Tottenham 3-2 Stoke

Crouch has now scored 11 goals this season

Peter Crouch went from midweek villain to weekend hero with two goals as Tottenham beat a spirited Stoke to boost their pursuit of the top four.

Crouch was sent off in Tuesday's 4-0 loss at Real Madrid, but he headed Spurs into a 10th minute lead here.

Luka Modric's angled drive doubled the lead, but Matthew Etherington's superb solo goal narrowed the deficit.

Crouch headed his second before Kenwyne Jones' strike kept Stoke in the game, but further goals eluded both sides.

The victory is the perfect riposte for Spurs following their quarter-final first-leg loss to Real Madrid, which has - barring the most unlikely of second-leg turnarounds - ended their involvement in this season's Champions League.

This first Premier League win in five games for the north London club narrows the gap between them and fourth-placed Manchester City to three points and improved their chances of a second successive campaign in Europe's premier club competition.

Redknapp delighted with Spurs display

The victory was fitting reward for a largely dominant home performance, but this was not without its flaws, which twice allowed the visitors to gain a foot-hold back into the game.

With 20 minutes gone it all seemed to be going according to plan as Harry Redknapp's side were rewarded for their fluency with a two-goal lead.

Crouch, who Redknapp publicly backed after his sending off in the Bernabeu, was perfectly placed to head in strike-partner Roman Pavlyuchenko's cross following a short corner.

Shortly after, the home side doubled their lead and again Russian Pavlyuchenko was involved, holding up the ball before laying off to the onrushing Modric, who skipped past Huth and fired in low between Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic's legs.

However, Spurs comfort would not last long as Stoke hit back in style.

Former Tottenham left-winger Etherington collected on the halfway line, clipped the ball past Michael Dawson and drove on towards the box. After holding off the attention of Tom Huddlestone, he slotted home superbly past Heurelho Gomes from an angle.

It was a goal Spurs' Players' Player of the Year nominee Gareth Bale would have been proud of.

Credit to the home side, who did not alter their attacking approach and they were rewarded for this just after the half hour when Crouch climbed at the back post to head home Huddlestone's cross.

Pulis praises Etherington

The first half still had one further moment of magic though and it was the visitors who provided it, with a little help from the home side.

Bale dwelt on the ball, allowing Wilkinson to prod through to Jones. The striker turned and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net from 25 yards.

The away side should have been level early in the second half, but somehow Jon Walters conspired to hit a post from two yards with the goal at his mercy.

Granted the cross from Jones was delivered with pace and Gomes got the slightest of touches, but the striker should still have scored.

Jones continued to be a threat for Stoke, heading one effort wide of goal and forcing Gomes to tip over with a 25-yard drive.

The home side created chances of their own though to kill the game and thought they had done so when Begovic dropped the ball under pressure from Younes Kaboul and Pavlyuchenko hooked in.

However, referee Kevin Friend ruled that the Stoke keeper had been fouled.

Despite late Stoke pressure, Tottenham held on for what was a vital victory.

