Match Report:Tottenham 3-1 Manchester City

A second-half burst from Tottenham saw them claim a vital three points in the race for the top four as they beat Manchester City 3-1.
Spurs made the brighter start, but it was City who took the lead on five minutes following great work on the right by Carlos Tevez and James Milner, the latter finding Samir Nasri in the box and the Frenchman fired in from 10 yards. Nasri almost doubled the lead a few moments later, latching onto Pablo Zabaleta's ball but he couldn't direct his effort goalwards due to good pressure from Hugo Lloris. That was the first of a string of saves the French keeper was forced to make, as after 38 minutes he got down low to his right to block an Edin Dzeko shot, before shortly saving smartly from a close-range Tevez header. The visitors continued to control proceedings in the second half and, although Spurs did push for an equaliser, the hosts struggled to create any real chances. However, that all changed on 74 minutes as, after good work from Walker, Gareth Bale angled a wonderful ball across the box and Clint Dempsey tapped in at the back post. Jermain Defoe then fired them into the lead five minutes later, cutting in from the left and smashing home. Bale then made it 3-1 after 81 minutes, latching onto Tom Huddlestone's through ball before exquisitely chipping over Hart to wrap-up a vital three points in his side's bid for a top-four spot.

Bale blasts Adam as injury threatens season start

Tottenham's pre-season friendly in the United States has turned nasty with Gareth Bale launching a scathing post-match attack on Liverpool's Charlie Adam.

Bale was a victim of Adam's late tackle on Saturday, suffering a major injury scare to his left ankle before the new Premier League season has already begun.

But the Welshman later accused Adam of a pre-mediated and calculated attack and alleged he deliberately targeted him for special treatment during the goalless draw between the two English teams.

Significantly, there is also a history of ill-feeling between these two players.

Adam, who was playing for Blackpool at the time, escaped a Football Association charge after rupturing Bale's ankle ligaments and ending the Tottenham winger's season early in May 2011 following a stamp at White Hart Lane.

And with relations already strained the bad blood spilled over here as Bale turned on Adam, branding him a coward amid claims he set out to deliberately injure him.

"He's obviously come for me twice now - and he's got me twice," said Bale. "From what I've seen of him on pitch, I think he's a bit of a coward.

"There are pictures on the internet of what he did before when he snapped all my ankle ligaments. I was out for three months that time and one player told me he went out to do the same thing to me again.

"It's flattering when players try to take you out in a game but when it threatens your career, it becomes more serious than that.

"I would have understood it had it been a slightly miss-timed tackle, even though it was just a friendly. But the ball was 10 yards past him already and was nowhere near him when he came through my ankle.

"It's unsportsmanlike and I don't think any player should be like that. That's what kind of person he is like - he's done it before."

He continued: "I was surprised to see a challenge like that in a friendly. We're all over here to build our fitness and get a good workout and what he did was over the top, to be honest.

"I haven't ever done anything to him. But some people are like that and it's just wrong."

Spurs anger
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas, so incensed that he is considering reporting the Scottish midfielder to the FA, exchanged angry words with Adam as the ugly incident raised temperatures in the Baltimore sunshine.

Bale later claimed he received no apology from Adam following the 19th minute challenge, but says he would now turn down any offer of an olive branch to end their feud.

"He didn't say anything to me afterwards. I've had no apology," he added. "When someone makes a very bad tackle on you in a game you expect him to come up and apologise.

"But I've had no apology from him and I don't really want one from him to be honest. I'm not going to accept his apology."

Bale, who hit the headlines following his early return from a back injury during this tour despite pulling out of Team GB's Olympics plans, fears he could now be heading back for another spell on the sidelines.

He faces a scan on his left ankle and left the M&T Bank Stadium wearing a protective boot, and the 23-year-old added: "All I want to do is play my game and play it in the right way.

"My ankle is sore - very, very sore. We'll have to wait and see how it goes. I'll probably have to have a scan."

Adam refused to comment when given the chance to apologise.

