Tottenham 4 Wigan 0
Tottenham picked up their first Barclays Premier League win in almost three months by cruising past Wigan 4-0 - but Juande Ramos' side were barely tested against their relegation-haunted opponents.
Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon, both trying to fight their way back into the England reckoning, got the first-half goals at White Hart Lane to put Spurs in total control at the interval.
Darren Bent, also looking to catch the eye of Steve McClaren, came off the bench in the second half to complete the scoring.
It was hardly a sign that Spurs are now going to challenge for the Champions League place they targeted at the start of the season, although some of the confidence lacking in the final days of Martin Jol's reign appeared to return.
They were helped by a hapless performance from the visitors. Wigan had lost their previous six matches and never looked like ending their abysmal run.
Attention will now turn to who will replace Chris Hutchings, or indeed if Paul Jewell would want Hutchings back at the club if he got the job. Another 32 points to get to the 40 mark seems a long way away.
As for Ramos, he is unbeaten in his four games since taking over from Martin Jol and this was his first win in the league, only Spurs' second all season.
The Spaniard wanted a win to have any chance of chasing a European place, and victory never looked in doubt.
Wigan's caretaker boss, Frank Barlow, had clearly told his players to target Spurs' lack of confidence at the back by aiming for the physical presence of Marcus Bent.
Although Spurs' marking was still slack at times, the visitors were toothless in attack and it was not long before the hosts took control, the opener coming in the 13th minute.
Robbie Keane was fed the ball on the left by Steed Malbranque before tricking Andreas Granqvist on the byline. His cross should have been dealt with by Chris Kirkland but the goalkeeper's effort could not prevent Jenas tapping in on the line.
Ramos wrote in his programme notes that he wanted his side to be positive when they were in the lead, rather than inviting the opposition.
Keane's volley that dipped over and a long-range effort from Dimitar Berbatov suggested they were on the attack.
Berbatov was criticised for appearing unhappy this week but he had a smile back on his face and the Bulgarian's flicks and tricks were coming off.
He set up the next two goals, the first of which came in the 26th minute.
Keane was offside when Berbatov's throughball was made, but Jenas had made a run on the blindside of the Wigan defence. The Spurs midfielder rounded Kirkland before planting his finish past Kevin Kilbane on the line.
For the third, Berbatov trapped Paul Robinson's huge kick before providing a nonchalant cushioned pass to Lennon. The winger took one touch before drilling a volley into the far post.
Barlow responded by bringing on Antoine Sibierski for David Cotterill six minutes before the break, but it was too little too late.
Jenas should have had a hat-trick a minute before the break, latching onto another Berbatov flick before heading into the penalty area - but his finish shaved the post.
The second half was a case of how many goals Spurs could muster.
Keane lobbed over when he was sent through just after the restart as Ramos' men refused to sit back.
Josip Skoko was booked for a foul on Jenas before he was taken off later in the second half. Paul Scharner also received a yellow card from Howard Webb.
Pascal Chimbonda, the former Wigan full-back who was jeered by the travelling support, forced a save from Kirkland at the near post.
Keane was taken off for Bent, while Malbranque picked up a knock and was replaced by Teemu Tainio.
Spurs striker Bent added the fourth 17 minutes before the end, his finish going in off the post after Jenas had threaded him through.
Jermain Defoe also came on but got struck straight between the legs when Younes Kaboul's effort crashed off the bar.
• Ramos: Clean sheets important
Dimitar Berbatov led the attack as Tottenham swept past Wigan and moved closer towards mid-table comfort - but it was another clean sheet that excited Juande Ramos.
Ramos arrived a fortnight ago with a reputation of attacking football from his time at Sevilla, although he has focused his work in defence and Spurs have not conceded in three of his four matches.
A toothless Wigan attack were barely given a sight of goal as Spurs cruised to a 4-0 victory, their first Barclays Premier League win since August 18 moving them up to 14th.
``We are happy with the scoreline but the thing I'm more happy with is three of the four matches since I've been here have been clean sheets,'' Ramos said.
``Once you get that clean sheet, players play much better and have more confidence.
