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Bent Brace Sends the Redknapp Revolution Marching On!

After watching all the teams around us pick up points over the last couple of weeks, we somehow still found ourselves bottom of the table going into today’s crucial clash at the City of Manchester Stadium, despite having picked up 7 points from a possible 9 since Harry took the reigns. The weather going into the game possibly worked in our favour, as it wasn’t particularly conducive to Man City’s new found attacking game, but the task that faced us was still one not to be baulked at, as Robinho and co have the ability to tear any back line to pieces in an instant.

 

Ledley returned at Centre Half following his rest midweek for the Uefa cup tie and crucially, Jermaine Jenas returned in Midfield to partner Zokora.

 

We started the game much the better side and nearly took an early lead as Jenas found Modric unmarked on the edge of the box, for the Croatian to curl inches wide of Joe Hart’s far post after just 9 minutes. The City keeper was then quick to react as Bent was very nearly released by Modric, forcing Hart to come out of his goal and clear with a well time sliding challenge.

 

With 15 minutes gone, Sean Wright Phillips slid the ball into the box to the feet of Darius Vassell, who was somehow unmarked. Vassell the struck fiercely across goal forcing a good save from Gomes, unfortunately Gomes’ parry fell straight to the feet of Robinho who coolly slotted home to give City the lead against the run of play.

 

The game looked as if it was beginning to get away from us as we approached the halfway point in the first half, Stephen Ireland was put through by Robinho and only an excellent save at his near post prevented Ireland from extending City’s lead.

 

Minutes later a moment of madness from Gelson Fernandes; Bentley picked up the ball in our half and drove forward through the City midfield, Fernandes then slid in and cynically brought him down. Mike Dean rushed to the scene and had no hesitation in reaching for his pocket and showing Fernandes his second yellow of the game, giving the City Midfielder his marching orders.

 

From here on in the game was an entirely different affair, minutes after the sending off Modric picked up the ball in the City area, beat Richard Dunne and was only denied his first spurs goal by an excellent save by Joe Hart, tipping Modric’ low drive round the post at full stretch.

 

The equaliser finally arrived just before the half hour mark, Modric aimed a long ball towards Bent which looked like it would be easily cut out, an absolute howler from Richard Dunne saw the ball fly past him and into the path of Bent who dummied two men and slid the ball through Hart’s legs to tie the game. A fantastic finish from a very much in form striker, taking his tally for the season into double figures in all competitions.

 

The last quarter of an hour leading up to half time was all Spurs, we completely dominated the game and played some excellent football in the process. City were on the ropes and very much feeling the one man deficit. Bent had a half chance to net his second as Zokora’s looping ball found him at the back post, but all Bent could do was pull the ball back across and safely into the hands of a grateful Joe Hart. Bentley also had a chance to give us the lead as he burst through 3 Man City defenders with some excellent footwork, but blasted over when he perhaps might have opted for a cross.

 

We came out for the second half raring to go and determined to make the most of our one man advantage, but despite a couple of half chances it was City who threatened to take the lead. A Stephen Ireland free kick was met by the head Richard Dunne whose effort was well saved by Gomes down by his feet, Woodgate then reacted quickly to clear the rebound to safety.

 

Next came the moment we had all been waiting for, just as it looked like City were beginning to get a foothold in the game, Huddlestone knocked a beautiful 40 yard ball into Jermaine Jenas on the edge of the box, Jenas held the ball up well and eventually squared to Bent who drilled the ball from an almost impossible angle across Hart and in off the post. Bent’s second of the game and he finally appears to be recreating some of the form that prompted his big money move from Charlton. It’s amazing what a confidence boosting manager and a decent run in the team can do for a striker.

 

We nearly extended the lead minutes later as a great move led to Bentley finding Huddlestone free on the edge of the area. The Huddler struck the ball well but Joe Hart saved well down to his right to keep the score at 2-1.

 

The remaining 20 minutes of the game was not a comfortable one to watch for the spurs faithful, City went all out in search of an equaliser and only an in form Gomes kept them at bay. Like many fellow Spurs fans I have had my doubts about Gomes so far this season, but the eccentric Brazilian was in absolutely phenomenal form today as he made a string of fine saves to keep, first Robinho and later Stephen Ireland efforts out.

 

As the remaining minutes of the game ticked away City continued to press but with 8 minutes left to play Bent was sent clean through on goal only for Richard Dunne to bring him down just outside the box. Mike Dean was again quick to react as he produced a deserved straight red card for Dunne and effectively killed off any hopes of a late City revival.

 

With 88 minutes on the clock a second bookable offence for Benoit Assou-Ekotto brought about the 3rd red card of the game for a foul on Zabaleta but it was all too late for City as we held out for a fantastic 3 points. A great result away from home against a very good Man City side taking our tally to 10 points from a possible 12 since Redknapp took charge. So the fairytale revival goes on and with other results going our way we now find ourselves 16th in the table, out of the relegation zone and within touching distance of that seemingly elusive top half.

 

By Sam Ball

(sam_ball1985)

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