Bale Sign new Tottenham Contract

Gareth Bale has ended speculation over his immediate future by signing a new four-year contract with Tottenham.The Welsh international has been strongly linked with a summer exit from White Hart Lane, with Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid believed to have been chasing his signature.Following Harry Redknapp's exit earlier this month and Spurs yet to announce a replacement, there were growing concerns that Bale might decide to leave.The 22-year-old though insists he is happy to remain a Tottenham player and now has a contract that will run until 2016.Bale told the Spurs official website: "The club is progressing and I want to be a part of that, so it was great to get the deal done. I've been here for five years now and I've enjoyed every minute. I love the club and the fans.
"We've a good, young squad and we need to work together to get back on the biggest stage again."

Barcelona Preparing Gareth Bale Swoop

Barcelona have had scouts watching Gareth Bale in action and are said to be preparing a £35m offer for the Welshman. Harry Redknapp has repeatedly said he will not sell his flying winger but that has not stopped the speculation about him, and Barcelona are apparently ready should the Spurs boss show any signing of easing his stance. The 22-year-old is under contract until 2015, and is reportedly earning £75,000 a week in the process, but that has not stopped the speculation after Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola sent his top scout to watch him in action.Although Bale operates the left wing at Tottenham, Guardiola sees the Wales star as an attacking left-back and the ideal replacement for Maxwell, Eric Abidal and Adriano, who are all seen as weak links. The Tottenham man's pace and ability to deliver to the killer ball from out wide would also mirror that of Danny Alves on the right. Both Milan clubs are also interested as are Real Madrid but having fought off Chelsea's attempts to land Luka Modric in the summer Spurs remain confident they can repel all offers.

Match Report Fulham 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Brad Friedel produced a match-winning display as Spurs survived a second-half onslaught to beat Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage. It had been a mixed week for these two London clubs as Fulham destroyed Wisla Krakow in the Europa League while Spurs were being narrowly beaten in Russia after manager Harry Redknapp had undergone minor heart surgery. The Spurs boss was absent from the dugout for this game and will no doubt have been grateful for it as his side shredded the nerves of their fans with a frantic defensive display in the second half. Fulham were quickly out of the blocks but were struck by the first sucker punch of the afternoon in the 10th minute as Aaron Lennon's cross was parried into the path of Gareth Bale who slammed the ball back across goal and Chris Baird could not keep it out on the line. The hosts continued to pressurise throughout the first half but were hit again on the break in stoppage time as Bale's clever flick sent Lennon racing away and he twisted and turned his way past Baird before firing into the far corner with his left foot. There was further bad news for Fulham before the break as Zdenek Grygera appeared to suffer a serious knee injury while tackling Bale on the halfway line. Martin Jol's side responded superbly in the second half and found a way back into it just before the hour mark as Damien Duff's corner was headed across his own goal by Ledley King before rebounding into the net off Younes Kaboul. Then came the Friedel show. As Fulham pressed and pressed the veteran American goalkeeper seemed to deny every player in Fulham white at some point including two sensational moments in a dramatic injury-time period. First, Zamora went through on goal and Freidel denied him one on one before then keeping out Bryan Ruiz and Clint Dempsey's follow-ups. Then from the resulting corner he reacted superbly to keep out Brede Hangeland's header from the edge of the six-yard box and then saw Luka Modric turn away Ruiz's header with what appeared to be his little left toe. Fulham's afternoon was summed up perfectly when Emmanuel Adebayor's stinging cutback was volleyed expertly into the back of the net by substitute Jermain Defoe with the final kick of the game to really rub salt into the Cottagers' wounds.

Match Report Tottenham 3 QPR 1

Two goals from Gareth Bale and one from Rafael van der Vaart helped Tottenham Hotspur secure a 3-1 victory at home to QPR. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp recalled the fit-again Ledley King to the heart of the home defence, while Armand Traore started at left-back for Rangers in place of Clint Hill. The home side started brightly and after Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor had wasted chances, Spurs hit the front with 20 minutes on the clock. A fluent Tottenham attack ended with the ball being played out to the arriving Gareth Bale on the left and he lashed a left-foot shot past the stranded Paddy Kenny from 15 yards. Just past the half-hour mark it was 2-0 as King attempted a shot from distance which fell to the unmarked van der Vaart in the area and he despatched a left-foot shot into the corner of the net. Luka Modric then swerved a left-foot volley just wide of the far post as Spurs ended the half in total charge. Rangers made a double change at the interval and just past the hour mark one of the substitutes, Jay Bothroyd, halved the deficit as he headed home after Heidar Helguson headed a corner back across the goal. Ten minutes later Spurs restored their two-goal cushion as Bale and Aaron Lennon played a one-two and the Welshman curled a fine left-footer past the despairing dive of Kenny. Adebayor should have added a fourth, while the R's had two efforts cleared off the line deep into stoppage time at the end of the game.

