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Yakubu breaks Spurs' resistance

Portsmouth 1 - Tottenham Hotspur

Conrad Leach
Tuesday 19 October 2004 00:00 BST
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At half-time two supporters were blindfolded and attempted to score by dribbling into an empty net. Only when one of them had the ball on the goalline did he actually tap it home and that was the range and ease with which Yakubu Ayegbeni scored the winner here last night. As a comment on the quality of finishing in this game, the mid-match "entertainment" was accurate, indeed prescient.

At half-time two supporters were blindfolded and attempted to score by dribbling into an empty net. Only when one of them had the ball on the goalline did he actually tap it home and that was the range and ease with which Yakubu Ayegbeni scored the winner here last night. As a comment on the quality of finishing in this game, the mid-match "entertainment" was accurate, indeed prescient.

It was an irony that with both teams trying to put their foot on the ball and play neat-and-tidy attacking football that the best chances were undone by a poor final touch.

This applied especially to Portsmouth, three times in the first half, with both Lomana LuaLua and Yakubu guilty. However, at least they were creating chances, the best falling to Spurs. With the first half closing, Jermain Defoe should have ended his recent barren run but scuffed his shot from six yards out.

With 21 minutes gone, LuaLua chipped a delightful pass to his fellow forward, but Ayegbeni's control deserted him 18 yards out. Seven minutes later, LuaLua failed to bring the ball down when even closer in, after Patrik Berger had picked him out, and another chance went begging.

Michael Carrick was denied a starting place against the team he so nearly joined as the August transfer window shut, instead having to settle for a spot on Spurs' bench.

Equally, Jamie Redknapp missed the chance to face the team managed by his father Harry, as the midfielder was serving a suspension.

Spurs won their last match 1-0 against Everton, with the only goal they have scored in their last four league matches, although in Defoe, now a fully-fledged England international, and Robbie Keane, the Republic of Ireland's record goalscorer as of last week, they are never short of potential.

While the Londoners have not been scoring much they have been just as unwilling to concede. Paul Robinson has only let three in so far this season, the former Leeds goalkeeper living up to his status as England's number one. That stinginess has come with an edge attached, however, with Jacques Santini's men picking up 16 yellow cards before last night.

Portsmouth were still without their injured captain and central defender Arjan de Zeeuw, although he is close to fitness, and Steve Stone was still out. With four strikers to choose from, Harry Redknapp went for his most established partnership of Ayegbeni and LuaLua in trying for a first Pompey win in four games.

The problems Defoe had with finishing plagued him into the second half as well. Seven minutes after the break, the former West Ham striker finally connected with one effort but the combination of Andy Griffin's tackle and Hislop's save preserved the stalemate.

That was the first of three chances in as many minutes for him, for after Anthony Gardner saw a header unluckily rebound off the post, his goalbound shot was blocked by Dejan Stefanovic. His third attempt was the least accurate, flying over the crossbar from 25 yards.

The threat of LuaLua and Ayegbeni had appeared to be ebbing away after promising much in the first half but with 63 minutes gone they combined to beat Robinson.

Usually seen down the left, LuaLua switched flanks to great effect and when he beat Gardner, his cross gave Ayegbeni the simplest of headers from two feet away in front of an empty net.

Goals: Portsmouth: Yakubu (63).

Portsmouth (4-4-2): Hislop; Unsworth, Stefanovic, Primus, Griffin; Berger, Faye (Cisse, 84), Berkovic (Fuller, 56), Quashie; LuaLua, Yakubu (Kamara, 75) Substitutes not used: Ashdown (gk), Taylor.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2): Robinson; Gardner (Kanoute,72), Naybet, King, Pamarot; Atouba (Jackson, 79), Davies, Mendes, Brown (Carrick, 72); Defoe, Keane Substitutes not used: Keller (gk), Ziegler.

Referee: U Rennie (South Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Stefanovic.

Attendance: 20,121.

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