Stevenage 0-3 Tottenham

--------------Cerny----------------
Tainio--Dawson--King--AssouEkotto
----Ghaly--Huddlestone--Davids---
--------------Keane----------------
-------Berbatov------Defoe--------

Goals: Defoe (33, 87), Berbatov (80).

Stevenage Borough: Potter, Fuller, Nutter, Oliver (Goodliffe, 84), Gaia, Bulman (Henry, 50), Thorpe, Miller (Lewis, 84), Boyd (Hatton, 68), Dobson (Mackie, 68), Stamp (Nurse, 61). Subs: Julian, Osei, M Wright, Atieno, Gier, Binns, C Wright.

Spurs: Cerny, Tainio, Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Dawson, King (O'Hara, 85), Ghaly (Routledge, 46), Davids, Berbatov (Barnard, 82), Keane (Ifil, 75), Defoe. Subs: Forecast, McKenna, Daniels.

Goals link: http://rapidshare.de/files/27079158/Stevenage_vs_Spurs.wmv

Another game, another makeshift rightback, this time Teemu Tainio, who gave further evidence of his versatility by making his first start in defence for Spurs. The system was much the same as the Birmingham friendly, with Huddlestone deployed as the ball playing holding midfielder, and Davids and Ghaly providing energy and protection either side. This for me is how Huddlestone can be incorporated into a Premiership side, despite his lack of experience and a certain defensive tactical naiveness. We have plenty of players (the aforementioned Ghaly and Davids, aswell as Tainio, Jenas, Zokora, etc.) who can play alongside him and provide fullback cover aswell as acting as twin 'destroyers', thus enabling Huddlestone to concentrate on sweeping up and breaking play centrally then getting on the ball and dictating, much like Pirlo does for Italy/Milan.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto continues to impress all who have seen him with his touch and pace down the left side, and could prove to be an excellent 'find' by Comolli (Assou-Ekotto was well known in France, but the only other English club who expressed an interest in him was Arsenal, who one would expect to be abreast of goings on in Ligue 1).

Two more goals for Defoe, who appears focussed and determined, not to mention fully committed to Spurs given his comments in the press after the game, talking up Spurs and trying to encourage Carrick to stay. I'm by no means Defoe's biggest fan, but absence makes the heart grow fonder and a few months without watching him play mean the memories of the flaws in his game have faded, and I'm once again optimistic of a positive season from him. Who says Spurs fans are fickle? He took his first goal very well, and like the whole Spurs team benefitted from the space that Stevenage offered them. His second was a debatable penalty and rounded off a 3-0 scoreline that was harsh on Stevenage 'keeper Danny Potter, who turned in what was by all accounts a career best performance.

The other goal was another penalty, won and converted by Dimitar Berbatov, and executed with the stuttered run up which will be familiar to Bundesliga watchers. Again impressive, Berbatov is already exceeding expectation that he is merely a Van Nistelrooy style goal-getter, with his team play, aerial prowess, work with his back to goal, and general technical ability.