Spurs 2 – 3 Birmingham

This was a typical Spurs game and they started in typical Spurs manner with Muamba being found unmarked from a free-kick after 3mins but fortunately for them it was just inches over his head.

This didn’t dent their confidence though as they piled forward. Berbatov had just tested Taylor when moments later Keane’s one-two off Bent saw him through on goal but he scooped his shot over. Minutes later the Bulgarian was twice close with headed efforts in what was looking like only a matter of time before the visitor’s defence was breached.

Birmingham’s lone striker and long ball game didn’t look to be paying off but on 22mins they were gifted a penalty when McSheffrey went down following minimal contact with Kaboul. McSheffrey made no mistake with spot kick to give his side the most undeserved of leads.

Spurs pinned Birmingham in their own half following this, with Dawson coming closest on 28mins following a corner. Despite tearing their opponents apart in the early stages with their superior pace and movement Spurs began hurling high balls into the box in a desperate attempt to get an equaliser.

Bale’s free kick brought a good save from Taylor on 36mins but Birmingham weathered the storm and saw the home side look deflated coming up to half time.

The second half had just begun when Spurs were handed a lifeline as Djorou clashed with Berbatov in the box. Keane’s penalty was hard and high and acted as a much needed confidence boost for his team-mates.

It wasn’t long before they were ahead. Birmingham had just cleared their lines following a free-kick, on 52mins, when Huddlestone ( on as a second half substitute) played a lovely ball over the top to find Keane’s well timed run and the Irishman’s first time shot was scuffed but found the top corner.

Birmingham were rocked by this and almost conceded again a minute later but Berbatov’s shot came back off the upright. The visitors got their composure back as Spurs continued to apply pressure.

Spurs were their own worst enemy again as Jerome was allowed to run at their defence on 61mins. The awkward looking striker twice got some luck with ricochets as both Tottenham defenders failed to make a convincing tackle. The resulting shot from 20yards was a superbly accurate daisy-cutter that found its way past Robinson and into the corner of the goal.

Berbatov almost restored Spurs’ lead on 64mins but saw his header cleared off the line. Things went form bad to worse when Robbie Keane was given a straight red after a fairly innocuous looking tackle on Muamba.

This seemed to invigorate Spurs as they laid siege to the visitors’ goal. Birmingham couldn’t make their numerical advantage pay off as they continued to give the ball back to Spurs.

It was Birmingham though who made the final push in the closing stages. Kapo, having come on as a substitute, gave them a new outlet and it was his cross, on 87mins, that Forsell directed on to the bar from 6 yards.

It looked to be a draw following Robinson’s injury-time save form Kapo but on 91mins Sebastian Larsson hit a wonder shot from 30 yards that bent into the top corner to give Birmingham the points.