Men's

Matchday 19

Carrow Road

Sun 26 Dec 2004 | 15:00

Match Report

Norwich suffered for failing to take their chances as Tottenham won their fifth Premiership game in a row. Both sides had good chances in an exciting first half, and Leon McKenzie saw the game's best effort cleared off the line just before the break.

After the restart he headed against the bar but having endured a battering without conceding, Tottenham took over.

Robbie Keane poked home from close range after a corner, before Michael Brown rifled home a long-range second.

On-loan Arsenal player David Bentley almost gave Norwich a dream start when he flicked Darren Huckerby's cross from outside the box, and it rebounded off the inside of the post.

Moments later Pedro Mendes' attempted clearance went over his own bar as Spurs had a second lucky escape in as many minutes.

Mendes was soon called into action again as he cleared former Tottenham player Gary Doherty's header off the goal line.

Bentley saw another effort go just inches over the bar as Norwich continued their bright start to the game, before Freddie Kanoute had Tottenham's best chance yet, only to be dispossessed by Craig Fleming at the last moment.

Keane's optimistic volley went just over following Doherty's headed clearance as an entertaining game continued at a fast pace.

The best moment of the half came late on when McKenzie lobbed the advancing Paul Robinson, only to see Nourredine Naybet clear his goalbound shot off the line.

Just after the restart, McKenzie saw his header rattle the crossbar, before Kanoute and Keane came close to putting Tottenham ahead on a breakaway counter-attack.

Robert Green had to produce a superb full-stretch save to keep out Mendes' volley as, having weathered the storm, Tottenham began to turn the screw.

Keane finally hit the target with 17 minutes left, thumping home from close range when Adam Drury fumbled clearing a corner.

Within minutes that lead was doubled, as substitute Jermain Defoe distracted the defence to allow Brown to smash home a long-range second.

Although the home side battled on bravely, there was no way back from such a quick double blow, and there was little danger of them staging a late revival.