UEFA Cup Report: Spurs 1 Shakhtar Donetsk 1

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Harry Redknapp's side bowed out of the UEFA Cup despite a brave attempt to over-turn a 2-0 first leg deficit against Shakhtar Donetsk at White Hart Lane in the Round of 32.

Giovani Dos Santos scored his first goal for the Club to give us hope in the second half, but Fernandinho's late strike equalised on the night to give the Ukrainian champions a 3-1 aggregate victory.

As expected, there were no less than 10 changes to the side that beat Hull in the league on Monday, with two notable introductions in particular.

Jon Obika followed in the footsteps of Under-18 team-mate Dean Parrett the week before by making his first start for the Club up-front alongside Fraizer Campbell.

Meanwhile, Jamie O'Hara returned to action after a month out with a hip injury, while Tom Huddlestone captained the side for the first time.

It was always going to be a tough ask to over-turn a two goal deficit against a strong Shakhtar side, and our young team spent much of the opening exchanges getting to grips with their opponents.

Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho seemed to provide their main threat, forcing Heurelho Gomes into a full stretch save from 20 yards on as many minutes.

Gilberto, making his first start since December, then blocked Fernandinho's header from Dario Srna's corner on the line on 27 minutes, before the same player was allowed to flash a free header across goal from the resulting set-piece.

That seemed to spark us into action. On the half hour mark, there were strong claims for a penalty when Campbell appeared to be shoved over in the box by Razvan Rat.

Then 18-year-old Obika had his first sighting at goal with a good effort from 25 yards that flew only inches wide.

In the same spell of pressure, we once again left referee Paolo Tagliavento with a decision to make when Campbell went down in the box for a second time under Fernandinho's challenge. But again appeals were turned down.

Although Gomes was forced into another save by Rat on 35 minutes, the best chances of the half fell to us.

On 39 minutes, O'Hara played a ball into Obika who turned and shot just wide from inside the box.

Two minutes later, Huddlestone picked out Gareth Bale with a pinpoint pass from the back. The Welshman cut inside Srna into the box but could only fire his shot straight at goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov on his weaker right foot.

Then Pascal Chimbonda came up from the back to again test the goalkeeper with a header from Chris Gunter's cross as we finished the half the stronger side.

Our dominance continued into the second period as Obika was only inches away from connecting with Bale's ball across goal in the opening minute.

But 10 minutes in we took the lead on the night. Bale played a ball into Campbell which the striker turned neatly into the path of Giovani who ran onto it and smashed a terrific shot left footed into the roof of the net.

The 19-year-old had finally broken his duck after 11 attempts since joining from Barcelona last summer.

Now we were looking for an equalising goal to take the tie into extra time, and our effort in attempting to do so cannot have been faulted.

Just minutes after Giovani's strike, Gilberto linked up with Bale on the left hand side and fired a ball across goal which nobody could get on the end of.

Then came the most controversial moment of the match. Campbell got in between two defenders to receive a Huddlestone ball before having his legs taken from under him by Mykola Ischenko inside the box. But again, appeals were waved away by Tagliavento.

It would have been the least we deserved as Shakhtar had offered little going forward, and Gomes was equal to it when they did.

On 69 minutes, Jadson slid in Marcelo Moreno but the goalkeeper stood up to him well to make the save, and Jadson himself had a volley saved by his fellow countryman eight minutes from time.

But the longer the game went on without us finding that second goal, the more tired we seemed to get, and Fernandinho put the tie out of sight with four minutes remaining.

The impressive Jadson found him on the left side of the box, and his finish was sublime inside Gomes' left-hand post.

The closest we had come to getting an equaliser had been six minutes beforehand when Bale sent a free-kick just wide from the edge of the box, but it was not to be.

Our hopes of silverware this season rest on Sunday's Carling Cup Final with Manchester United at Wembley.

Spurs (4-4-2): Gomes; Gunter, Huddlestone, Chimbonda, Gilberto (Bostock, 77); Giovani, Palacios, O'Hara (Parrett, 71), Bale; Obika, Campbell
Subs not used: Jansson, C Butcher, Smith, Mason, Townsend

Shakhtar (4-4-1-1) Pyatov; Srna, Ischenko, Chygrynskyy, Rat; Ilsinho (Gay, 80), Fernandinho, Lewandowski, Willian (Hubschman, 46); Jadson; Gladkyy (Moreno, 61)
Subs not used: Khudzhamov, Duljaj, Kucher, Sleznov

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League Report: Hull 1 Spurs 2

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Harry Redknapp was quick to underline the importance of Monday night's 2-1 Premier League win at Hull.

Jonathan Woodgate's header five minutes from time secured our first away win in the league in five matches and crucially lifted us five points clear of the bottom three.

