Danny Rose Goal As Tottenham Defeat Ten-Man Stoke City
By Logan Holmes
A first half headed goal by left-back Danny Rose gave Tottenham a win over Stoke City at The Britannia Stadium as the home side were reduced to ten men with the sending off of Ryan Shawcross for a second yellow card.
Stoke City 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Scorer: Rose
Team: Lloris; Naughton, Dawson, Kaboul, Rose (Fryers); Lennon (Townsend), Chadli (Sigurdsson), Paulinho, Eriksen; Adebayor, Kane Subs: (unused) Friedel, Bentaleb, Sandro, Soldado
A headed goal by Danny Rose in the first half secured the three points for Spurs but it was a struggle in the second half, even though Stoke were reduced to 10-men when Ryan Shawcross was sent off for two bookable offences, six minutes after the interval.
Tim Sherwood made just one change in the team which defeated Fulham with Michael Dawson returning from injury to replace Zeki Fryers in central defence.
Tottenham started in a positive manner with Nacer Chadli bursting through the middle only to be forced to shoot wide in the opening minute. Christian Eriksen then had a shot blocked shortly after as Spurs kept Stoke penned back in their own half for the opening ten minutes. A cross by Paulinho was cleared for a corner and then after 6 minutes a cross/shot by Aaron Lennon troubled the goalkeeper at his near post and from the corner Chadli’s shot was blocked.
Stoke started to put Spurs under pressure with a cross towards Peter Crouch, headed out for a corner by Michael Dawson. Stoke continued to press and when a clearance by Younes Kaboul broke to a Stoke player, Spurs managed to clear. Paulinho blocked a shot by Ireland and when a cross was deflected for a corner, Hugo Lloris got up to punch the ball clear. This allowed Lennon to break quickly but his pass was intercepted.
It was an open game going from end to end with both teams looking to get forward as quickly as possible. Stoke troubled Lloris with a cross to the back post but then after 21 minutes a foul on Rose gave Eriksen the chance to deliver a cross into the penalty area. The ball was just over the head of a Spurs player and into the hands of the goalkeeper.
Another cross by Paulinho was cleared with Emmanuel Adebayor waiting behind after 25 minutes. Ireland shot wide and then a weak shot by Harry Kane was straight at the goalkeeper. Dawson was defending well, blocking Ireland as he broke into the area but from a Spurs corner Lennon had to be alert to defend as Stoke broke quickly.
Danny Rose [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]The opening goal came after 32 minutes. Lennon took a quick throw in on the right and on getting the ball back from Paulinho he released Adebayor on the right of the Stoke penalty area. The striker beat his man and pulled a cross back for Rose to head past Begovic.
Spurs continued to defend stoutly with Dawson standing strong as Stoke finished the half well but in the two minutes of added time, Spurs could have added to their lead with two chances in quick succession to Kane whose shot was blocked and then Lennon who lost the chance with a poor touch.
Stoke started the second half with an instant shot which went wide but then a flick by Kane released Eriksen who took the ball on to the edge of the area with his shot blocked as others waited for a pass.
A challenge by Shawcross on Rose brought him a second booking having blocked Eriksen in the first period, although it appeared that the Spurs players had to remind the referee that it was a second yellow card. The sending off roused the home crowd who targeted Rose which eventually led to him being booked and later taken off by the manager to calm the situation.
Initially with the extra man, Spurs looked to get forward – Kane shot from distance but it went straight at Begovic. He then played the ball to Lennon but his effort was cleared inside the area.
Stoke started to exert themselves with a shot by Crouch going wide. Spurs tried to slow the game but Stoke played at a greater tempo when they had the ball. A cross was headed over and then Rose was booked having reacted to a late challenge by Cameron.
For the final 25 minutes Stoke dominated the game with 10 men as Spurs slowed the game down and gave away the ball allowing the home side to break. Stoke headed past the post on a quick break and then Lloris made a save with his knee as the ball swerved late – his first save after 69 minutes.
A cross from Zeki Fryers who had replaced Rose, was headed over by Kane and then the young striker had a shot blocked. A foul on Sigurdsson brought a free-kick in a central position but Eriksen curled his shot over the bar from 20 yards with 15 minutes to play.
The second half was very scrappy after the sending off and when Andros Townsend hurt his ankle minutes after coming on, he had to hobble through the final ten minutes. Stoke pressed with a series of attacks but Spurs stuck at it – Lloris saved low when Arnautovic burst through the middle. Stoke had another shot straight at Lloris, then an effort went over.
Kaboul burst forward along the left wing and put a cross into the box and in added time Spurs tried to retain possession to run down time but when they lost the ball Stoke threatened again. In the final seconds Paulinho burst forward into the area but Begovic saved with his feet.
Spurs held on to win the three points and having ended Stoke’s unbeaten run at home, they reduced Everton’s advantage to 3 points. It was Tottenham’s 10th away win of the league season, their first since February, and Lloris’ 13th clean sheet.
Spurs showed a fighting quality but should have been able to retain possession and control the game better in the second half with the extra man.