Men's

Matchday 25

Reebok Stadium

Tue 1 Feb 2005 | 20:00

Tottenham Hotspur Badge

3

-

1

  • Diouf
    50'
    (PEN)
  • Haim
    86'
  • Davies
    88'

Match Report

Bolton scored twice in the closing stages to see off 10-man Tottenham. The game sprang to life after the break when Spurs defender Erik Edman was adjudged to have handled in the box, El Hadji Diouf converting the spot-kick.

Spurs hit back, substitute Jermain Defoe slamming a shot through Jussi Jaaskelainen's legs before Frederic Kanoute was sent off for two bookings.

But Tal Ben Haim headed home a Stelios corner for Bolton and then Kevin Davies converted Diouf's fine pass.

Spurs boss Martin Jol opted to play Kanoute and Robbie Keane up front, leaving Defoe on the bench.

And it was Kanoute who had the visitors' first chance, lashing a shot wide from 20 yards.

The Mali striker had an even better chance 10 minutes in, but he headed Michael Carrick's corner over from six yards when it looked easier to score.

Spurs were controlling the game, with Carrick, Michael Brown and Kanoute dominating the possession and limiting the hosts' creative opportunities.

Indeed, the usually irrepressible Diouf was strangely subdued early on, and it was left to Kevin Nolan to fire in a 25-yard volley to try and inject some life into Bolton.

Spurs' momentum was rocked by a nasty looking injury to defender Anthony Gardner, who had to spend several minutes off the pitch with blood pouring from a cut on his nose.

Bolton nearly profited when Stelios curled in a corner and Davies got clear of his marker to direct a header narrowly wide of Paul Robinson's left-hand post.

If the first half was largely lifeless, the second period was anything but.

A corner was pumped into the Spurs box and the ball eventually struck Edman's arm, promoting referee Mike Dean to point to the spot.

The Swede can count himself unlucky with the decision, but after a couple of minutes of protesting Diouf kept his cool to calmly slot the penalty home.

Spurs quicky channelled their anger into some threatening attacking play, Kanoute's free-kick appearing to strike Ivan Campo on the arm.

Then Ledley King set up Brown to rocket in a right-foot shot from 30 yards that Jaaskelainen did fabulously well to tip over.

Spurs were rampant and Stephen Kelly saw a shot blocked by Jaaskelainen before Jol upped the ante and brought on Defoe for Edman.

The visitors were level within three minutes, Robinson's long throw-out and Keane's run creating a chance for Defoe, who hammered in a shot from 20 yards that sneaked through the legs of Jaaskelainen.

But the visitors hopes of snatching all three points were rocked just moments later by the sending-off of Kanoute, his second yellow for a dangerous two-footed lunge on Anthony Barness.

As Bolton poured forward in the dying stages searching for a winner, Ben Haim headed goalwards inside a crowded area from a Stelios corner to snatch all three points for Sam Allardyce's side.

With Spurs throwing everyone forward, Bolton hit them with a third, Diouf's brilliant pass falling at Davies' feet for the big striker to slam home.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce: "To finish with such a flourish is great for us and the fans, because it makes them forget the first 45 minutes which were pretty dour. "For our penalty it's hit Erik Edman on the arm and you do see those given.

"Tal Ben Haim has waited patiently for his chance and he did well for his goal and it was important for Kevin Davies to score the third, he was terrific."