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Tottenham 2-0 Fulham: Forgotten Man David Bentley Seals Spurs Win
Redknapp's side consolidate fourth spot in league with easy home win.
Jan 26, 2010 4:55:00 PM
By Michael Landon
Tottenham v Fulham: Line-up & stats
Premier League results/standings
Tottenham got back to winning ways by beating a limp Fulham side 2-0 at White Hart Lane.
Crouch opened the scoring with a neat finish in the first half before a welcome goal for David Bentley sealed the three points in the second half as Fulham's poor league form continues.
Spurs still had Lennon unavailable due to injury so forgotten-man David Bentley featured in the starting line-up. Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe resumed strikers duties from the league defeat against Liverpool, with the impressive Gareth Bale also starting again from left-back in a position that is increasingly becoming his own.
Bobby Zamora made his return from injury up-front for the Cottagers, and, interestingly, Man Utd and Arsenal target Chris Smalling started in defense.
Spurs came into the match hoping to end a recent barren run that meant the side had not won a league match in 2010, so the side came on strong from the first whistle, pushing the Cottagers back into their half. Three points was a must if they wanted to consolidate fourth spot in the league.
Within five minutes they had their first shot on target. Bentley crossed a low ball to Defoe who flicked the ball on to Tom Huddlestone on the edge of the box. The midfielder unleashed a powerful drive into the bottom-left of goal but goalkeeper Mark Scwarzer got down well to save.
It was all one-way traffic and Crouch was causing problems for the Fulham defense, the striker seeing a lot of half-chances being sent his way courtesy of adept crossers Bale and Bentley.
It was no surprise then when the bean-pole striker broke the deadlock on 27 minutes. This time he was given more than a half chance by Luka Modric, who kept the ball in play in the box with some great skill to deliver the assist.
Modric chased a ball that was pushed away by Schwarzer after Bentley delivered into the danger-zone. The ball looked like going out but the Croatian hooked the ball over Chris Smalling from the by-line and then dropped a great ball in front of goal where Crouch was waiting and he finished neatly past Schwarzer to make it 1-0.
The goal was no more than Spurs deserved and aside from Gomes having to be quick to smother a dangerous ball in front of Zamora, the Cottagers had no attack of note.
Roy Hodgson's side had to improve after the break if they wanted to avoid a fourth successive league defeat.
The second half and Bentley continued to offer decent delivery from the wing. The right-midfielder sent in a great cross which Wilson Palacios headed just wide as Fulham continued to allow too much space and time down each flank.
Moments later and Fulham had their first shot on target in the game. A drive by Damien Duff was sent straight at Gomes. He dealt with it well but it was an encouraging sign for those hoping Fulham could finally get themselves in the match.
It proved to be a false dawn however, as not long after Spurs doubled their lead.
The marauding Bale needed to be dealt with as he was tearing down the left-flank. Aaron Hughes saw to it that the Welshman was stopped but he was over-gratuitous with his tackle and Spurs were awarded a free-kick. Bentley stepped up and sent it into the back of the net via a deflection off Bjorn Riise.
It was a much needed goal for Bentley and the team as well as the player received a boost in confidence afterwards as Redkanpp's troops looked for a third.
The Cottagers needed to find themselves a forward gear as the match slipped away from them, so Hodgson took off Riise and Zoltan Gera and brought on Simon Davies and Diomansy Kamara in a bid to change his sides' fortunes.
Kagisho Dikgacoi sent a drive just wide in an attempt to spark some kind of come-back but it wasn't to be and Spurs held on quite comfortably in the end to seal the three points as Fulham stomach their fourth successive league defeat.
For the latest news and updates from Goal.com, follow our Twitter account!
Tottenham got back to winning ways by beating a limp Fulham side 2-0 at White Hart Lane.
Crouch opened the scoring with a neat finish in the first half before a welcome goal for David Bentley sealed the three points in the second half as Fulham's poor league form continues.
Spurs still had Lennon unavailable due to injury so forgotten-man David Bentley featured in the starting line-up. Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe resumed strikers duties from the league defeat against Liverpool, with the impressive Gareth Bale also starting again from left-back in a position that is increasingly becoming his own.
Bobby Zamora made his return from injury up-front for the Cottagers, and, interestingly, Man Utd and Arsenal target Chris Smalling started in defense.
Spurs came into the match hoping to end a recent barren run that meant the side had not won a league match in 2010, so the side came on strong from the first whistle, pushing the Cottagers back into their half. Three points was a must if they wanted to consolidate fourth spot in the league.
Within five minutes they had their first shot on target. Bentley crossed a low ball to Defoe who flicked the ball on to Tom Huddlestone on the edge of the box. The midfielder unleashed a powerful drive into the bottom-left of goal but goalkeeper Mark Scwarzer got down well to save.
It was all one-way traffic and Crouch was causing problems for the Fulham defense, the striker seeing a lot of half-chances being sent his way courtesy of adept crossers Bale and Bentley.
It was no surprise then when the bean-pole striker broke the deadlock on 27 minutes. This time he was given more than a half chance by Luka Modric, who kept the ball in play in the box with some great skill to deliver the assist.
Modric chased a ball that was pushed away by Schwarzer after Bentley delivered into the danger-zone. The ball looked like going out but the Croatian hooked the ball over Chris Smalling from the by-line and then dropped a great ball in front of goal where Crouch was waiting and he finished neatly past Schwarzer to make it 1-0.
The goal was no more than Spurs deserved and aside from Gomes having to be quick to smother a dangerous ball in front of Zamora, the Cottagers had no attack of note.
Roy Hodgson's side had to improve after the break if they wanted to avoid a fourth successive league defeat.
The second half and Bentley continued to offer decent delivery from the wing. The right-midfielder sent in a great cross which Wilson Palacios headed just wide as Fulham continued to allow too much space and time down each flank.
Moments later and Fulham had their first shot on target in the game. A drive by Damien Duff was sent straight at Gomes. He dealt with it well but it was an encouraging sign for those hoping Fulham could finally get themselves in the match.
It proved to be a false dawn however, as not long after Spurs doubled their lead.
The marauding Bale needed to be dealt with as he was tearing down the left-flank. Aaron Hughes saw to it that the Welshman was stopped but he was over-gratuitous with his tackle and Spurs were awarded a free-kick. Bentley stepped up and sent it into the back of the net via a deflection off Bjorn Riise.
It was a much needed goal for Bentley and the team as well as the player received a boost in confidence afterwards as Redkanpp's troops looked for a third.
The Cottagers needed to find themselves a forward gear as the match slipped away from them, so Hodgson took off Riise and Zoltan Gera and brought on Simon Davies and Diomansy Kamara in a bid to change his sides' fortunes.
Kagisho Dikgacoi sent a drive just wide in an attempt to spark some kind of come-back but it wasn't to be and Spurs held on quite comfortably in the end to seal the three points as Fulham stomach their fourth successive league defeat.
For the latest news and updates from Goal.com, follow our Twitter account!
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