Modric Runs The Game For Spurs

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 STOKE CITY FC 1

In front of a 36,000 full house Stoke fielded the same side that failed narrowly at Chelsea.

The Potters won several early freekicks, one leading to a Shawcross header being cleared away from the Spurs post by Bentley.Immediately Spurs broke upfield Defoe played to Aaron Lennon who scored after 8 minutes.Stoke threatened by Spurs midfield, with Modric prominent setting up plays ably abetted by Zokora

Stoke attempting some patient build up, finding Beattie and Etherington then getting up in support. Both looked a real threat.But on 20 minutes Jermain Defoe rifled home Spurs second goal of the evening as Stoke failed to press the ball. Sorensen saved brilliantly on 22 minutes palming away from Bentley,but all for nothing as Dawson scored with a free header two minutes later.

Spurs were being given too much time on the ball allowing them to pick their passes and dominate the play,Stoke for their part were uncharacteristically flat and sluggish.Shades of the disappointing performances at Bolton and Blackburn.

The omens were not good as the second half commenced with injured Wilkinson and Abdy Faye, replaced by Griffin and Sonko.Shortly after the resumption Fuller came on for Amdy Faye.

Beattie netted his first for the Potters - a class effort shooting from the edge of the penalty area, into the bottom left corner of the Spurs net - on 56 minutes following good approach play from Etherington, to give his team some hope. Spurs seemed more apprehensive for a while, before Modric slowed things down dictating the pace once again.

On 84 minutes Griffin's cross was headed wide by Cresswell from an excellent scoring chance.Thereafter the game meandered uneventfully to a conclusion.

Still no away win, and still anchored in the bottom three,but as Tony Pulis said before the match still 15 matches to go and no time to panic.