Tottenham 1 Bolton 1
Bolton's relegation battle looks set to go to the wire after earning a valuable 1-1 draw against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Stelios Giannakopoulos came on at the break and opened the scoring for the visitors, only for Steed Malbranque to reply shortly after, with Spurs failing to take their chances to dent the survival hopes of Gary Megson's men.
After two 1-0 victories, Megson now has a draw at White Hart Lane to take into the business end of the season, with two games remaining.
His task has been made tougher following the suspension of Kevin Davies, who was watching on the bench.
Grzegorz Rasiak has deputised as the lone attacker but simply does not have the physical presence of Davies, with Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson going untroubled until the Polish forward was taken off at the break.
Rasiak chased tirelessly as Bolton looked for a way into the game, but it was a frustrating return to White Hart Lane for him after a brief, unsuccessful spell at Spurs earlier in his career.
Watching in the stands was a new Spurs signing, Luka Modric, who has agreed a £15.8million move from Dinamo Zagreb.
There are hopes for the Croatia midfielder to be the playmaker to supply Dimitar Berbatov next season, if Spurs can hold on to their striker.
As usual, Berbatov and Robbie Keane were at the heart of Spurs' attacks. Keane had the first effort on goal, toe-poking straight at Ali Al Habsi after latching onto a Berbatov flick.
Berbatov almost got a sight of goal but Jermaine Jenas' chipped through-ball was just too strong.
Spurs made most of the running, but they too found chances difficult to create. The clearest opportunity in the first half came seconds before the break when Keane had a close-range effort bundled wide by Ivan Campo.
At times the hosts looked as though they were playing in an exhibition - they have little to play for as European football has been secured with the Carling Cup.
They could still have a huge say in the relegation battle as they also face Reading next week.
Spurs boss Juande Ramos had predicted a physical encounter and Bolton lived up to his expectations, with Gavin McCann taking out Aaron Lennon on the right flank but escaping a booking from Mark Clattenburg.
Megson's first change was forced, in the 20th minute, when Joey O'Brien picked up a knock, with Danny Guthrie coming on.
But it was his double substitution at half-time that got the game going, with the visitors rewarded within 30 seconds of the restart.
Spurs failed to clear and El-Hadji Diouf, who was on for Rasiak, laid the ball back to Gretar Steinsson on the right flank.
Dawson and goalkeeper Radek Cerny clashed together in the six-yard box and Stelios, on at the break for Campo, prodded home.
Tottenham's reply came in the 52nd minute, with Keane slipping the ball to the back post and Malbranque clipping his finish past Al Habsi.
Despite the goal, Ramos still brought on Darren Bent for Dawson, with Spurs going for three strikers in attack.
They should have taken the lead when Keane was on the end of a flowing move, but Al Habsi was out to block bravely.
Malbranque was found in a similar position to his goal, arguably for an easier chance, but was wide with his volley.
Al Habsi was called into action again in the 66th minute when Berbatov drilled towards the bottom corner, with the Bolton goalkeeper down sharply.
The Bolton goalkeeper did not have to work as hard when Bent was sent through and lobbed tamely into his hands.
Bent also had a header cleared off the line by Guthrie in stoppage time, while Berbatov headed over when found unmarked.
Bolton boss Gary Megson believes the point earned against Tottenham at White Hart Lane has set up a cup final for his side against Sunderland next week.
Megson's men are a point above the Barclays Premier League relegation zone and face title-chasing Chelsea on the last day of the season - meaning they need a win against Roy Keane's men.
They were staring at relegation when Aston Villa thrashed them 4-0 but they have responded with two wins and now a draw at White Hart Lane.
Megson said: 'We've just played two cup finals. When we trooped off the pitch at Villa Park we were the lowest we've been for some time.
'It was a really poor performance and result and we had two away games coming up. We managed four points from them and it's a position when the Sunderland game is a cup final.
'We will have 25,000 people there, hopefully helping us get a result we need and then let's see other results. It's so complicated.
'It doesn't matter if Sunderland are safe or not, we have to perform like I know we can.'
Megson admits his side were fortunate to get a point at Spurs after struggling to create chances.
They took the lead just after the break when Stelios Giannakopoulos tapped in but Steed Malbranque levelled in the 52nd minute.
Despite Birmingham and Reading drawing, Megson did not view the 1-1 as a missed opportunity.
'We have to view ourselves in isolation, not other people,' he said.
'We didn't play well and were fortunate to go in at half-time all square, although Tottenham didn't have many chances despite the possession.
'To score the first goal we're pleased with but we didn't hang onto it long enough.
'It was probably not an opportunity lost, given the opposition.'
Megson has highlighted team spirit as a key factor in their hopes of beating the drop.
'I've never been disappointed with spirit,' he said. 'Villa was our lowest ebb, the spirit was okay even if it didn't look like it from afar. We've responded in the right way, with decent performances.'
In the end Megson needed goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi to be in top form to protect their point.
'Ali's been waiting for his opportunity, we know he's a decent goalkeeper,' the Bolton boss said.
'He's just had a couple of clean sheets and we were unlucky with the build-up to the goal today.'
Spurs head coach Juande Ramos feels his side let themselves down with their finishing.
'I think the players tried their best they could, they had some great chances and the final touch wasn't as accurate as it could have been,' said the Spaniard.
