Sunday, January 20, 2008

Keano, there's only one Keano!

Spurs 2 Sunderland 0

Team: Cerny, Lee, Dawson, Huddlestone, Stalteri (Chimbonda), Lennon, Boateng, Jenas, O'Hara (Tainio), Berbatov, Defoe (Keane)

John and I were back at the Lane for his one, thinking of a possible 5-0 thrashing and getting revenge for that defeat on the first day of the season, losing 1-0 in the final minute.

I felt really gloomy on the drive up there; it was a miserable day and pouring with rain. However, once we'd met up with Debs, Mick and Craig in the pub, my mood lifted and I was fine.

Ramos was clearly thinking about the Carling Cup 2nd leg on Tuesday night, and so the team was slightly strange looking - particularly Huddlestone covering the centre back position.

The match got off to a great start. On Spurs' first attack after two minutes, thanks to the determination of Jamie O'Hara, Aaron Lennon finished off the move by poking the ball home using the underside of his boot. Here we go I thought, a 5-0 is coming! The first half was full of chances mainly falling to Berbatov and Defoe. The closest they came was when JJ had the ball on the corner of the box and whether it was an attempted shot or a pass (I couldn't tell), it ended up a toe poke away from Berba's boot at the far post. Lennon continued to make a nuisance of himself and was one of the few that looked on form.

The second half was pretty dire. There was no movement, no enthusiasm and the players looked tired again. Sunderland had us pinned back in our own half for a lot of the time; they pressed and pressed for a goal but it just wouldn't come. I don't know how. If I'm being truthful, they could have won it because they were the better side this half. Usually Spurs would have caved in and conceded, especially as Sunderland had several corners and free kicks. However, Dawson today was back to his best. He seemed to block every ball and made clearances with his head all afternoon. Cerny also had a good game. He made a wonderful save from close range after he parried the first shot, and if he carried on like that, Robbo won't get his place back. On the negative, Stalteri was awful and when Chimbonda came on as his replacement, he was even worse! He looked sluggish and all over the place. All I can say is if Spurs play like this on Tuesday, they'll be severely punished.

Somehow Spurs managed to hold on to the 1-0 lead right up to the end. Then in injury time, my prayers were answered when Keano took a shot from the edge of the area. It didn't have much power but fortunately the Sunderland goalkeeper allowed the ball to go under his body and in.
This was Keano's 100th Spurs goal and the fans were treated to his old goal celebration: the cartwheel, the roly-poly and the hand gesture. Great stuff! The fans sang 'There's only one Keano' for which seemed like ages - the atmosphere was fantastic. Just a bit of a shame that his milestone goal wasn't a more sensational one. Oh well, they all count and it was a complete relief that it was now game over and three points in the bag. Even after the final whistle, fans waited and applauded him again and he gestured back.

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