Tottenham 1-1 Blackpool

A late 25-yard strike from Jermain Defoe earned Tottenham a point against Blackpool after the hosts had conceded two second-half penalties in a minute.Charlie Adam converted a 76th-minute spot-kick after Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes had fouled Gary Taylor-Fletcher.Gomes had saved a penalty moments earlier from the same player after Michael Dawson handled in the area.But Defoe struck powerfully past Matthew Gilks in the 89th minute to level a dramatic encounter.However, Tottenham could be without inspirational winger Gareth Bale for their remaining games - at Manchester City on Tuesday, at Liverpool on 15 May and at home to Birmingham on 22 May - after the Wales international left the pitch on a stretcher with an ankle injury following a rash Adam challenge.The result will frustrate the north Londoners, whose prospects of qualifying for the fourth and final Champions League place look increasingly bleak ahead of Tuesday's trip to Eastlands - City effectively need a point to deny Spurs a second successive top-four finish.
Tottenham, who have only won once in nine Premier League matches, were once again profligate in front of goal with Rafael Van der Vaart, Bale and Luka Modric all spurning excellent chances, especially in the early stages of the second half.
However, the result gives Blackpool fresh impetus in their quest to maintain their Premier League status with games at home to Bolton next Saturday and away to Manchester United on the final day of the campaign remaining.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp made two changes to the team that controversially lost to Chelsea, with Danny Rose making his first appearance in a Tottenham shirt in over a year at left-back, while Defoe replaced Aaron Lennon, who was dropped to the bench.
A lively first half saw both sides create good chances, but neither could produce a deft finish in front of goal as opportunities were squandered.
A thumping left-footed volley by Adam was brilliantly saved by Gomes in the 24th minute, while a Van der Vaart pass dissected Blackpool's back four and found Defoe, but the striker's run was a fraction too early as he was rightly adjudged offside before rifling the ball into the back of the net.
The hosts dominated the opening exchanges of the second half as the introduction of Lennon, on for the redundant Roman Pavlyuchenko, allowed Redknapp's men to play the kind of expansive game which enthralled fans at the start of the season.
England winger Lennon's pace opened up Blackpool's defence, but numerous opportunities could not be converted as the crowd's impatience began to show.
Gomes made yet another excellent save, this time to deny DJ Campbell from eight yards after good work from David Vaughan sent the striker through.
Bale's withdrawal increased the home faithful's worries - further exacerbated when Dawson was adjudged to have handled an Adam corner in the 75th minute.
But the Scotland midfielder's low strike was brilliantly saved by Gomes, diving to his left - only for the Brazilian keeper to concede a thoroughly needless penalty less than 60 seconds later when he chased a bobbling ball through a throng of players inside his own box.
Referee Lee Probert deemed that Gomes had obstructed Taylor-Fletcher and Adam stepped up and hammered his second penalty into the top-left corner.
But Defoe grabbed a late equaliser for Spurs when he collected the ball 30 yards out before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the bottom right corner for only his fourth goal of the Premier League campaign.

Bale named PFA Player of the Year

Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale has been named as PFA Player of the Year, with Arsenal's Jack Wilshere winning the Young Player award.
Arsenal's Sami Nasri was second in the voting with Manchester City's Carlos Tevez third.
Blackpool's Charlie Adam, Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, West Ham midfielder Scott Parker and Bale's team-mate Rafael van der Vaart were also nominated.
Bale is the fourth Welshman to win the award with Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes (twice) and Ian Rush previous winners.
He is the first Tottenham player to win the award since David Ginola picked up the award in the 1999.
"I am more than delighted really. It is a massive award and it is a great honour to receive, especially from other fellow professionals," said Bale.
"It is a honour really when you look at the names that have won it before and it just makes you go 'wow' really.
"There haven't been too many Welshman to have won the trophy but it is great and it is great for me personally."
The PFA Premier League Team of Year was: Van Der Sar; Sagna, Vidic, Kompany Cole; Nani, Nasri, Wilshere, Bale; Tevez, Berbatov.
Bale and Nasri were also on the Young Player shortlist but Wilshere took that honour.
"It is my first full season and it is a massive award, especially from my fellow players. It is amazing," he said.
"Arsenal is a good club for bringing youngsters through and they keep proving it so I would like to thank the manager as well."
Manchester City's Joe Hart, Everton's Seamus Coleman and Manchester United duo Nani and Javier Hernandez were also nominated.