"We've got to make sure we stay in the Premier League and tonight was a huge step towards doing that," stated a delighted Harry at the KC Stadium.

"It is a massive result. It puts us in a much better position and keeps Hull in the relegation battle."

Aaron Lennon opened the scoring with a fine 20-yard strike in the 17th minute but Hull levelled via a set-piece from Michael Turner for 1-1 at the break.

Both teams hit the woodwork with headers in the second half - Vedran Corluka for us, Mendy for the home side - before Woodgate secured maximum points with a header from Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross.

"I thought we were terrific in the second half," added Harry. "We came out and we upped the pace.

"They made it difficult for us in first half, they got in our faces and they worked hard, they worked their socks off and they were always a big threat on set plays.

"That was the big fear but in the second half I thought we got the ball down, passed it well, created some terrific chances and were the better team.

"If Hull would have won they would have almost been out of it and we would have been right in it even more. That result now gives us confident for the rest of the week."

What could be the defining week of the season continues with us trying to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit in the UEFA Cup last 32, second leg at the Lane on Thursday night before the Carling Cup Final against Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday.

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UEFA Cup Report: Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Spurs 0

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Harry Redknapp declared himself satisfied with the performance - particularly defensively - after Thursday night's 2-0 reverse against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup.

A battling rearguard display looked set to earn its reward until substitute Yevgen Seleznov struck with his first touch to open the scoring 12 minutes from time.

Ten minutes later and Jadson made it 2-0 to hand us an uphill task in an intriguing second leg of this last 32 tie back at the Lane on Thursday, February 26.

Chances on the night were few and far between and Harry only had praise for a side that showed nine changes from the draw against Arsenal last time out and included young Academy debutant Dean Parrett, who gave an assured display in midfield.

"For 80 minutes we looked comfortable, in fact I thought we might go and nick a goal ourselves," reflected Harry before the late flight home from Ukraine.

"I thought we contained them well and could see the game ending 0-0 but it wasn't to be.

"We tried to get one back but it was difficult for us.

"Shakhtar are a good team. They were the unluckiest side in the Champions League in terms of not qualifying for the next round but for 80 minutes we looked solid and Gomes didn't have too much to do.

"I was happy with Dean Parrett and John Bostock is another good young player at the club - it's great experience for them to play in a game like that. Overall I was pleased with the performance."

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League Report: Spurs 0 Arsenal 0

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Harry Redknapp's side were held to a goal-less draw by North London rivals Arsenal in the derby at White Hart Lane - despite the visitors playing most of the match with 10 men.

Emmanuel Eboue was sent off for a second bookable offence after an off-the-ball incident with Luka Modric in the 37th minute, but we were unable to press home our man advantage.

But the result keeps an impressive home record under Redknapp's guidance in tact - we have still only lost once at The Lane since he took charge.

The manager made two changes from the side defeated at Bolton last Saturday. Jermaine Jenas came into the midfield in place of Didier Zokora and, as expected, Robbie Keane made his second Spurs debut having rejoined from Liverpool last week to start up front alongside Roman Pavlyuchenko.

It was Robbie who led the side out as captain, and it didn't take long before he was right back in the thick of the action leading our line.

After just three minutes, the Irishman put William Gallas under pressure, forcing the Frenchman to take a wild swipe at the ball in an attempt to clear, felling Keane in the process in the box. However, penalty appeals were turned down by referee Mike Dean.

The first real chance of the derby fell to the visitors after six minutes, when Eboue linked up with Robin Van Persie and burst into the box before firing across the face of goal and wide.

We answered back two minutes later when Aaron Lennon cut inside off the right and forced Manuel Almunia into his first save of the match with a left foot shot.

This exchange set the tone for the first half as the football was end-to-end with chances created by both sides in a typically pumped-up derby clash.

On 14 minutes, Eboue went foraging into our box again, pulling the ball across the face of goal for Emmanuel Adebayor, who was shut out by a cluster of Spurs defenders.

Eboue picked up on the ball as it went loose and slammed into the net, but Jonathan Woodgate was adjudged to have been tripped by Adebayor during the melee, and the goal was ruled out.

At the other end a minute later, a great chance fell to an unmarked Pavlyuchenko in the box after Benoit Assou-Ekotto's ball in, but the Russian snatched at a volley which sailed well over.

But we were applying pressure to the visitors all over the field and were starting to get on top of the game.

Modric was beginning to have a similar influence in this encounter as he did in his man of the match display in our last home game with Stoke and, on 28 minutes, he fizzed a ball out to the right where Lennon nipped in front of Gael Clichy, got into the box, but dragged his shot wide in our best chance of the half.

Arsenal's main threat was coming from counter-attacks, and even defender Kolo Toure ventured forward into our box on 29 minutes and pulled across the face of goal, but Carlo Cudicini did well to cut it out.

