0-2 v West Bromwich Albion - 28 December 2008 - Away

Tottenham Hotspur Badge

Spurs 0

West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion

2

  • Bednář
    83'
  • Beattie
    90+4'
Details
Match Number

6736

Opposition
West bromwich albion

West Bromwich Albion

Competition
Premier League

Premier League

Season

2008/09

Date

28th December 2008

Kick Off

14:00

Venue

The Hawthorns

Attendance

26,344

Referee

Steve Tanner

League Position

16th

Opposition League Position

20th

Opposition Form

LLWLWD

Weather at Kick Off

3.2° - Overcast

Facts & Milestones
  • 6701st overall match (3171 wins, 1473 draws, 2044 losses)

  • 5170th competitive match (2293 wins, 1216 draws, 1661 losses)

  • team

    133rd match vs West Bromwich Albion (52 wins, 27 draws, 54 losses)

  • competition

    640th Premier League match (228 wins, 170 draws, 242 losses)

  • 6159th match in England (2862 wins, 1388 draws, 1896 losses)

  • 68th match at The Hawthorns (18 wins, 11 draws, 39 losses)

  • 5th consecutive match without winning

Report

West Brom boosted their Premier League survival prospects with a valuable home win over 10-man Tottenham.

Roman Bednar's header put the home side in front on 83 minutes when he latched on to Marek Cech's long ball to beat Heurelho Gomes from 10 yards.

And substitute Craig Beattie clinched the points with an injury-time second.

Spurs had been reduced to 10 men when left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto was sent off for a dangerous stamp on Gianni Zuiverloon after 34 minutes.

The victory was West Brom's second in a row at home, six points which could prove crucial as the Baggies attempt to stave off the threat of relegation.

But Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will be counting down the days until the January transfer window opens with the match highlighting his need to bolster his impotent strikeforce, who have now scored just one goal in their past four Premier League games.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray recalled first-choice strikers Bednar and Luke Moore, both of whom were rested in the 2-0 defeat by Chelsea on Boxing Day, while Cech and Iglesias Borja Valero earned rare starts.

Redknapp rested Ledley King, with Jonathan Woodgate returning to the centre of defence, while Jermaine Jenas replaced the injured Tom Huddlestone in midfield.

The home side made the brighter start as Gomes had his palms stung by a well-struck free-kick from the edge of the box by Borja Valero on 13 minutes, brought about after Michael Dawson had crudely brought down Moore on the run, a foul which earned him a yellow card.

A dire first half was summed up by statistics showing more yellow cards than shots on target, although the complexion of the match was significantly altered when Assou-Ekotto was sent off for a dangerous stamp.

The left-back raised his studs as he attempted to tackle Gianni Zuiverloon, although the challenge seemed to lack malice.

But the offence took place right in front of referee Steve Tanner, who had no hesitation as he reached for the red card, much to the incredulity of the Frenchman.

Assou-Ekotto's absence forced Redknapp into impromptu changes, with Didier Zokora slotting in at left-back, while Luka Modric retreated into a deeper position in midfield, leaving Darren Bent as a solitary figure up front.

While Spurs dealt with their one-man disadvantage without too many concerns in the remaining 11 minutes of the half, the opening exchanges after the interval were quite the opposite.

Gomes pulled off a brilliant save diving to his left to tip over Chris Brunt's curling free-kick from the edge of the box on 47 minutes, before denying Zuiverloon three minutes later.

Despite attractive interchanges in midfield, Spurs looked utterly toothless in attack, rarely testing goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Inevitably, as the second half progressed, the Baggies began to pound Gomes' goal and Dawson had to come to Spurs' rescue when his outstretched leg blocked Zuiverloon's byline cross, with Moore lurking unmarked inside the six-yard box on 65 minutes.

The pressure eventually told when Bednar shrugged off his marker Dawson to get on the end of Cech's raking long ball and score from 10 yards out.

The defender was outraged, claiming he had been pushed as he went up to challenge, but referee Tanner ignored Dawson's protests as the Baggies rejoiced.

And substitute Beattie clinched the three points when he was sent through by James Morrison in the final minute of injury time for three priceless points.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp on Benoit Assou-Ekottu's red card: "We played with 10 men for a long time and I thought we did okay. We controlled enough of the game and still had lots of the ball.

"We wouldn't have got beaten with 11 men, that's for sure.

"We'll pick ourselves up, brush ourselves down and start all over again on Monday."

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray on Tanner's performance:

"I have no comment on the referee. Some games as a coach you sit there and have thoughts but I've not been as brave as Harry and said anything.

"I think we all abide by the officials. We agree with some decisions, we don't agree with others.

"The bottom line is you hope to get the big ones right. I was very surprised when a red card was given but the referee saw it was and you have to live with that."

Timeline
KO

James Morrison

28'

Chris Brunt

45'
HT

Gianni Zuiverloon

59'

Roman Bednář

83'

Craig Beattie

90+4'
FT
Location
League Table
# Team PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
1
Liverpool
19 12 6 1 30 12 18 42
2
Chelsea
19 12 5 2 38 7 31 41
3
Manchester united
17 10 5 2 28 10 18 35
4
Aston villa
19 10 5 4 32 22 10 35
5
Arsenal
19 9 5 5 32 23 9 32
6
Everton
19 8 5 6 24 25 -1 29
7
Hull city
19 7 6 6 28 36 -8 27
8
Fulham
18 6 7 5 16 12 4 25
9
Wigan athletic
18 7 4 7 23 21 2 25
10
Bolton wanderers
19 7 2 10 22 27 -5 23
11
Portsmouth
19 6 5 8 21 32 -11 23
12
Newcastle united
19 5 7 7 25 27 -2 22
13
West ham united
19 6 4 9 22 27 -5 22
14
Sunderland
19 6 4 9 21 26 -5 22
15
Manchester city
19 6 3 10 36 28 8 21
16
Tottenham Hotspur Badge Tottenham Hotspur
19 5 5 9 20 23 -3 20
17
Middlesbrough
19 5 5 9 17 28 -11 20
18
Stoke city
19 5 5 9 17 31 -14 20
19
Blackburn rovers
19 4 5 10 20 34 -14 17
20
West bromwich albion
19 4 3 12 14 35 -21 15
# Team PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
1
Liverpool
20 13 6 1 35 13 22 45
2
Chelsea
20 12 6 2 40 9 31 42
3
Manchester united
18 11 5 2 29 10 19 38
4
Arsenal
20 10 5 5 33 23 10 35
5
Aston villa
19 10 5 4 32 22 10 35
6
Everton
20 9 5 6 27 25 2 32
7
Wigan athletic
19 8 4 7 24 21 3 28
8
Hull city
19 7 6 6 28 36 -8 27
9
Fulham
19 6 8 5 18 14 4 26
10
West ham united
20 7 4 9 24 28 -4 25
11
Bolton wanderers
20 7 2 11 22 28 -6 23
12
Portsmouth
20 6 5 9 21 33 -12 23
13
Manchester city
20 6 4 10 38 30 8 22
14
Newcastle united
20 5 7 8 26 32 -6 22
15
Sunderland
20 6 4 10 21 29 -8 22
16
Tottenham Hotspur Badge Tottenham Hotspur
20 5 5 10 20 25 -5 20
17
Middlesbrough
20 5 5 10 17 29 -12 20
18
Stoke city
20 5 5 10 18 33 -15 20
19
Blackburn rovers
20 4 6 10 22 36 -14 18
20
West bromwich albion
20 5 3 12 16 35 -19 18
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