BALE OUT OF ENGLAND CLASH

Tottenham winger Gareth Bale has reportedly been ruled out of Wales' Euro 2012 qualifier against England on Saturday with a hamstring injury.

Bale will return to London for treatment on Thursday morning, according to The Sun. It is not yet clear whether he will be fit in time for Tottenham's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid on April 5.

Bale reportedly pulled up hurt in a Wales training session on Wednesday. He has only recently returned from a back injury that kept him out for six weeks from the end of January until early March.

The loss of flying winger Bale, now considered one of European football's most potent threats when on top form, is a blow for a Wales side hoping to upset their near-neighbours at Millennium Stadium.

England and Tottenham striker Peter Crouch had only spoken on Wednesday of the need to stop his club team-mate if England were to find success in Cardiff.

Crouch said: "Wales' biggest threat is Gareth Bale. We only assess opponents on Thursday and Friday, look at videos and I'm sure Gareth will be prominent in a lot of those videos.''

Although Crouch did not know at the time that Bale might not play, his appraisal of his former Liverpool team-mate, Cardiff's on-loan forward Craig Bellamy hints at where Wales might now turn for attacking inspiration.

He said: "Craig is a good lad. He gets a lot of stick but he only wants to win. When you see him from afar, you see him shouting at refs and shouting at anyone who will listen. But the only reason he's like that is he wants to win. I remember when he was at Liverpool him shouting and screaming at me during one training session. Afterwards I pulled him and said 'what's that about?' and he said 'I forgot'.

"He doesn't know he does it, he just says 'that's the way I play and I have to shout to get myself geed up for a game' and that's fully understandable. All the talk will be about Gareth Bale but Bellamy is certainly a player we have to watch out for.''

BALE OUT OF MILAN GAME

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has conceded that Gareth Bale will not be fit in time to face AC Milan on Tuesday.

The two teams meet at the San Siro in the first leg of the last 16 of the Champions League, and the Welshman will be unable to make a return to the stadium where he scored a hat-trick against Inter earlier in the competition.

"I would like to be able to scare Milan a bit and say he [Bale] is travelling," Redknapp said, according to the Daily Mail.

"But we cannot take a chance with him. The specialists have looked at him and it doesn't look too bad but he doesn't feel he is right.

"He worked with the fitness coaches on Saturday and when they pushed him he could not do it."

He added: "The Italians have been asking about him, but he caused so many problems for Inter. His improvement is unbelievable."

Despite the unavailability of the young winger, the boss is thought to have received positive news as Rafael van der Vaart is reportedly expected to play against the Italian side.

Meanwhile, towering striker Peter Crouch is also said to be in line to travel to Milan, but is far from certain to make the starting line-up.

"Crouchy had an epidural in his back as well and he looked worse," Redknapp said.

"He is touch and go. We have got so many injuries we have not got enough subs for the bench. Maybe I will put two goalkeepers on the bench to make the numbers up."

Redknapp also praised the strength of character shown by defender Michael Dawson, who scored the leveller that sparked Spurs' comeback during the victory over Sunderland on Saturday.

"You need character in your club," he said. "You need people like Michael Dawson who have that never-say-die attitude. When he was left out he didn't come in on a Friday and say, 'I can't travel, bad back', or something else.

"You don't want toe rags in your club. If you have people who don't appreciate being at a good club then go somewhere else."

Concerning potential threats to Spurs' ambitions of progressing further in the Champions League, Redknapp said: "[Zlatan] Ibrahimovic is a top player.

"I went over last week and watched them play Lazio and he was outstanding. It will be a tough game but we are looking forward to it."