'There were chances to win the game but football is like that, if we don't take our chances then you will not win.'
Stelios Giannakopoulos came on at the break and opened the scoring for the visitors, only for Steed Malbranque to reply shortly after, with Spurs failing to take their chances to dent the survival hopes of Gary Megson's men.
After two 1-0 victories, Megson now has a draw at White Hart Lane to take into the business end of the season, with two games remaining.
His task has been made tougher following the suspension of Kevin Davies, who was watching on the bench.
Grzegorz Rasiak has deputised as the lone attacker but simply does not have the physical presence of Davies, with Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson going untroubled until the Polish forward was taken off at the break.
Rasiak chased tirelessly as Bolton looked for a way into the game, but it was a frustrating return to White Hart Lane for him after a brief, unsuccessful spell at Spurs earlier in his career.
Watching in the stands was a new Spurs signing, Luka Modric, who has agreed a £15.8million move from Dinamo Zagreb.
There are hopes for the Croatia midfielder to be the playmaker to supply Dimitar Berbatov next season, if Spurs can hold on to their striker.
As usual, Berbatov and Robbie Keane were at the heart of Spurs' attacks. Keane had the first effort on goal, toe-poking straight at Ali Al Habsi after latching onto a Berbatov flick.
Berbatov almost got a sight of goal but Jermaine Jenas' chipped through-ball was just too strong.
Spurs made most of the running, but they too found chances difficult to create. The clearest opportunity in the first half came seconds before the break when Keane had a close-range effort bundled wide by Ivan Campo.
At times the hosts looked as though they were playing in an exhibition - they have little to play for as European football has been secured with the Carling Cup.
They could still have a huge say in the relegation battle as they also face Reading next week.
Spurs boss Juande Ramos had predicted a physical encounter and Bolton lived up to his expectations, with Gavin McCann taking out Aaron Lennon on the right flank but escaping a booking from Mark Clattenburg.
Megson's first change was forced, in the 20th minute, when Joey O'Brien picked up a knock, with Danny Guthrie coming on.
But it was his double substitution at half-time that got the game going, with the visitors rewarded within 30 seconds of the restart.
Spurs failed to clear and El-Hadji Diouf, who was on for Rasiak, laid the ball back to Gretar Steinsson on the right flank.
Dawson and goalkeeper Radek Cerny clashed together in the six-yard box and Stelios, on at the break for Campo, prodded home.
Tottenham's reply came in the 52nd minute, with Keane slipping the ball to the back post and Malbranque clipping his finish past Al Habsi.
Despite the goal, Ramos still brought on Darren Bent for Dawson, with Spurs going for three strikers in attack.
They should have taken the lead when Keane was on the end of a flowing move, but Al Habsi was out to block bravely.
Malbranque was found in a similar position to his goal, arguably for an easier chance, but was wide with his volley.
Al Habsi was called into action again in the 66th minute when Berbatov drilled towards the bottom corner, with the Bolton goalkeeper down sharply.
The Bolton goalkeeper did not have to work as hard when Bent was sent through and lobbed tamely into his hands.
Bent also had a header cleared off the line by Guthrie in stoppage time, while Berbatov headed over when found unmarked.
Bolton boss Gary Megson believes the point earned against Tottenham at White Hart Lane has set up a cup final for his side against Sunderland next week.
Megson's men are a point above the Barclays Premier League relegation zone and face title-chasing Chelsea on the last day of the season - meaning they need a win against Roy Keane's men.
They were staring at relegation when Aston Villa thrashed them 4-0 but they have responded with two wins and now a draw at White Hart Lane.
Megson said: 'We've just played two cup finals. When we trooped off the pitch at Villa Park we were the lowest we've been for some time.
'It was a really poor performance and result and we had two away games coming up. We managed four points from them and it's a position when the Sunderland game is a cup final.
'We will have 25,000 people there, hopefully helping us get a result we need and then let's see other results. It's so complicated.
'It doesn't matter if Sunderland are safe or not, we have to perform like I know we can.'
Megson admits his side were fortunate to get a point at Spurs after struggling to create chances.
They took the lead just after the break when Stelios Giannakopoulos tapped in but Steed Malbranque levelled in the 52nd minute.
Despite Birmingham and Reading drawing, Megson did not view the 1-1 as a missed opportunity.
'We have to view ourselves in isolation, not other people,' he said.
'We didn't play well and were fortunate to go in at half-time all square, although Tottenham didn't have many chances despite the possession.
'To score the first goal we're pleased with but we didn't hang onto it long enough.
'It was probably not an opportunity lost, given the opposition.'
Megson has highlighted team spirit as a key factor in their hopes of beating the drop.
'I've never been disappointed with spirit,' he said. 'Villa was our lowest ebb, the spirit was okay even if it didn't look like it from afar. We've responded in the right way, with decent performances.'
In the end Megson needed goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi to be in top form to protect their point.
'Ali's been waiting for his opportunity, we know he's a decent goalkeeper,' the Bolton boss said.
'He's just had a couple of clean sheets and we were unlucky with the build-up to the goal today.'
Spurs head coach Juande Ramos feels his side let themselves down with their finishing.
'I think the players tried their best they could, they had some great chances and the final touch wasn't as accurate as it could have been,' said the Spaniard.
'There were chances to win the game but football is like that, if we don't take our chances then you will not win.'
posted by dgarden at 1:42 pm
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