 |
| Tottenham Hotspur’s English defender Kyle Walker (R) vies with Queens Park Rangers’ English midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips during their English Premier League football match at White Hart Lane in London yesterday. (AFP |
Two goals from Gareth Bale and one from Rafael van der Vaart gave Tottenham Hotspur a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers in a cracking London Premier League derby at White Hart Lane yesterday.
Spurs, who have won six of their last seven league matches, led 2-0 at halftime with goals from Bale and Van der Vaart, who scored for the fifth league game in a row to equal a club record shared by Teddy Sheringham and Robbie Keane in the Premier League era.
QPR, totally outclassed in the first half, came back strongly after the break and cut the arrears when Jay Bothroyd headed in from close range after 62 minutes, but Bale made the game safe with a stunning strike from the edge of the box after 72 minutes.
The win moved Spurs up to fifth spot on 19 points from nine matches, level with
third-placed Chelsea and Newcastle United, who will move above Chelsea if they maintain their unbeaten League record at Stoke City today (2000 GMT).
Manchester City, who beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 on Saturday, lead the standings with 28 points, five clear of Manchester United, 1-0 winners at Everton. The defeat left promoted QPR in 12th place with 12 points.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp hailed his “outstanding” team after the win.
“It was a fantastic performance,” he said. “In the first half we played some great football and moved the ball quickly. The movement and passing was incredible.“They changed how they played, got it forward and played with more intensity in the second half but Gareth finished them off with a great goal.
“Suddenly they got a lifeline at 2-1 and it changes games so that third goal was important. I said at half-time we shouldn’t relax in the second half but, to be fair to them, they came out and raised their game.
“Overall we were outstanding today.”
Redknapp also praised man-of-the-match Scott Parker and the contribution he has made since making the switch to north London. “Scott is a fantastic player,” he added. “He was top of my list and he’s just what we need.
“He tackles, doesn’t give the ball away and he’s a great boy and fantastic person. He’s what you build great football clubs around.”
Vidic return key to United revival says, Fergie
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the return of captain Nemanja Vidic from injury will be critical after the champions got back on track with a 1-0 victory at Everton.
Ferguson’s side returned to winning ways on Saturday after last weekend’s humiliating 6-1 home defeat against bitter rivals Manchester City.
Javier Hernandez got the only goal at Goodison Park to ensure United remain five points behind leaders City.
Vidic, who missed that City game with a calf problem, starred against Everton and Ferguson expects the Serbian centre-back to be a key figure in the next few months after United’s recent defensive troubles.
“It was a fantastic performance by Vidic,” Ferguson said. “Every ball that came into out box he got clear and that’s his speciality. He’s a fantastic header of the ball and that was the key again here.
“The fact there have been so many chances against us recently we had to reduce that if we are going to win the league. It was no coincidence we didn’t have any problems here.”
Ferguson’s relief at bouncing back from the City rout was intensified by the gritty nature of the victory.
There has been plenty of criticism of United’s defence in recent weeks, but they subdued a hostile crowd in impressive fashion to claim a fourth cleansheet in the league this season.
“We expect a hard game every time we come to Everton, in fairness. The crowd get behind them and they show great enthusiasm,” Ferguson said.