Almunia was called into action again three minutes later, palming a Modric shot from the edge of the box wide, and once again, Arsenal went straight back down the other end.

Vedran Corluka was caught in possession on the by-line by Adebayor, whose centre was an open invite for a tap-in - but none of his team-mates were in sight, and Assou-Ekotto was able to clear to safety.

That was to be Adebayor's last action of the half, as on 36 minutes, he pulled up when chasing down a long ball and had to be stretchered off.

Things went bad to worse for the Gunners moments later when the lively Eboue received his marching orders. Modric was also booked in the fracas.

It was now left to us to make the most of the man advantage, and we finished the half the stronger side.

Wilson Palacios had made a fantastic start to his home debut and, fittingly, it was he who forced Almunia into a fine save just before the break with a fierce 25-yard effort.

As the second half started, we continued to press, with good chances falling to each of our strikers in the first 15 minutes.

Five minutes into the half, Pavlyuchenko cut inside of Toure and went into the box with only the goalkeeper to beat, but fired high and wide.

Then, seven minutes later, Lennon put in a teasing cross from the right and Keane got in front of Almunia, only to glance his header onto the roof of the net.

Despite being down to 10 men, Arsenal had not given up hope of getting more than just a point from the game, and did apply second half pressure of their own in spells.

On 67 minutes, Samir Nasri scuffed a corner, but it fell at the feet of Van Persie at the near post, who fired wide.

Three minutes later, the Dutchman took a corner of his own, and Alex Song got in front of Palacios six yards out and turned wide.

We were waiting for that little bit of Robbie Keane magic, perhaps, to break the deadlock in this tight encounter, and that so nearly came on 71 minutes.

He picked up on a bouncing ball 20 yards out and hit a beautifully-struck trademark volley agonisingly wide of Almunia's right hand post.

The last 20 minutes were tense, but we had to wait until the dying moments for our best chance of the second half.

Adel Taarabt, a late substitute for Lennon, broke away and played in Modric who closed in on goal with just Almunia to beat - but the Croatian could not find a way past the Spaniard.

It could have been so much worse as, moments earlier, we had Cudicini to thank for pulling off a fine save to deny Nicklas Bendtner.

So we continue to look for our first league win over our biggest rivals in 10 years, although we are now unbeaten in four games against the Gunners in all competitions.

Spurs (4-4-2): Cudicini; Corluka (Chimbonda, 75), Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon (Taarabt, 86), Palacios, Jenas, Modric; Pavlyuchenko (Bent, 64), Keane
Subs not used: Gomes, Bale, Zokora, Huddlestone

Arsenal (4-4-2): Almunia; Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy (Gibbs, 87); Eboue, Song, Denilson, Nasri; Adebayor (Bendtner, 38), Van Persie
Subs not used: Fabianski, Eduardo, Ramsey, Djourou, Arshavin

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Courtesy of Official Site-

January window round-up

With the January transfer window drawing to its conclusion yesterday afternoon, Manager Harry Redknapp offers his thoughts on our transfer business conducted over the course of last month.

A total of five players joined the Club- Jermain Defoe, Carlo Cudicini, Wilson Palacios, Pascal Chimbonda and Robbie Keane. Hossam Ghaly, Cesar Sanchez, Paul Stalteri, Charlie Daniels and Andy Barcham all moved on and we wish them well at their new clubs.

"I am pleased with the work we have done this month," considered Harry.

"I would have preferred January to have been a quiet month for us but we were not in a position to do so when you consider our current position in the league. It was obvious that the squad needed strengthening because the results over the past 12 months have shown that to be the case.

"We had to do something and I am delighted with the players we have brought in. They are good players and the Chairman has done a fantastic job in securing them. I am sure they will make us stronger.

"Three players have returned to the Club. They were always good players in my opinion and it was circumstances that resulted in their exits. I am sure the Club did not want to lose any of them in the first place. But they are all back here now and for me they are terrific players.

"Jermain was the first one in and he started ever so well but unfortunately has since picked up a bad injury. He is a goalscorer, he has always scored goals. He has proved that already since his return with three goals in five games.

"Carlo was a great free transfer. In the past he was considered probably as good a goalkeeper as there was in the Premier League and I have been well pleased with him since he has been here. He has been cool, calm and done a good job for us. Everybody should have two or three top goalkeepers at this level. He will work hard to get into the team and it will be good competition in that position.

"Wilson is a terrific midfielder. He is a strong player with a great future. He will come in here and get after it and play aggressively. He is an all-round modern midfielder- he's box-to-box. It was difficult on Saturday in his first game but I felt the longer the game went on, the better he got and I think he will be a big player for us.

