Stoke City 0 0 TottenhamTWO TIRED attacks blunted by either injury or squad rotation produced a dull game of few chances that almost inevitably required extra-time and penalties before Stoke, embroiled like Spurs in the Europa League, went through 7-6 after a penalty shoot-out.
Whereas Tony Pulis fielded a side of recognisable strength, Harry Redknapp made nine changes from the team that beat Liverpool. Though initially selected on the bench against his former club, Peter Crouch was brought on after just 11 minutes when Kenwyne Jones limped off with a thigh strain.
Finding it hard to thrive on a succession of high balls from the back, Crouch made little impression on an uneventful first half. He did get one decent cross before half-time when Matthew Etherington galloped free down the left, but opted to lay the ball off rather than go for goal and ended up passing to no one in particular.
With Ryan Shotton not quite achieving Rory Delap’s length or trajectory from the touchline Stoke were unable to bring their tall men into play even from throw ins, though Robert Huth put a good chance over the bar with a free header from a corner.
Defending capably, Spurs were content to bide their time and wait for chances on the break and were almost gifted one when Wilson Palacios somehow got away with passing to Rafael van der Vaart in his own penalty area.
Apart from that, the closest the visitors came to breaking the deadlock was a volley from Tom Carroll that flew over.
Spurs stepped up their efforts in the second half with both Van der Vaart and Jake Livermore shooting narrowly wide, before Roman Pavlyuchenko forced the first real save of the game with a stinging drive that Thomas Sorensen palmed over.
Well found after good work on the right by Vedran Corluka, Pavlyuchenko ought to have done better given the amount of space that opened up for him. He went for the spectacular though, and was off target
When Van der Vaart surrendered possession in the centre circle Etherington almost took advantage with a cross that Heurelho Gomes needed two unconvincing attempts to punch away from Crouch. When an even better Etherington cross gave Crouch another opportunity minutes later he was unable to make any contact, even though the goalkeeper this time stayed on his line.
Guardian Service
STOKESorensen, Shotton, Huth, Upson, Wilson, Pennant, Palacios, Whelan, Etherington, Jones, Jerome. Subs: Nash, Pugh, Diao, Walters, Delap, Crouch
TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Corluka, Kaboul, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Carroll, Livermore, Sandro, Giovani, Van der Vaart, Pavlyuchenko. Subs: Cudicini, Defoe, Falque, Townsend, Kane, Caballos.
Referee: L Probert (Wiltshire)
