Peter Crouch scored a hat-trick for Tottenham Hotspur in a 4-0 win over Young Boys in the second leg of their qualifier to see them through to the Champions League group stages.

Crouch gave Spurs the perfect start when he headed home Gareth Bale’s cross with just five minutes on the clock to level on aggregate.

And it got even better for Harry Redknapp’s men just after the half-hour mark when Jermain Defoe latched on to Bale’s cross and superbly fired in off the post to put Spurs ahead on aggregate.

Defoe should have stretched the lead further when Aaron Lennon slipped him through, but he put his shot wide, while Crouch was denied from close range after the break.

Crouch did not have to wait much longer for his second, though, when he powered home a header from a corner just after the hour mark.

(more…)

Tottenham Hotspur led the way in the English Premier League by banning vuvuzelas from White Hart Lane because it poses ‘a risk to public safety’.

The Premier League club banned the long plastic horns, which were a major talking point at the World Cup in South Africa, after consulting police and licensing authorities.

“We are concerned that the presence of the instruments within the stadium pose unnecessary risks to public safety and could impact on the ability of all supporters to hear any emergency safety announcements,” the London club said on Monday.

“We’re very proud of the fantastic atmosphere our supporters produce organically at White Hart Lane,” Spurs added in a statement on their website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com).

Source: supersport.co.za

Peter Crouch scored Tottenham Hotspur’s only goal against Manchester City last night to book their spot in next year’s Champions League.

Crouch headed home from close range on 82 minutes after Younes Kaboul had got the better of Craig Bellamy to leave City stunned as their bid to overhaul fourth-placed Tottenham was blown to pieces.

The England striker’s eighth goal of the season could be worth up to £50 million to Tottenham, who are guaranteed to finish at least fourth in the Premier League and can now look forward to competing against Europe’s elite for the first time since the 1961-62 season.

(more…)

Tottenham Hotspur beat Arsenal 2 – 1 at White Hart Lane last night to deal the Gunners’ English Premier League title aspirations a big blow.

Harry Redknapp’s team claimed only their second win in 29 league games against the Gunners thanks to a stunning 10th minute volley from teenage winger Danny Rose, who was making his Premier League debut, and Gareth Bale’s first goal of the season two minutes after half-time.

Inspired by the arrival of Robin van Persie as a second half substitute in his first appearance after a five-month injury lay-off, Arsenal got one back through Nicklas Bendtner in the 85th minute.

Florent Malouda of Chelsea celebrates his second goal with Didier Drogba, who also scored twice against Manchester United.

(more…)

England striker Jermaine Defoe scored five goals as Tottenham Hotspur beat Wigan Athletic 9 – 1 to go fourth on the English Premier League table.

Defoe stunned the hapless visitors with a mesmerising second-half blitz at White Hart Lane after Spurs had gone in 1-0 up at the break thanks to a ninth-minute Peter Crouch header.

After hitting the bar in the 34th minute, Defoe opened his account in the 51st and wasted no time in completing his hat-trick seven minutes later.

He then netted again in the 69th and completed his tally with a right-foot shot three minutes from time as Tottenham fans sang “we want ten”.

Aaron Lennon also struck in the 64th while shell-shocked Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland added to the goal tally in the 88th when a David Bentley shot rebounded off the angle, hit him on the back and went in.

(more…)