Spurs v Slavia Prague

[kennethlindheim]

Tottenham Hotspur welcome Slavia Prague in the Uefa Cup hoping to defend their slender 1-0 lead from the first leg.

Despite a poor start to the season so far, Martin Jol's side remain second favourites in the competition behind the holders Sevilla.

They currently languish fourth bottom in The Premiership though, having scored just three goals in all competitions this term.

One of the Dutchman's biggest problems has been finding the right combination of strikers up front, as the North Londoners have paid for missing good chances at Anfield and Old Trafford in recent weeks.

But with Jermain Defoe sidelined with an ankle problem and Dimitar Berbatov still suffering from a groin strain, the decision up front has been taken out of Jol's hands.

As the squad's only two fit strikers Mido and Robbie Keane are sure to start, with a number of other injury worries for Jol to contend with.

Edgar Davids (ankle), Paul Stalteri (hamstring), Anthony Gardner (hip, back), Aaron Lennon (knee) and Steed Malbranque (groin) are all out, with captain Ledley King set to undergo a late fitness test on his knee to determine his availability.

Tom Huddlestone, Phil Ifil and Calum Davenport have been brought in as cover and Spurs may be forced to rely on top scorer Jermaine Jenas to provide the cutting edge as a result of all the injuries.

While the Czechs performed poorly in the first leg, the English top flight side made hard work of their victory and with just one goal in it, Slavia will be hopeful of an upset.

They are currently fourth in the Czech league two points behind their better known derby opponents Sparta.

Slavia lost goalkeeper Michal Vorel midway through the first leg encounter, and his able replacement Matus Kozacik could continue to deputise in Vorel's absence.

Spur last won the Uefa Cup in 1984 and will be anxious to use this opportunity to kick-start their season and improve their position in the league.

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[kennethlindheim]

Tottenham Hotspur overcame a frustrating night to beat Slavia Prague 1-0 at White Hart Lane to record a 2-0 aggregate triumph in the first round of the Uefa Cup.

A Robbie Keane goal 10 minutes from time settled the tie, but the hosts missed a glut of chances in the second leg encounter.

Spurs have struggled in front of goal this season and it was a similar story for the frustrated White Hart Lane faithful against Slavia.

Martin Jol's men could easily have been ahead after just three minutes when Pascal Chimbonda burst down the right flank.

His low cross saw Jermaine Jenas beat Mido to the ball, but the midfielder's sliding effort took a deflection on its way past the upright.

From the resulting corner, Jenas' cross was headed on by Calum Davenport, but Keane was unable to apply the finish at the far post.

Jenas and Chimbonda were enjoying the chance to roam down the right flank, but it was another corner from the left which provided Spurs with their next chance.

Midfielder Jenas whipped in a dangerous set-piece, but Keane was positioned at too acute an angle and could only head into the side-netting.

Chimbonda and Keane then combined for the full back to drill in a low cross, which Mido turned wide at the near post.

Slavia threatened only occasionally, although Pavel Fort's header from Matej Krajcik's cross forced Paul Robinson into a save.

The half finished as it started, with Spurs fluffing a great opportunity to take the lead.

Jenas slipped in Danny Murphy in the penalty area, he squared across goal, but Keane shot straight at Slavia keeper Matus Kozacik when a goal beckoned.

The Czechs resumed for the second half in a much more positive frame of mind, aware they needed a goal to take the tie into extra time.

Krajcik was their chief threat and his searing drive from outside the box only just flew over Robinson's crossbar. The Slavia ace scented a goal, although he was slightly more wayward with his next long-range attempt.

Desperate defending from Slavia kept the score level on 62 minutes, when Spurs' attempt at a clever free kick ricocheted kindly for Chimbonda, whose cross was headed away by Martin Latka as Davenport lurked with intent.

Spurs were stepping up the tempo and a break from Didier Zokora should have had a better end product, but the Ivorian failed to pick out either Murphy or Keane in space.

With 10 minutes left, Spurs' persistence finally paid off when Zokora's long pass was chested into the path of Keane by Hossam Ghaly and the Irish striker fizzed a low shot past Kozacik.

Slavia almost pinched a goal with two minutes left when a long punt downfield was nodded on and substitute Stanislav Vlcek's shot struck the post.

But Spurs could have had another three goals before the final whistle, with Keane darting through the Slavia defence, rounding Kozacik before seeing his shot headed away by Marek Suchy.

Keane then had a second goal disallowed offside when he ghosted ahead of the visiting defence to meet Ghaly's cross at the near post.

Ghaly then served up a golden opportunity for Mido, but the striker headed wide at the back post as Spurs were not made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal.

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