``I can't give an opinion of Spurs before I arrived because I didn't see those matches - but my opinion is that a team needs to be attacking well but you need to do well defensively for solidity. You're going to perform better.''
Birmingham's defeat meant Spurs climbed three places.
``I'm especially satisfied with the three points because sometimes you can get three points and the teams behind you win, and you don't really go up the table,'' Ramos added.
Jermaine Jenas opened the scoring with a tap-in after Robbie Keane's fine work on the byline, then Berbatov took centre stage.
He passed to Jenas to round Chris Kirkland for the second, after 26 minutes.
Before the break it was 3-0. Berbatov cushioned a huge Paul Robinson clearance before a laying the ball back arrogantly for Aaron Lennon to volley home.
Berbatov has appeared unsettled at times this season but issued a statement on Thursday insisting he was happy at White Hart Lane.
Although he has been tipped to leave at the end of the season - providing Spurs do not go on a run that will take him to the Champions League - Ramos wants the Bulgaria striker to stay.
``He played exceptionally, the same as the team,'' said the Spaniard. ``Even though he did not score a goal he played very well.
``He has said that he wants to stay. Obviously he is a player who, when his team are winning is going to be happy.
``I hope until the end of the season he will make a decision and hopefully he will stay.''
Darren Bent came off the bench to add the fourth, then Berbatov was denied a goal his work deserved when his effort came off the post.
Wigan caretaker boss Frank Barlow admitted his side were woeful in the first half.
``We should apologise to our supporters who came down because that first half was very disappointing,'' he said.
Paul Jewell has been linked with succeeding Chris Hutchings, and Barlow hopes to remain at the club in some capacity when chairman Dave Whelan makes a decision. Whelan was not at the match as he was in Barbados.
Caretaker boss Barlow, who ruled himself out of the running for the permanent job, added: ``They've got to look for an established manager. The chairman knows exactly what he's looking for and you have to leave it to him.''
He added: ``I would like to remain at the club. I've not been on my own this week, we've got good backroom staff.
``In my situation it's a case of waiting to see. I'm fully aware of what the consequences are.''
Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon, both trying to fight their way back into the England reckoning, got the first-half goals at White Hart Lane to put Spurs in total control at the interval.
Darren Bent, also looking to catch the eye of Steve McClaren, came off the bench in the second half to complete the scoring.
It was hardly a sign that Spurs are now going to challenge for the Champions League place they targeted at the start of the season, although some of the confidence lacking in the final days of Martin Jol's reign appeared to return.
They were helped by a hapless performance from the visitors. Wigan had lost their previous six matches and never looked like ending their abysmal run.
Attention will now turn to who will replace Chris Hutchings, or indeed if Paul Jewell would want Hutchings back at the club if he got the job. Another 32 points to get to the 40 mark seems a long way away.
As for Ramos, he is unbeaten in his four games since taking over from Martin Jol and this was his first win in the league, only Spurs' second all season.
The Spaniard wanted a win to have any chance of chasing a European place, and victory never looked in doubt.
Wigan's caretaker boss, Frank Barlow, had clearly told his players to target Spurs' lack of confidence at the back by aiming for the physical presence of Marcus Bent.
Although Spurs' marking was still slack at times, the visitors were toothless in attack and it was not long before the hosts took control, the opener coming in the 13th minute.
Robbie Keane was fed the ball on the left by Steed Malbranque before tricking Andreas Granqvist on the byline. His cross should have been dealt with by Chris Kirkland but the goalkeeper's effort could not prevent Jenas tapping in on the line.
Ramos wrote in his programme notes that he wanted his side to be positive when they were in the lead, rather than inviting the opposition.
Keane's volley that dipped over and a long-range effort from Dimitar Berbatov suggested they were on the attack.
Berbatov was criticised for appearing unhappy this week but he had a smile back on his face and the Bulgarian's flicks and tricks were coming off.
He set up the next two goals, the first of which came in the 26th minute.
