Tottenham 2 - 1 Birmingham

Lennon celebrates after snatching his dramatic late winner for Tottenham

By Sam Lyon

Aaron Lennon scored a dramatic winner in the fifth minute of injury time to break Birmingham hearts and maintain Spurs' 100% start to the new campaign.

The winger cut in from the left and drove into the corner to cap a stunning finale that City looked like edging.

Peter Crouch had earlier climbed off the bench to head Spurs into the lead to reward the hosts' fluency in attack.

But Lee Bowyer poked in after a mix-up to apparently earn City a point - only for Lennon to have the final say.

It was a gut-wrenching finish for the visitors, who had looked the likelier to grab a winner after Bowyer's equaliser as Spurs ran out of ideas in the face of City's determined and hard-fought approach.

But Tottenham can argue they edged an entertaining encounter on the balance of play, even if they owed the three points in the end to a piece of individual brilliance from Lennon.

And it was a match deserving of such a finale following a high-octane encounter that boasted chances, passing and passion of the highest order at times.

From the off, the hosts' drive and ambition was in full evidence, with Luka Modric and Lennon pushing and probing at every opportunity and Birmingham struggling to keep pace with the diminutive pair.

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The latter in particular was a real threat, once denied on the stretch by goalkeeper Joe Hart and then seeing a snap-shot from the right cleared off the line by Stephen Carr with Hart stranded.

Jermain Defoe, so prolific so far this season, had his chances, but the best of them saw him scuff his shot wide having been sent clear by Tom Huddlestone.

But having survived a pulsating opening from the hosts, Birmingham soon settled down, frustrating Tottenham and nullifying their early verve.

And twice they could have snatched an opener on the counter-attack. Sebastian Larsson was the man on both occasions to break beyond the Tottenham defence from midfield, his first cross-shot beaten away by Carlo Cudicini and the second creeping past the far post.

By half-time, City's bid to calm Tottenham's attacking intentions looked to have worked, with the hosts hardly helped by the withdrawal through injury of Ledley King (groin) and Modric (calf).

Had referee Peter Walton not waved away Birmingham's passionate appeals for a penalty when James McFadden fell clumsily under Wilson Palacios's challenge in the box, on the hour, the outcome might have been very different.

As it was, Spurs took the lead not long after, with substitute Crouch the scorer - his first league goal since his return to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth, this summer.

The 6'7" frontman had caused all sorts of problems since his introduction, heading onto the bar from Robbie Keane's cross and then seeing a fine header from a corner cleared off the line by Lee Carsley.

Crouch was rewarded when he climbed highest at the far post to meet Huddlestone's free-kick to loop a header into the far corner to finally break the deadlock.

That looked like being the goal Tottenham needed to go on and win the game comfortably, but after Christian Benitez forced a mix-up between Alan Hutton and Cudicini and Bowyer swept into an empty net, Birmingham looked the only likely winners.

The visitors pushed forward and Benitez went close and Roger Johnson volleyed wide as panic set in and about Spurs' defence.

However, against the run of play, Lennon collected Roman Pavlyuchenko's crossfield pass, drifted past Stephen Carr and slammed low into the near post past keeper Hart.

It prompted incredible scenes among the White Hart Lane faithful and disbelief among City's, but there was barely time to restart ensuring Spurs stay, alongside Chelsea, at the top of the table and leaves Birmingham with only one victory from their last 15 visits to London.

Live text and stats

Saturday, 29 August 2009

Premier League

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Tottenham	2 - 1	Birmingham	R
(HT 0 - 0)
Crouch 72 Lennon 90+5		Bowyer 75

