Match Thread Vs Bolton Wanderers

Tottenham v Bolton


By John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart has been passed fit to return to the side after he missed the win over West Brom with a hamstring injury.

Spurs remain without Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone and Niko Kranjcar.

The Bolton duo of Dedryck Boyata and striker David Ngog return to the squad after injury.

Nigel Reo-Coker may miss out with a hamstring problem and David Wheater is suspended following his red card against Everton last week.

MATCH PREVIEW

Defeat to PAOK Salonika on Wednesday came as something of a shock to a Tottenham side that have been in scintillating form of late.

Although they rested a host of top players, and manager Harry Redknapp made it clear the competition was never a priority, they still would have expected to make serene progress from the group stage.
Redknapp will be keen for his side to get that result out of their system and concentrate on the league. They are blessed with a relatively easy fixture list between now and the turn of the year and have a real opportunity to cement a place in the top four.

A run of eight wins and a draw in nine league games has been achieved in some style as they have scored at least two goals in each of those games. The PAOK defeat was only their third defeat in 31 games in all competitions at White Hart Lane so the task facing Bolton is huge.

The last time the Trotters won at the Lane was way back in 2004 when they went on to finish sixth under Sam Allardyce and qualified for Europe. Owen Coyle's aspirations this season are vastly different following a shocking run of form that has seen them lose 15 of their last 18 league matches.

They just don't seem the same side this season and are feeling the absence of injured duo Stuart Holden and Lee Chung-Yong and the departed Johan Elmander more keenly than they would have expected.

Owen Coyle is under pressure and his task getting his side to deal with Tottenham's rampant attackers won't be helped by the absence of the suspended David Wheater. A lot of responsibility, then, will be heaped on Gary Cahill, who was of course a summer transfer target for Tottenham.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
• The two clubs have met 24 times in Premier League history, with nine wins to each side and six draws.
• None of the last 15 matches between the teams in all competitions has ended as an away win.
• Kevin Davies has scored six goals in his last six games against Tottenham in all competitions.
• Tottenham won the 100th meeting between the sides in February. It was their 44th victory in the fixture, Bolton have won 37 and there have been 19 draws.

Tottenham
• Emmanuel Adebayor has scored seven goals in his first 10 league matches for Tottenham. The only other players to score as many in their first 10 Premier League games for the club were Jurgen Klinsmann in 1994 and Frederic Kanoute in 2003.
• Tottenham are aiming to equal their best-ever run in the Premier League of 11 games in a row unbeaten, which they achieved from October to December 1995.
• Since August 2010, Jermain Defoe has scored more goals from outside the box than any other player in the top flight.

Bolton
• Bolton have gone 23 league games without a draw, the most in the top-flight since QPR's run of 25 games in 1985. The all-time league record is 51 set by Aston Villa from January 1891 to December 1892.
• The Trotters have now lost 10 of their 13 matches this season. They are only the fifth club to lose this many at this stage of a Premier League season and all four previous clubs went on to be relegated.
• Bolton have hit the target with 57 per cent of their shots, the best shooting accuracy in the top flight.

i only saw the second half.
how was that a red card. great display from bolton keeper who i cant spell hes name lol

great performance from the lads. some great tackles from kaboul. modric unplayable

i thought harry should of brough pav on for last 20 mins and give ade a rest.

I don't think either of our strikers were much good yesterday. Neither were VdV to be frank.

They did their jobs - just about - and worked their part in the three goals but that was it, some horrific sitters missed.

In reality they should do much better - Bolton were gash, one man down and though deep still not handling the easy exchanges between Modric, Bale and Lennon. Our midfield had one of the best collective games this season, and against Bolton I expect way more hard work and ruthlessness from all 3 of them.

If VdV was still injured-ish, he shouldn't have played, end of.

Tottenham 3 - 0 Bolton


Bale pays tribute to Gary Speed after scoring for Tottenham

Tottenham continued their great run with their sixth successive league win at the expense of 10-man Bolton.

Gareth Bale gave Spurs an early lead with flick from Luka Modric's corner before paying tribute to Gary Speed in his celebrations.

Bolton were then down to 10 men when defender Gary Cahill was sent off for a foul on midfielder Scott Parker.

Aaron Lennon added an overdue second with a strike from 15 yards before Jermain Defoe swept in the third.

It finished 3-0 but Spurs could easily have won 10-0, such was their dominance. Harry Redknapp's side were magnificent in attack although their cause was helped by the harsh red card received by Bolton centre-back Cahill early in the game.

The decision by referee Stuart Attwell bordered on the ridiculous. Cahill brought down Parker with a late challenge about 10 yards from the halfway line and wide on the left, but instead of a deserved yellow the defender was directed to the touchline.

Predictably, Attwell, who sent off Cahill at Arsenal last season, was given a earful by Bolton boss Owen Coyle as the players came off for the break.

The Wales winger was first to Modric's low corner from the right and his improvised flick beat Jussi Jaaskelainen at the near post.

In his celebrations, Bale paid tribute to his national team manager Speed, who died last Sunday, by taking off his left boot, with 'RIP Gary Speed' stiched on it, and raising it in front of the Bolton fans - a team his fellow Welshman once played for.

The reason Spurs only managed to score three was largely because of the brilliance of Jaaskelainen.

The Finn saved from Bale, Adebayor and Defoe in the first half and made two more exceptional stops from Parker and Bale after the break.

But he could only keep the door shut for so long and soon after the break Spurs improved their goals to chances ratio when Lennon cut in inside the area to smash in the second.

And on the hour mark, Defoe all but sealed the win when he met Bale's flick from another Modric corner.

Tottenham brought on attacking maestro Rafael van der Vaart in the second half, which, if anything, highlighted that unlike in previous seasons, Redknapp's side have a squad strong enough to challenge for the title.

It is now 10 wins and a draw in 11 games and if this proves to be the Spurs manager's last season in charge, with many tipping him for England, then do not be surprised if he signs off in style.


DID YOU KNOW?
Bale has scored four and assisted three goals in his last five Premier League appearances for Spurs

TOTTENHAM BOLTON
Possession
Tottenham 68% Bolton 32%

Attempts on target
Tottenham 16 Bolton 9

Attempts off target
Tottenham 9 Bolton 4

Corners
Tottenham 7 Bolton 6


Fouls
Tottenham 10 Bolton