Busy Berbatov finds the switch to set Spurs Tingling
Everywhere Dimitar Berbatov goes at the moment he departs to rapturous applause. Cheered off by both sets of fans after scoring Tottenham's winner against his former club Bayer Leverkusen last Thursday, the striker strolled down the tunnel to more deserved acclaim yesterday. By getting one goal and setting up two others, he played a major part in Spurs recovery from a goal behind to secure a merited victory.
Wigan, whose balance had been affected by a hamstring injury that forced off Gary Teale, were soon behind. A pass by the solid Benoit Assou-Ekotto found Berbatov near the left edge of the penalty area and the striker beat Matt Jackson and curled into the top corner. "I felt they had run out of ideas a little bit," said Wigan's manager, Paul Jewell, "and then scored two in a minute and it changed the complexion of the game."
The Independent
Berbatov adn Defoe remind Tottenham of Home Comforts
Not that Wigan were the obvious fall guys for a home win to restore their confidence, something Jol pointed out. "They are not the team you want to play after you have been in the Uefa Cup," the Tottenham manager said with good reason.
The visitors' last five games before yesterday had produced four wins and a draw. The opening period only saw Henri Camara vaguely test Paul Robinson. His next attempt was more successful.
With 25 minutes gone, David Wright drifted a cross to the far post, finding the head of Lee McCulloch, who outjumped his former team-mate Pascal Chimbonda. From the ensuing knockdown, Camara was lurking unmarked by the penalty spot and, with time on his side, he thumped his shot past Robinson.
The Sun
Tottenham 3 Wigan Athletic 1
London'S new ‘Tinkerman' is getting it right at White Hart Lane — and proved it as Tottenham brutally savaged Wigan.
Spurs boss Martin Jol insists that he does not rotate his strikeforce.
Yet he has changed it 14 times in the club's last 20 games.
There can be no arguments he got it right here, though, after his team moved back into the top half of the table for the first time this season.
Over at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea ‘Tinkerman' Claudio Ranieri finally got the push after constantly changing his line-up.
But while Spurs look so irresistible, Jol can change whatever he likes without fear of criticism.
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