Tottenham Hotspur 2 West Bromwich Albion 1

Last updated : 29 March 2006 By Editor

Despite being a little frenetic, the teams spent the first 15 minutes sizing each other up, providing the thrust but not the cut to create anything in the way of clear chances.

Spurs finally in tune really turned up the heat ahead of half-time and sent the Baggies into retreat.

They started the second half on the offensive but with no real sign of a breakthrough, as Albion's rugged ranks stood firm.

Martin Jol: "We came back and showed a lot of character. I had a little impulse to change Robbie but I thought 'no' – we wanted the three points – so we played him on the right because he'd proved before that he can be a real team player out of position and tonight he went and scored two goals. I'm also very pleased with Jermain because if he wasn't there and pressurising the keeper we wouldn't have scored the winner. We had 60 per cent of possession so I think we deserved to win. I thought all our forwards did well. Aaron Lennon looked a threat up until the last 10, 15 minutes when he looked a bit tired."

"The balance of the team wasn't right for the first half-hour and that caused us problems. We couldn't get the service to the right where we had Lennon, Jermaine Jenas and Stephen Kelly and we couldn't utilise them. I think we created only one chance in that time. After 30 minutes we changed it and I think Aaron showed us he's someone who can penetrate and worry defences. We started to play and I think we did well for the remaining 60 minutes. If you look at the second half we took the initiative, put them under pressure and I was waiting for the goal. The only thing is that we had to wait too long for it and we were 1-0 down at the time."

"We had to gamble and go for the three points because one point wouldn't have meant a lot to us. We brought Mido on as well which was a bit adventurous and Jermaine Jenas also played at right-back. On the other hand, they could have scored as well because they had plenty of space in midfield for 70 or 80 minutes while we chased the game."

Robbie Keane: "On paper people were probably thinking we would definitely win the game but we conceded an early goal, which made it tough for ourselves and didn't play as well as we can play. West Brom came here and sat back, the two central midfielders sat right in front of the centre-halves and made it difficult for myself and Jermain to get involved in the game and make things happen."

"As the game went on it opened up a little bit. I saw him (the keeper) coming and the ball took a nice little bounce for me before I dinked it and thankfully it went in. There was nothing else really on, I couldn't drill it with my left foot because he came out so quickly. I've had a few late penalties and I was just happy to see it hit the back of the net. I think we can take a lot from the second half. We showed character and great spirit to come back and luckily enough we got the three points we desperately needed and deserved to get in the end."

Jermain Defoe: "It was unbelievable! a great game. Even 1-0 down at half-time we still really believed we could win the game. I certainly thought we could win it and I think all the lads did as well. The fans could have got frustrated but they got behind the boys and in the second half they were fantastic – the atmosphere was brilliant and we dug in and got what we deserved in the end."

"It was good to get the penalty. The keeper took a bad touch, I felt sharp and was onto it straight away. I didn't actually know where the ball was when it was up in the air. As I went to get it under control he climbed over my back and I knew it was a penalty. It was good to get the three points - the lads at the back had to do well."

Source: Official site
Spurs starting line-up: As before.