Ref: WaltonAtt: 35318

TOTTENHAM

BIRMINGHAM

Possession

Tottenham 60%
Birmingham 40%

Shots on target

Tottenham 14
Birmingham 6

Shots off target

Tottenham 6
Birmingham 5

Corners

Tottenham 7
Birmingham 3

Fouls

Tottenham 12
Birmingham 10

Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:53 The referee signals the end of the game.
90:00+4:23 The assist for the goal came from Roman Pavlyuchenko.
90:00+4:23 GOAL - Aaron Lennon:Tottenham 2 - 1 Birmingham Aaron Lennon fires in a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Tottenham 2-1 Birmingham.
90:00+2:52 Short corner taken by Gary McSheffrey from the right by-line.
90:00+1:20 Free kick taken by Barry Ferguson.
90:00+1:20 Substitution Gary McSheffrey on for Sebastian Larsson.
90:00+1:20 Foul by Tom Huddlestone on Barry Ferguson, free kick awarded.
88:15 Centre by James McFadden, Roger Johnson takes a shot from inside the six-yard box clearing the crossbar.
88:15 Booking Tom Huddlestone goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
88:08 Tom Huddlestone gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Christian Benitez.
86:42 James McFadden delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Sebastien Bassong makes a clearance.
86:42 Booking Alan Hutton shown a yellow card.
86:25 Foul by Alan Hutton on Christian Benitez, free kick awarded.
85:31 Roman Pavlyuchenko gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Franck Queudrue. Direct free kick taken by Joe Hart.
83:00 Foul by Peter Crouch on Stephen Carr, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Joe Hart.
81:53 Garry O'Connor produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
79:34 Substitution Roman Pavlyuchenko joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jermain Defoe.
74:34 GOAL - Lee Bowyer:Tottenham 1 - 1 Birmingham Lee Bowyer gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Tottenham 1-1 Birmingham.
73:33 Jermain Defoe is caught offside. Roger Johnson takes the indirect free kick.
72:38 Joe Hart takes the free kick.
72:38 Substitution Lee Carsley leaves the field to be replaced by Christian Benitez.
72:38 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Carsley by Aaron Lennon.
72:33 A cross is delivered by Alan Hutton, Franck Queudrue makes a clearance.
71:14 Assist by Tom Huddlestone.
71:14 GOAL - Peter Crouch:Tottenham 1 - 0 Birmingham Peter Crouch finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Tottenham 1-0 Birmingham.
70:42 Aaron Lennon fouled by James McFadden, the ref awards a free kick. Centre by Tom Huddlestone,
67:06 The offside flag is raised against Lee Bowyer. Carlo Cudicini takes the indirect free kick.
66:34 The ball is swung over by Aaron Lennon, clearance by Roger Johnson.
65:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Wilson Palacios on Roger Johnson. Joe Hart restarts play with the free kick.
64:52 Outswinging corner taken by Tom Huddlestone, Peter Crouch takes a shot. Clearance made by Lee Carsley.
64:29 Peter Crouch takes a shot. Jermain Defoe takes a shot. Blocked by Franck Queudrue.
61:58 Jermain Defoe challenges Barry Ferguson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Hart takes the direct free kick.
61:48 A cross is delivered by Aaron Lennon, Lee Carsley makes a clearance.
60:47 Effort on goal by Jermain Defoe from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
60:20 Benoit Assou-Ekotto takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Carsley. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Robbie Keane.
60:02 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Huddlestone from the right by-line, clearance by James McFadden.
59:18 Direct free kick taken by Tom Huddlestone.
59:18 Booking Garry O'Connor is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
59:11 Garry O'Connor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron Lennon.
58:23 Peter Crouch takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart. Corner taken by Robbie Keane.
54:57 Corner taken by Aaron Lennon from the right by-line.
53:47 Tom Huddlestone has an effort direct from the free kick.
53:47 Booking Caution for Stephen Carr.
53:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron Lennon by Stephen Carr.
52:56 Unfair challenge on Lee Bowyer by Wilson Palacios results in a free kick. Sebastian Larsson takes the free kick.
49:59 Unfair challenge on Peter Crouch by Lee Carsley results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Tom Huddlestone from left channel, Franck Queudrue manages to make a clearance.
49:29 Garry O'Connor challenges Sebastien Bassong unfairly and gives away a free kick. Carlo Cudicini takes the free kick.
48:57 Substitution Luka Modric goes off and Peter Crouch comes on.
47:26 Lee Carsley has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
46:53 Outswinging corner taken by James McFadden from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Vedran Corluka.
45:12 Luka Modric gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Bowyer. Free kick crossed left-footed by James McFadden from right wing, clearance by Tom Huddlestone.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
45:01 Substitution Alan Hutton replaces Ledley King.
Half Time
45:00+1:26 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
45:00+1:17 The referee blows for offside against Aaron Lennon. Indirect free kick taken by Joe Hart.
45:00+0:30 Centre by Aaron Lennon, Franck Queudrue manages to make a clearance.
44:17 Lee Bowyer takes a shot. Carlo Cudicini makes a save.
43:48 Roger Johnson fouled by Robbie Keane, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Hart.
43:09 Foul by Garry O'Connor on Benoit Assou-Ekotto, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Carlo Cudicini.
41:14 Luka Modric has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
39:57 Inswinging corner taken by Sebastian Larsson, clearance by Tom Huddlestone.
39:52 The ball is swung over by James McFadden, clearance made by Ledley King.
39:08 Garry O'Connor takes a shot. Tom Huddlestone gets a block in.
36:20 Garry O'Connor has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
33:22 Wilson Palacios challenges Barry Ferguson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Hart restarts play with the free kick.
31:56 The ball is delivered by Benoit Assou-Ekotto, clearance by Roger Johnson.
30:25 Long range shot from Luka Modric misses to the left of the goal.
28:19 The assistant referee flags for offside against Garry O'Connor. Free kick taken by Sebastien Bassong.
26:31 Wilson Palacios takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Carsley.
25:33 Handball by Sebastian Larsson. Sebastien Bassong takes the direct free kick.
23:58 Luka Modric takes a shot. Roger Johnson gets a block in.
22:03 Jermain Defoe has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
21:20 Effort from deep inside the area by Sebastian Larsson misses to the left of the target.
20:03 Aaron Lennon takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart.
19:28 Aaron Lennon takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Carr.
17:39 Aaron Lennon takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart.
15:57 Garry O'Connor takes a shot. Carlo Cudicini makes a save.
14:44 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Benoit Assou-Ekotto by Stuart Parnaby. Luka Modric crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing.
13:55 The ball is delivered by Benoit Assou-Ekotto, clearance by Roger Johnson.
11:00 The referee blows for offside. Joe Hart takes the free kick.
9:19 Sebastian Larsson takes a shot. Save made by Carlo Cudicini.
8:47 Tom Huddlestone takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart.
8:29 Aaron Lennon takes a short corner.
8:05 Sebastian Larsson challenges Benoit Assou-Ekotto unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Carlo Cudicini.
7:53 Barry Ferguson takes a shot. Ledley King gets a block in.
7:01 Tom Huddlestone takes a shot. Stephen Carr gets a block in.
6:33 Short corner taken by Luka Modric.
6:17 Aaron Lennon takes a shot. Joe Hart makes a save.
4:19 Garry O'Connor is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by Ledley King.
1:56 James McFadden gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron Lennon. Luka Modric delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.
1:38 The ball is sent over by Benoit Assou-Ekotto, clearance made by Lee Carsley.
1:19 Lee Bowyer concedes a free kick for a foul on Robbie Keane. Tom Huddlestone takes the free kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

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Saturday, August 29, 2009