Saturday, 9 April 2011

Barclays Premier League

Crouch 11Modric 18Crouch 34Final Result Full Time 90:00+5:07 The final whistle is blown by the referee. Correction - 90:00+4:08 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gareth Bale on Dean Whitehead. Matthew Etherington crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, save by Heurelho Gomes. 90:00+4:08 Gareth Bale concedes a free kick for a foul on Dean Whitehead. Matthew Etherington crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel. 90:00+3:39 Tom Huddlestone concedes a free kick for a foul on Kenwyne Jones. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Matthew Etherington from right wing, Heurelho Gomes makes a save. 90:00+3:39 Booking Tom Huddlestone receives a caution for unsporting behaviour. 90:00+2:36 Unfair challenge on Gareth Bale by Salif Diao results in a free kick. Vedran Corluka restarts play with the free kick. 90:00+1:23 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Matthew Etherington, clearance by Michael Dawson. 88:42 Corner taken left-footed by Matthew Etherington from the right by-line, Foul by Robert Huth on Peter Crouch, free kick awarded. Heurelho Gomes takes the free kick. 88:42 Substitution William Gallas on for Benoit Assou-Ekotto. 86:50 Corner taken right-footed by Dean Whitehead from the left by-line, Vedran Corluka makes a clearance. 86:34 Kenwyne Jones takes a shot. Heurelho Gomes makes a save. 85:19 Unfair challenge on Gareth Bale by Matthew Etherington results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Michael Dawson. 85:19 Booking The referee shows Matthew Etherington a yellow card. 84:19 Foul by Rafael Van der Vaart on Dean Whitehead, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Dean Whitehead. 81:17 Dean Whitehead fouled by Roman Pavlyuchenko, the ref awards a free kick. Dean Whitehead takes the direct free kick. 80:31 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Dean Whitehead, clearance by Vedran Corluka. 79:04 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Dawson by Ricardo Fuller. Heurelho Gomes takes the indirect free kick. 77:02 Shot from 35 yards by Marc Wilson missed to the left of the net. 75:06 The referee penalises Luka Modric for handball. Andy Wilkinson takes the free kick. 75:06 Substitution Glenn Whelan goes off and Dean Whitehead comes on. 75:06 Substitution Ricardo Fuller comes on in place of Jermaine Pennant. 75:06 Substitution Salif Diao replaces Rory Delap. 74:11 Jermaine Pennant takes a shot. Heurelho Gomes makes a save. 72:22 Corner taken short by Luka Modric. 71:43 Roman Pavlyuchenko takes a shot. Save made by Asmir Begovic. 70:04 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Rafael Van der Vaart from the left by-line, Peter Crouch concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Shawcross. Asmir Begovic takes the indirect free kick. 69:12 Younes Kaboul takes a shot. 68:00 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rafael Van der Vaart by Ryan Shawcross. Tom Huddlestone takes the direct free kick. 65:24 Corner taken left-footed by Rafael Van der Vaart from the right by-line, Younes Kaboul challenges Asmir Begovic unfairly and gives away a free kick. Asmir Begovic takes the free kick. 64:52 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Rafael Van der Vaart from the left by-line, clearance by Marc Wilson. 64:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gareth Bale by Andy Wilkinson. Rafael Van der Vaart produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick. 64:01 Booking The referee shows Andy Wilkinson a yellow card. 61:22 Jonathan Walters is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Benoit Assou-Ekotto. 57:56 Peter Crouch fouled by Ryan Shawcross, the ref awards a free kick. Luka Modric restarts play with the free kick. 57:27 Header from close range by Kenwyne Jones misses to the right of the target. 57:12 Rafael Van der Vaart gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Glenn Whelan. Robert Huth restarts play with the free kick. 56:09 Robert Huth fouled by Tom Huddlestone, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Asmir Begovic. 55:10 Header from close in by Roman Pavlyuchenko misses to the left of the target. 54:14 Benoit Assou-Ekotto fouled by Jermaine Pennant, the ref awards a free kick. Heurelho Gomes takes the indirect free kick. 54:14 Booking The referee shows Jermaine Pennant a yellow card. 52:41 Jonathan Walters has an effort at goal from close in that hits the post. 50:14 Benoit Assou-Ekotto challenges Jermaine Pennant unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike comes in from Jermaine Pennant from the free kick, save made by Heurelho Gomes. 46:37 Unfair challenge on Kenwyne Jones by Luka Modric results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Jermaine Pennant from right wing, Foul by Ryan Shawcross on Vedran Corluka, free kick awarded. Heurelho Gomes takes the free kick. 45:54 Rafael Van der Vaart takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Glenn Whelan. 45:38 Rafael Van der Vaart takes a shot. Ryan Shawcross gets a block in. 45:01 The second half has started. Half Time 45:00+2:59 The referee calls an end to the first half. 45:00+1:04 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Rafael Van der Vaart from the right by-line, save made by Asmir Begovic. 42:40 Marc Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Crouch. Rafael Van der Vaart takes the direct free kick. 40:12 Assist by Andy Wilkinson. 40:12 GOAL - Kenwyne Jones:Tottenham 3 - 2 Stoke Kenwyne Jones grabs a goal from just outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Tottenham 3-2 Stoke. 38:01 Corner from the right by-line taken by Rafael Van der Vaart, clearance made by Kenwyne Jones. 37:24 Glenn Whelan takes a shot. Save by Heurelho Gomes. 35:34 Peter Crouch concedes a free kick for a foul on Glenn Whelan. Direct free kick taken by Marc Wilson. 33:38 Assist by Tom Huddlestone. 33:38 GOAL - Peter Crouch:Tottenham 3 - 1 Stoke Peter Crouch scores a headed goal from close in. Tottenham 3-1 Stoke. 32:07 Glenn Whelan challenges Tom Huddlestone unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Rafael Van der Vaart. 26:55 Assist by Jonathan Walters. 26:55 GOAL - Matthew Etherington:Tottenham 2 - 1 Stoke Matthew Etherington gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Tottenham 2-1 Stoke. 23:15 Corner taken by Rafael Van der Vaart from the right by-line, clearance by Kenwyne Jones. 22:18 Matthew Etherington takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Dawson. 20:46 Jermaine Pennant gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Free kick taken by Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Correction - 18:41 Glenn Whelan concedes a free kick for a foul on Rafael Van der Vaart. Direct free kick taken by Michael Dawson. 18:41 Glenn Whelan concedes a free kick for a foul on Rafael Van der Vaart. Rafael Van der Vaart takes the direct free kick. 17:28 Assist by Roman Pavlyuchenko. 17:28 GOAL - Luka Modric:Tottenham 2 - 0 Stoke Luka Modric finds the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Tottenham 2-0 Stoke. 17:02 Glenn Whelan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rafael Van der Vaart. Free kick taken by Tom Huddlestone. 15:34 Jermaine Pennant gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Younes Kaboul restarts play with the free kick. 12:24 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matthew Etherington, clearance made by Gareth Bale. 10:26 Corner taken short by Rafael Van der Vaart. Assist on the goal came from Roman Pavlyuchenko. 10:26 GOAL - Peter Crouch:Tottenham 1 - 0 Stoke Peter Crouch finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Tottenham 1-0 Stoke. 8:19 Inswinging corner taken by Rafael Van der Vaart from the left by-line, clearance made by Marc Wilson. 4:42 Gareth Bale takes a shot. Save by Asmir Begovic. 1:49 Foul by Jermaine Pennant on Gareth Bale, free kick awarded. Benoit Assou-Ekotto takes the free kick. 0:00 The game kicks-off. Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

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