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Spurs gift returning Redknapp with win

Comment: 0 November 22nd, 2011 by: admin

TOTTENHAM Hotspur gave manager Harry Redknapp a ‘hearty’ welcome by trimming Aston Villa 2-0 to vault to third place in the Premier League on Monday.

Redknapp returned to the bench after undergoing a minor heart surgery three weeks ago and got the ‘best medicine’ after the win that padded the Spurs’ unbeaten streak to nine matches, including eight victories.

Emmanuel Adebayor banged in both goals as he combined brilliantly with Gareth Bale that sent the crowd in delirium at White Hart Lane.

‘I couldn’t feel any better. I’ve been looking forward to this game and I feel better now than I did before. In fact, I’ve felt great for the past 10 days,’ said Redknapp, adding he defied his doctor’s orders to be at the Spurs bench. ‘The surgeon told me not to go back for four or five weeks, but I took no notice of him.’

Redknapp added the best medicine for him was watching the way they played. ‘I love watching good teams play and we certainly played like a good team.’

The Tottenham manager also did not rule out the possibility of his team making a vigorous run towards the crown, saying winning the league is not impossible. ‘If you believe in yourselves you can do it.’

Adebayor, on loan from Manchester City after a previous stint at Real Madrid, opened his scoring show in the 14^th minute with a spectacular overhead kick following a miscued shot from Bale after Villa failed to make a clearance.  It was the Togo striker’s first goal in two months.

His second goal, and fifth this season, was launched from close range in the 40^th minute after a cross from Bale.

Adebayor missed two clear chances to complete a hat-trick but said he’s happy with the double.

‘What is important is that we won. I’m pleased because we know what the manager has been going through. Today he was back with a victory.’

The Spurs have not been beaten since the 1-5 drubbing by City last August. They have lost just once in their past 14 games in all competitions when their shock troopers bowed 0-1 at Rubin Kazan in the Europa League.

With their latest triumph, the Spurs surged past Chelsea and Newcastle United and are now just 9 points behind City and 4 behind second-running Manchester United but with a game in hand on both of the teams. Villa remained at 8^th, 19 points off the pacesetters.

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