Spurs come from behind for first home win (From Haringey Independent)

Tottenham Hotspur come from behind against Queens Park Ranger for first home win

5:59pm Sunday 23rd September 2012 in Sport By Chris Hewett

Tottenham earned their first win at White Hart Lane under Andre Villas Boas as they came from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1.

Bobby Zamora put the visitors in front on 32 minutes before an Alejandro Faurlin own goal drew Spurs level after the break.

Jermain Defoe gave his side the lead seconds later and Spurs held on for the win.

Rangers deservedly took the lead during a poor first half for Andre Villas Boas’ side when Zamora lofted a clinical finish over Brad Friedel from close range.

Faurlin’s own goal in the 60th minute was a result of a brighter period for the home team early in the second half.

The ball bounced in off the midfielder as he turned his back on Moussa Dembele’s header across goal.

Tottenham broke away straight from the restart and Defoe lifted the roof off White Hart Lane when he was on hand to follow up Gareth Bale’s shot as it rebounded off the cross bar.

Mark Hughes’ side were the much better team in the first half and Spurs could have gone behind earlier were it not for the acrobatics of goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

In his 309th consecutive Premier League appearance, Friedel twice prevented Spurs going behind in the opening 15 minutes.

The veteran goalkeeper tipped Clint Hill’s close range header over the bar early on and then sprung to his left to keep out Junior Hoilett’s powerful volley on 13 minutes.

Hoilett’s long range effort shortly before the goal was also blocked well by the American, who was at full stretch to keep the ball out low to his right.

Tottenham failed to find any rhythm in a first half that produced little in the way of chances for both teams.

Defoe looked isolated up front and the home side’s attempts to play the ball out from the back were regularly broken up by a feisty QPR midfield.

Spurs did have the ball in the back of the net on 30 minutes but Defoe was flagged offside before squaring the ball.

Andre Villas Boas’ side began the second half in brighter fashion but struggled initially to carve out any clear cut chances.

Dempsey’s 25-yard shot after half time was fumbled by Rangers’ keeper Julio Cesar who looked even more uncertain when he attempted to punch clear a low cross in from the left seconds later.

Spurs were appealing for a penalty as QPR cleared when the ball bounced up and appeared to strike Shaun Wright-Phillips on the arm but the claims were waved away by the referee.

Jan Vertonghen was on hand for Spurs 20 minutes from time when he was at full stretch to nick the ball off Hoilett inside the box when the winger looked set to score.

Defoe should have put his side 3-1 up late on but he dithered on the ball when put through on goal, allowing Rangers to clear.

Esteban Granero shot wide from the edge of the box in injury time and Spurs held on for a win that takes them up to eighth in the Premier League with eight points from five games.

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Bale, Lennon (Townsend,90), Sandro, Dembele, Sigurdsson (Caulker,45), Dempsey (Huddlestone, 87), Defoe. Subs: Lloris, Dawson, Falque, Mason.
 

QPR: Julio Cesar, Onuoha, Nelsen, Hill, Bosingwa (Dyer,2), Wright-Phillips, Faurlin, Granero, Park, Hoilett, Zamora (Cisse). Subs: Green, Diakite, Derry, Mackie, Ehmer.
 

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
 

Bookings: None.
Att: 36,052