Highbury-target faults Edman for tackle

Last updated : 06 January 2005 By Alistair Murray

Jonson needed to be withdrawn after 39 minutes following the clash in their home defeat to Spurs. He was one of three Norwich players who now miss the Canaries next fixture of their festive calendar owing to injuries picked up on Sunday.

"Some of the tackles were a bit feisty and when Jonson went off the lad (Edman) had lined him up from about five yards away and gone clean through the back of him. You have to look for protection against things like that and when it doesn't come you pay the penalty - today the first goal was a killer blow for us, but that happens when goals come like that," said Green.

Edman's arm made appeared to make contact with Johnson’s head. The Tottenham fullback was returning himself for the first time since suffering concussion at Everton on October 2.

Meanwhile Timothee Atouba, who had filled the left-sided defensive role in Edman's absence, was moved into midfield at the expense of Reto Ziegler who started on the bench.

Ziegler and Jermain Defoe were both called upon which improved the team’s performance after the interval. Martin Jol's decision to replace Fredi Kanoute with Defoe on 71 minutes was a surprising choice at 0-0 considering the pair's outstanding performance together one week earlier. However, two minutes later Spurs broke the deadlock and were on the way to a 1,000th post-war league victory.

Ziegler aimed a corner from the right to Noureddine Naybet on the back post. Craig Fleming intercepted the cross but only into further danger, and Adam Drury then made an error with his attempted clearance. The ball dropped kindly to Keane who struck it with his left foot, low into the far corner of the Norwich net.

Michael Brown then made sure Tottenham recorded their fifth back-to-back win in the Premiership five minutes later. After controlling a returned pass from Keane, the recently impressive midfielder found himself in space thanks to slack defending in the middle of the park. Green could do nothing to stop Brown's goalward-bound smashed effort from 25 yards.