Keane was offside when Berbatov's throughball was made, but Jenas had made a run on the blindside of the Wigan defence. The Spurs midfielder rounded Kirkland before planting his finish past Kevin Kilbane on the line.
For the third, Berbatov trapped Paul Robinson's huge kick before providing a nonchalant cushioned pass to Lennon. The winger took one touch before drilling a volley into the far post.
Barlow responded by bringing on Antoine Sibierski for David Cotterill six minutes before the break, but it was too little too late.
Jenas should have had a hat-trick a minute before the break, latching onto another Berbatov flick before heading into the penalty area - but his finish shaved the post.
The second half was a case of how many goals Spurs could muster.
Keane lobbed over when he was sent through just after the restart as Ramos' men refused to sit back.
Josip Skoko was booked for a foul on Jenas before he was taken off later in the second half. Paul Scharner also received a yellow card from Howard Webb.
Pascal Chimbonda, the former Wigan full-back who was jeered by the travelling support, forced a save from Kirkland at the near post.
Keane was taken off for Bent, while Malbranque picked up a knock and was replaced by Teemu Tainio.
Spurs striker Bent added the fourth 17 minutes before the end, his finish going in off the post after Jenas had threaded him through.
Jermain Defoe also came on but got struck straight between the legs when Younes Kaboul's effort crashed off the bar.
• Ramos: Clean sheets important
Dimitar Berbatov led the attack as Tottenham swept past Wigan and moved closer towards mid-table comfort - but it was another clean sheet that excited Juande Ramos.
Ramos arrived a fortnight ago with a reputation of attacking football from his time at Sevilla, although he has focused his work in defence and Spurs have not conceded in three of his four matches.
A toothless Wigan attack were barely given a sight of goal as Spurs cruised to a 4-0 victory, their first Barclays Premier League win since August 18 moving them up to 14th.
``We are happy with the scoreline but the thing I'm more happy with is three of the four matches since I've been here have been clean sheets,'' Ramos said.
``Once you get that clean sheet, players play much better and have more confidence.
``I can't give an opinion of Spurs before I arrived because I didn't see those matches - but my opinion is that a team needs to be attacking well but you need to do well defensively for solidity. You're going to perform better.''
Birmingham's defeat meant Spurs climbed three places.
``I'm especially satisfied with the three points because sometimes you can get three points and the teams behind you win, and you don't really go up the table,'' Ramos added.
Jermaine Jenas opened the scoring with a tap-in after Robbie Keane's fine work on the byline, then Berbatov took centre stage.
He passed to Jenas to round Chris Kirkland for the second, after 26 minutes.
Before the break it was 3-0. Berbatov cushioned a huge Paul Robinson clearance before a laying the ball back arrogantly for Aaron Lennon to volley home.
Berbatov has appeared unsettled at times this season but issued a statement on Thursday insisting he was happy at White Hart Lane.
Although he has been tipped to leave at the end of the season - providing Spurs do not go on a run that will take him to the Champions League - Ramos wants the Bulgaria striker to stay.
``He played exceptionally, the same as the team,'' said the Spaniard. ``Even though he did not score a goal he played very well.
``He has said that he wants to stay. Obviously he is a player who, when his team are winning is going to be happy.
``I hope until the end of the season he will make a decision and hopefully he will stay.''
Darren Bent came off the bench to add the fourth, then Berbatov was denied a goal his work deserved when his effort came off the post.
Wigan caretaker boss Frank Barlow admitted his side were woeful in the first half.
``We should apologise to our supporters who came down because that first half was very disappointing,'' he said.
Paul Jewell has been linked with succeeding Chris Hutchings, and Barlow hopes to remain at the club in some capacity when chairman Dave Whelan makes a decision. Whelan was not at the match as he was in Barbados.
Caretaker boss Barlow, who ruled himself out of the running for the permanent job, added: ``They've got to look for an established manager. The chairman knows exactly what he's looking for and you have to leave it to him.''
He added: ``I would like to remain at the club. I've not been on my own this week, we've got good backroom staff.
``In my situation it's a case of waiting to see. I'm fully aware of what the consequences are.''
posted by dgarden at 2:02 pm
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