"Pascal was here before and can play in several positions- right-back, left-back and as a central defender- and that will be important to us because we need someone like that in our squad. He came off the bench on Saturday and had a hand in both our goals to get us back into the game and will prove to be a good player for us.

"Robbie will be a big, big player for us and I am confident he will be able to forge strong partnerships with all the other strikers we have here. He is such a terrific character and I am glad to have him here because he will be important to us both on and off the field. He is just the type of player we need here and gives his all everytime he plays. He is a leader with great presence in the dressing room and I am sure his enthusiasm will rub off on others. Ledley is our Club captain but because of his injury he accepts he can't be involved every week, so Robbie will be my team captain."

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Robbie returns to the Lane

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Robbie happy to be home

Robbie Keane is delighted to be returning to a Club he feels is his home having rejoined from Liverpool on transfer deadline day.

The striker describes the six years he previously spent at The Lane as a ‘wonderful' time of his career, and now he is relishing this latest challenge.

Robbie realises the battle we currently face in the Premier League, but he believes the passion he has for Spurs will drive him on to make sure we soon pull away from trouble.

And although he admits his short-lived spell at Anfield was a disappointment, the 28-year-old refuses to look back and is only looking forward to what he hopes will be exciting times ahead.

"I'm delighted to be back at a Club I have very strong feelings from having previously spent six wonderful years here," said Robbie, who will wear the number 15 shirt.

"Coming back to Spurs was an easy decision to make because this is my home. Firstly in respect of the Club - but also my house is in the area and everything is set up for me to walk right back into.

"It's funny how football works sometimes and situations turn around very quickly, but I can assure fans I will be giving my all to make sure this Club stays in the Premier League.

"It would have been difficult for me to have gone anywhere else while a Club I have such strong feelings for has this fight on its hands.

"It was a difficult time for me at Liverpool, but there's no point in dwelling on it.

"Now I have the chance to work with a fantastic manager in Harry Redknapp, who has done a great job since he came in, so I am lucky to be getting this exciting opportunity."

On his fifth and final signing of the January transfer window, Harry himself commented: "I'm delighted to have Robbie back. I couldn't be more pleased.

"I think he's a terrific player, a terrific character and just the type of lad we need here.

"He's a leader, he gives his all every time he plays and has great ability. He will be fantastic for us and his enthusiasm will rub off on other players around him.

"The Chairman has been tremendous in backing me and bringing these players back. I know Daniel worked very hard to try and keep Robbie here in the first place and just as hard to get him back.

"Robbie knows what he's doing, you can rely on him, he's a clever player and plays with that enthusiasm."

Although a number of new faces have arrived in N17 since Robbie's departure last July, the Irishman feels he knows the current squad well enough to suggest we can make strides during the final months of the campaign.

"It's been an up and down season for the Club and there's been a lot of change, including a change of manager, but now it's up to us as players to start getting the team up the table," he added.

"It's all very close down there at the minute, and I will be doing everything in my powers to help us pull away from it.

"I'm coming back to a fantastic club with fantastic players. I am well aware of the strength of the squad having worked with near enough all of them!

"I am extremely excited about this new chapter in my career, even though it doesn't feel as if the previous chapter really ended."

And now Robbie must prepare for what could be the debut of all debuts - a North London derby against Arsenal at The Lane on Sunday.

"What a game to come back into! I've played in so many derbies against Arsenal over the years and I'm so excited at the prospect of another one at White Hart Lane possibly being my first game back."

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League Report: Bolton 3 Spurs 2

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'I couldn't see us losing' - Harry

Harry Redknapp insisted he 'could only see one winner' after we fought back from 2-0 down at Bolton - unfortunately, another late goal on our travels meant it was the home side that took the spoils in the final minutes at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

Sebastien Puygrenier and Kevin Davies capitalised on balls into the box to hand Bolton a 2-0 lead with 64 minutes on the clock but two goals in as many minutes from substitute Darren Bent turned the game on its head.

The second goal arrived in the 74th minute and we piled forward looking for the winner after that only to get hit by another set-piece in the 87th minute, this time Davies rising highest to meet Matt Taylor's corner and power his header home at the near post.

"I certainly didn't we'd lose the game (after coming back to 2-2), we looked the only winner," said a disappointed Harry at the Reebok Stadium.

"Bolton only had two shots in the second half and they've scored twice.

"We changed it at half-time because we were 1-0 down, Luka (Modric) had taken a bang in the ribs and we needed two up front.

"We started the second half well, got on top but then suddenly found ourselves 2-0 down but when we got back to 2-2, I could only see one winner at that stage.

"Unfortunately, we didn't defend the set-pieces well enough."

There was praise for two-goal Bent. "He was fantastic. He came on, worked his socks off, scored his goals and if he does that every week he'll be fantastic for us."

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