Bale leads Spurs past West Brom
Source: Agencies |
February 4, 2013, Monday
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Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale showed absent strikers how it was done by blasting in a 67th-minute winner in a 1-0 English Premier League success at 10-man West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
The victory for fourth-placed Spurs, which came despite their only available forward Jermain Defoe limping off in the first half, put them a point behind Chelsea in third after Rafael Benitez's side lost 2-3 at Newcastle United on Saturday.
The Londoners were helped by West Brom's Macedonia defender Goran Popov being sent off after 48 minutes for spitting at Kyle Walker but Spurs deserved the win because of Welshman Bale's continued heroics.
The 23-year-old's 13th goal in all competitions this term, following another cracker in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City in midweek, summed up all his attributes as he evaded a challenge on the edge of the box and let fly with a swerving strike.
With Emmanuel Adebayor away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Spurs' over-reliance on out-of-form Defoe was keenly felt by supporters but Bale is digging them out of holes as a Champions League spot looks more and more a possibility.
Ninth-placed West Brom had decent chances through Shane Long and Romelu Lukaku but perhaps missed fellow forward Peter Odemwingie, dropped after turning up at Queens Park Rangers without permission on transfer deadline day as he tried to force through a move.
Second-placed Manchester City was hosting Liverpool, in seventh, later hoping to close the 10-point gap on leader Manchester United (62 points), which won 1-0 at Fulham on Saturday, thanks to a Wayne Rooney strike.
Overshadowed by Robin van Persie this season, Rooney showed his predatory instincts in the 79th minute at London's Craven Cottage when he punished a defensive error to grab an unconvincing win.
Faltering European champion Chelsea suffered its second late collapse this week, going down 2-3 at Newcastle having led 2-1 with goals from Frank Lampard and Juan Mata.
Newcastle's new signing Moussa Sissoko equalized and then capped a superb home debut with a last-minute winner to increase the pressure on Benitez whose side conceded twice late on in a midweek draw at Reading.
Everton fought back for a 3-3 draw at home to struggling Aston Villa, which led 3-1 before Marouane Fellaini's double spared the hosts' blushes.
Lukas Podolski scored in the 78th to hand Arsenal a 1-0 win against visiting Stoke City.
The victory for fourth-placed Spurs, which came despite their only available forward Jermain Defoe limping off in the first half, put them a point behind Chelsea in third after Rafael Benitez's side lost 2-3 at Newcastle United on Saturday.
The Londoners were helped by West Brom's Macedonia defender Goran Popov being sent off after 48 minutes for spitting at Kyle Walker but Spurs deserved the win because of Welshman Bale's continued heroics.
The 23-year-old's 13th goal in all competitions this term, following another cracker in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City in midweek, summed up all his attributes as he evaded a challenge on the edge of the box and let fly with a swerving strike.
With Emmanuel Adebayor away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Spurs' over-reliance on out-of-form Defoe was keenly felt by supporters but Bale is digging them out of holes as a Champions League spot looks more and more a possibility.
Ninth-placed West Brom had decent chances through Shane Long and Romelu Lukaku but perhaps missed fellow forward Peter Odemwingie, dropped after turning up at Queens Park Rangers without permission on transfer deadline day as he tried to force through a move.
Second-placed Manchester City was hosting Liverpool, in seventh, later hoping to close the 10-point gap on leader Manchester United (62 points), which won 1-0 at Fulham on Saturday, thanks to a Wayne Rooney strike.
Overshadowed by Robin van Persie this season, Rooney showed his predatory instincts in the 79th minute at London's Craven Cottage when he punished a defensive error to grab an unconvincing win.
Faltering European champion Chelsea suffered its second late collapse this week, going down 2-3 at Newcastle having led 2-1 with goals from Frank Lampard and Juan Mata.
Newcastle's new signing Moussa Sissoko equalized and then capped a superb home debut with a last-minute winner to increase the pressure on Benitez whose side conceded twice late on in a midweek draw at Reading.
Everton fought back for a 3-3 draw at home to struggling Aston Villa, which led 3-1 before Marouane Fellaini's double spared the hosts' blushes.
Lukas Podolski scored in the 78th to hand Arsenal a 1-0 win against visiting Stoke City.
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