into action again diving acrobatically to palm away a curling shot from Lennon. A minute later though and the keeper was beaten. Another probing Lennon centre was met by a crisp header from Peter Crouch, which looked for all the world as if it was going to nestle inside the far post, with Simonsen rooted to the spot. Spurs, however had to watch aghast as James Beattie, straining every sinew, managed to acrobatically hook the ball off the line.
Stoke finally managed to muster an attempt on goal when Salif Diao, who hadn’t scored for seven years (when he last notched for Liverpool against Leeds), scuffed a right-footed shot into the ground when he had more time than he might have realised. The shot seemed to take a slight deflection, though Fuller in vociferously protesting the decision received a yellow card that was unnecessary in the extreme.
Spurs, after dominating the half appeared to be taking their foot off the gas. Fuller pounced on a moment of uncertainty in the Spurs back four to fire a half chance well over the bar on the volley. The striker has not scored this season and his attempt was rushed and lacked conviction. Spurs were continuing to pass the ball well, without ever really looking like breaking down the resolute and obdurate stoke back line and Tony Pullis looked a satisfied manager as the teams trooped off, with the score 0-0 at half-time.
Spurs Struggling to Break Through
Tottenham, possibly following a Redknapp half-team broadside, continued to press after the break. Nico Krancjar had a free kick well saved by Simonsen just after the restart. A few minutes later and Robbie Keane, scampering free just inside the box, fired a shot across goal which Simonsen could only palm away. Shawcross and Whitehead, sliding in tandem, smothered Crouch’s desperate lunge for the loose ball. Minutes later Huddlestone, who made his Derby debut against Stoke six years previously, flashed a half volley wide after bringing the ball down superbly.
Spurs were dominating as the game entered the final third, though they were struggling to get behind a Stoke defence who stubbornly held a very deep defensive line. Stoke though were still in the game. Beattie flashed a header wide of the far post and appeared to take a nudge from Assou-Ekotto as he climbed. Headers appeared to be the order of the day as the heroic Simonsen once more saved well from a visibly frustrated Crouch.
Stoke appeared content to sit out the remainder of the game, defending deeply and restricting Tottenham to half chances; though they might have snatched an unlikely goal when substitute Tuncay, wriggling free of a couple of Spurs defenders, might have picked out Ricardo Fuller who was unmarked and in yards of space on the edge of the box. Tuncay almost made amends firing just wide after good work in the 79th minute. A goal at this stage in the game would have been cruel on Tottenham; as Stoke with only one win in twenty-seven previous visits to White Hart Lane had clearly arrived with the securing of a draw as their primary objective.
Late Goal Sinks Spurs
With the game petering towards a draw Stoke managed to snatch victory against the odds when Ricardo Fuller, making ground superbly along the Spurs by-line, centred for substitute Whelan to rifle in from eight yards. This was Stoke’s only meaningful attempt on target in the second half but it left Tottenham staring into the abyss despite having dominated possession and created the majority of the game's best chances.
Spurs were forced to abandon their neat football, going route one as they pressed desperately for an equaliser. Jenas had a goal bound effort blocked by teammate Dawson, while Krancjar, tumbled in the box looking for a penalty. Yet as the whistle blew it was Stoke who were celebrating a famous victory, only their second in twenty-eight attempts at White Hart Lane and their first since 1977.
Smash and Grab Stoke Secure the Victory
Stoke marshalled by the resolute Shawcross and Whitehead and backed up by a heroic performance from goalkeeper Sorenson, managed to pull off a famous victory. Unlucky Spurs will feel desperately aggrieved at this result, though they will have to pull themselves together before visiting free-scoring arch-rivals Arsenal next week. Tottenham have missed the chance to go joint top with Manchester United and following injuries to Woodgate and Lennon will face a hard week as they look to rebound from this cruel loss.
