A brace from Roman Pavlyuchenko helped Spurs beat Wigan 3-1 to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Spurs survive late scare to progress
Spurs are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup despite suffering a late scare against Wigan at White Hart Lane.
The hosts took the lead through a 52nd minute Roman Pavlyuchenko penalty after Wigan keeper Richard Kingson had caught Fraizer Campbell in the box.
Luka Modric then doubled the advantage on 76 minutes after Jamie O'Hara's long-range shot rebounded off Wigan's left post.
But Wigan pulled one back via a close-range Henri Camara effort with two minutes to go before the outstanding Pavlyuchenko netted his second with a powerful effort in injury time.
Television schedules meant this was the first game of the round, with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp defending the trophy he won with Pompey 229 days before.
Redknapp admits that next week's Carling Cup semi-final against Burnley and climbing the Premier League are his priorities - and recruiting another striker is not far behind.
The lack of attacking options got worse in the 27th minute when Darren Bent limped down the tunnel after suffering a groin injury, leaving Pavlyuchenko and Campbell as Redknapp's only fit senior strikers.
Even before Bent's injury, Spurs fans were singing the name of Jermain Defoe, the striker who was sold to Redknapp at Pompey almost a year ago but has now been linked with a return.
While Spurs fans chanted for Defoe, there was no noise from the away section as many fans did not make the journey due to the plane crash in Staffordshire earlier in the day, meaning travelling south by train or motorway was almost impossible.
Depleted in the stands, Bruce's men were also short of injured trio Emile Heskey, Amr Zaki and Chris Kirkland, while Lee Cattermole was suspended.
Few chances
Bruce's seven changes and Spurs' attacking line-up made for an open game - but there was little in the way of early clear-cut openings.
Wigan striker Camara met an Antonio Valencia cross following a quick free-kick but his header went just wide.
Modric had the first effort for the hosts, exchanging passes with Pavlyuchenko then firing the wrong side of the post.
Then debutant goalkeeper Kingson had to be watchful when Gareth Bale swung a free-kick just over his crossbar.
Kingson was left stranded when David Bentley's cross was met by Kevin Kilbane, but the defender's clearance went wide to the relief of the visitors.
Didier Zokora required treatment after a clearance from team-mate Michael Dawson struck him straight between the legs and Modric forced Kingson into a low save just before the half-time whistle.
Penalty
Spurs took the lead seven minutes into the second half after Campbell raced through and took the ball around Kingson before feeling a touch from the goalkeeper and going down.
Pavlyuchenko took the spot-kick and sent Kingson the wrong way, his eighth of the season after arriving from Spartak Moscow.
Campbell could have added another himself when he met Pavlyuchenko's cross with a firm header - but Kingson flew to his right to claw the effort away.
Camara thought he had sight of an equaliser when he took advantage of a Dawson mistake to go clean through, only for Jonathan Woodgate to dash back and make a last-ditch tackle.
Redknapp apologised to Wigan boss Steve Bruce after Spurs' second goal as substitute Maynor Figueroa was down injured after a kick in the face from Dawson.
Gomes started the move with a long throw but then yelled to team-mates to put the ball into touch but play carried on and the ball was worked to O'Hara.
O'Hara's shot came off the post and Modric headed home whilst on the ground after losing his footing.
Wigan were given hope when Camara scored from close range but Pavlyuchenko added the third in stoppage time with a long-range drive.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
Wigan Athletic |
| 3 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 8 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 4 |
Corners |
6 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
14 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 73.3 |
Passing Success |
72.9 |
| 20 |
Tackles |
28 |
| 80 |
Tackles Success |
67.9 |
| 52.4 |
Possession |
47.6 |
| 41.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
58.5 |
|
