Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 Tottenham Hotspur 3: match report
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux on Sunday March 6 2011.
LIVE
REPORT
WOLVES
3 - 3
FT
TOTTENHAM
Sunday, March 06 16:00
Premier League
Molineux
Doyle (20, 40)
Fletcher (87)
(HT 2-2)
ATT: 28,669
Defoe (30, 35)
Pavlyuchenko (48)
The equaliser: Steven Fletcher celebrates Wolves's third game of their pulsating draw with Spurs Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Jason Burt 6:00PM GMT 06 Mar 2011
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Wolves manager Mick McCarthy who said he had to “apologise for my sunny disposition” after Steven Fletcher grabbed a priceless equaliser three minutes from time.
In fairness, McCarthy was still exhilarated by one of the most exciting, rip-roaring Premier League games this season, although he added cheerily that, if he was phoned today, then callers would find him his usual “grumpy” self. The hangover will be a glance at the Premier League table. Wolves are still second from bottom.
In fact, McCarthy had cause to be angry rather than cheerful, and the fury would have been directed at referee Mark Halsey.
It should have been a game dominated by some superb goals, some inventive play, the return of Gareth Bale, the return to sparkling form of Jermain Defoe and the further confirmation that in Matt Jarvis, Wolves have an emerging talent who could well be worthy of international recognition.
Instead, it was also about two big calls by Halsey who, first of all, decided not to dismiss Alan Hutton for pulling back Nenad Milijas in the first half. The official correctly awarded a penalty but baffled everyone by only cautioning the Spurs defender. Then Halsey ruled out a header by Richard Stearman when it was arguable that he had been fouled by Heurelho Gomes rather than the reverse.
“I’ve not seen it again but the rules are if you stop a clear goal-scoring opportunity, it’s a red card,” McCarthy said of the first incident. And the second? “It’s a poor decision,” he stated. “I think it’s poor that the goalkeeper is given the benefit of the doubt.”
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp agreed that Hutton was fortunate but claimed Stearman had clearly impeded Gomes. In the end, Wolves clinched a courageous draw on a day of emotion for both clubs as they both paid tribute to a former player in Dean Richards. The commitment shown was a tribute to the defender who died last week.
The match really blossomed after a tepid opening 20 minutes when a sticky, difficult pitch — something that had caused worry to Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their Champions League at home to AC Milan — appeared to stifle open play.
Eventually, however, Wolves started to gain some belief and went in front. A corner was half-cleared and the ball was ferried to Milijas by Karl Henry. The Serb’s inswinging cross was met by Kevin Doyle, evading the Spurs defenders, and his header skimmed into the net.
It stung the visitors into action. Immediately the endlessly creative Luka Modric started to run with the ball and then Defoe suddenly exploded into life.
The danger was minimal when he collected the ball from Roman Pavlyuchenko but Defoe brilliantly used Christophe Berra as a shield to leave Wayne Hennessey unsighted and curl in a wonderful right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area. Remarkably it was his first Premier League goal of the season, almost his first for a year, and just as remarkably he scored another less than five minutes later.
This time the ball broke to him, as Stephen Ward challenged Modric, and Defoe struck a first-time shot around Hennessey to record his 99th goal for Spurs. “Awesome strikes,” McCarthy said. And he was right.
They would have knocked the stuffing out of a lesser team and it was to Wolves’ credit that they pushed on and won their penalty after Doyle’s deflected shot ran through to Milijas. Doyle struck the spot-kick calmly past Gomes.
Spurs regained the lead when Jermaine Jenas flicked the ball to Pavlyuchenko whose fierce, rising shot did the rest. “Gross stupidity,” said McCarthy of his team’s defending and his mood wasn’t helped when Gomes saved superbly from Milijas’s low drive.
Spurs also had chances with hat-trick seeking Defoe driving against a post, but justice was done when Fletcher headed in a Jarvis cross.
premier league games, mark halsey, matt jarvis, jermain defoe, wolverhampton wanderers, mick mccarthy, jason burt, steven fletcher, photo action, action images, emerging talent, molineux, sunny disposition, stearman, third game, league game, equaliser, international recognition, hutton, hangover
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