Thomas Sorensen shines but Defoe has off day

Last updated : 01 February 2006 By Editor

Line-up: Stephen Kelly returns to replace suspended Paul Stalteri. Jermain Defoe is promoted to the starting line up in place of Mido (in Africa) with Grzegorz Rasiak named on the bench.


Defoe and Keane never hit it off against Villa. Jol is probably right when he says that both are better playing off a big target man. At least Keane looked lively and a threat against Villa whereas Defoe was clearly short of confidence. Tottenham were always the better side and only a string of brilliant saves from Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen kept them out. DAILY MIRROR

Tottenham played throughout with imagination and should have scored. However, the outstanding player on the day was Thomas Sorensen, the Villa goalkeeper, who stretched for and parried everything Spurs threw at him. THE TIMES

The home team offered a performance that was full of invention and optimism but for Defoe, the frustration was particularly intense. Gzegorz Raziak showed touches of the form which persuaded Martin Jol to sign him from Derby County. THE INDEPENDENT