Tottenham 0-1 Wigan- Report

Last updated : 03 November 2012 By DSG




Spurs booed off after Latics loss

Tottenham fans vented their anger at Andre Villas-Boas as their side slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat against strugglers Wigan at White Hart Lane.

Spurs had gone into the game having won five of their last six Barclays Premier League matches, but they were desperately poor.

The Londoners were lucky that Ben Watson's strike was the only one they conceded after they put in a dire display that caused an outcry of fury among the home support.

The home fans knew with games against Manchester City and Arsenal coming up, this was a perfect opportunity to register three more valuable points after last weekend's morale-boosting win over Southampton.

It was not surprising, therefore, that they vented their anger at their team by booing them off at half-time and at the final whistle.

The home support also turned against Villas-Boas 10 minutes into the second half when he substituted Jermain Defoe for Emmanuel Adebayor.

Loud boos rang out at White Hart Lane and the home fans chanted the name of the England striker, who sauntered off the pitch before going down the tunnel.

The Latics had gone six Barclays Premier League games without a victory before their 2-1 win against the Hammers last weekend but they performed superbly.

While Tottenham struggled with the basics, Roberto Martinez's men passed with finesse and purpose while Arouna Kone was a constant menace for the away side.

It could have all been so different had Clint Dempsey taken an early chance after a mistake by Watson.

The former Crystal Palace midfielder misplaced a simple pass and Dempsey sneaked in behind the Wigan defence only to shoot into the side-netting.

The American then hit a crisp shot just wide of Ali Al-Habsi's goal but Wigan soon began to take a grip on the game.

Al-Habsi was only called into action once in the first half when Jan Vertonghen acrobatically volleyed towards goal but the Oman goalkeeper dived to his left to save.

The home supporters bellowed at their side, urging them forward, but it had little effect.

Shaun Maloney and Kone combined well on the edge of the box, giving the Ivory Coast man some space on the edge of the box but Friedel saved well to deny Wigan an opener.

Villas-Boas was then forced into an early change when Sandro hobbled off with a muscle injury. Gylfi Sigurdsson came on in his place.

Wigan continued to dominate against a Spurs side now devoid of their combative midfielder.

Kone slipped Maloney into the box to leave the Scot through on goal but he fired straight at Friedel.

The home fans' angst grew as their team failed to produce any chances.

Indeed their only reason to cheer came just before the end of the first period when news of Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Manchester United flickered across the big screen at White Hart Lane.

Boos rang out at the half-time whistle but Villas-Boas did not make any changes at the break.

Dempsey was booked for childishly blocking a Wigan free-kick from one yard.

The home side's afternoon went from bad to worse in the 56th minute when Friedel could only parry Maloney's corner at the feet of Watson, who drove at goal from close range.

Friedel blocked the shot but the ball had already crossed the line and the referee's assistant rightly awarded the goal.

The atmosphere then turned hostile a minute later when Villas-Boas withdrew Defoe and brought on Adebayor.

The home fans booed loudly when the fourth official held his board aloft and chanted Defoe's name as he sauntered off the pitch before disappearing down the tunnel, clearly unhappy at being taken off.

The goal briefly brought Spurs to life but they still lacked the cutting edge to test Al-Habsi.

Bale whipped a curling shot at the Wigan stopper which he held well, and the Welshman then shouted for a penalty but it was not given.

Villas-Boas brought on Tom Carroll and shifted to a back three, which gave Tottenham more impetus going forward but also left them open at the back.

James McCarthy blocked Dempsey's flick on the line as Spurs started to kick into gear, but Wigan held strong and hit back on dangerous counter-attacks.

Kone broke through the Spurs back line and squared the ball but no one was there to tap in.

A crucial block from William Gallas only prevented Jordi Gomez from making it 2-0 after some good work by Kone as Wigan threatened to kill the game off.

Maynor Figueroa then blasted a free-kick inches wide with six minutes to go as Tottenham watched the game slip away before their eyes.

Five minutes of injury time came and went without incident and Wigan held on comfortably to claim a shock win that was met with a cacophony of boos from the angry home support.

Source: DSG

Source: DSG