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.

QPR close in on Jay Bothroyd

QPR will step up their chase for England striker Jay Bothroyd now the transfer window is officially open.
Despite the confusion surrounding the position of current Loftus Road boss Neil Warnock, the Hoops top brass are pressing ahead in pursuit of their summer targets.And, after failing to persuade Newcastle winger Wayne Routledge and Peterborough hitman Craig Mackail-Smith to sign for them in recent days, the west Londoners are now turning their attention towards Bothroyd .Having scored 41 times in 116 league games for Cardiff, Bothroyd appears finally to be fulfilling the huge potential he first showed as a youth player at Arsenal.

However, that impressive return for the Welsh club, which earned him an England cap last season, has not been enough to attract significant interest in his services from more established Premier League clubs.

Even though Bothroyd, who will be 29 in August, is a free transfer after refusing to sign a new deal with Cardiff, only Celtic have made a serious inquiry to date.

But the former Coventry hitman is believed to be keen on a move to QPR – as long as they prove they have the ambition to survive in the top flight.

Celtic to Sign Jay Bothroyd

Reports from Scotland are saying out of contract Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd was up in Glasgow yesterday having a medical at Celtic.Bothroyd has been linked with a host of clubs from the English Premiership with Everton seeming to be leading the chase for the 6ft 3 inch strikers signature.Now sources from inside the Parkhead club have leaked that the player was in Glasgow having a medical, being taken a tour around Celtic Park and being shown the clubs training facilities at Lennoxtown. Celtic boss Neil Lennon’s attention was first drawn to Boothroyd when he was at the Cardiff City stadium to watch The Championship play-off semi final second leg between Cardiff and Reading.The Cardiff striker who although couldn’t shoot his team to promotion still managed an impressive twenty goals this season. Earning his first International cap in the process. With Celtic already having a few former Bluebirds on their books at Parkhead.Bothroyd would feel right at home there having already played with Joe Ledley, Glenn Loovens and young Adam Matthews. The twenty-nine year is a big powerful forward. Good in the air, quick with the ball at his feet and real handful for defenders to deal with. Exactly the kind of forward Neil Lennon has been looking for.

He and Gary Hooper have the potential to form a frightening partnership up front in Scotland.

Jay Bothroyd set to join Everton

Jay Bothroyd is set for a move to the Premier League with Everton his most likely destination.Bothroyd, who made his international debut for England in the 2-1 friendly defeat to France last November, left Championship side Cardiff after his contract expired and it was thought that the West Ham were interested in acquiring his services.There has however been Premier League interest in Bothroyd and Everton manager David Moyes watched the striker on numerous occasions last season.It is thought he has made his move for the former Wolves forward and the prospect of playing in the top flight is likely to be too tempting.

Bothroyd was Cardiff’s top scorer last season with 20 in all competitions as the Bluebirds made the play-offs, only to beaten in the semi-finals by Reading.

He joined the club from Wolves in August 2008 for £300,000 and scored 41 goals in 112 starts for the Welsh club.