Bolton 2-0 Tottenham

-------------Robinson---------------
Lee--Dawson--Davenport--A.Ekotto
-----Jenas----Zokora----Davids-----
--Lennon------Berbatov----Defoe--------

Goals
Bolton: Davies (9), Campo (13)

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Nolan, Meite, Speed, Campo, Davies, Fortune, Vaz Te (Stelios, 86), Diouf, Ben Haim. Subs: Walker, Tal, Smith, Foult.

Spurs: Robinson, Lee (Huddlestone, 74), Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Davenport, Lennon (Keane, 59), Jenas, Zokora, Davids, Berbatov, Defoe. Subs: Cerny, Gardner, Ziegler.

It was new season, same old story for Spurs in the Reebok stadium. Outmuscled and outorganised, it was a disappointing opening coming, as it did, on the back of a decent preseason. Despite the dubious nature of Bolton's first goal, where Meite clearly fouled Calum Davenport, and the fortuitousness of their second, Robinson completely misjuding Campo's 40 yard strike, it was nothing less than Bolton deserved.

Despite a squad that on paper is no match for our own, Allardyce always ensures, particularly at home, that his team are as effective as their talent will allow through tight organisation, a high pressing game and a system the players completely understand and are comfortable in. Sadly, the same cannot be said of Spurs, who whilst enjoying large peroids of possession, never looked like scoring our producing a coherent pattern of play.

The familiar problem of three central midfielders consistenly behind the ball when in possession was made all the more frustrating given that Spurs were chasing the game from the ninth minute. Lennon played in a more advanced role than he had done even at the tail end of last season, essentially as a third forward, and consequently saw little of the ball for large periods of the game as Bolton got men behind the ball and isolated the Spurs attack from the midfield. Jol's answer to this, rather than pulling Lennon deeper to provide a link between the two, was to take off Zokora and replace him with the returning Robbie Keane. It almost paid off immediately with Keane playing in Berbatov, who subsequently failed to take the ball around Jaaskelainen. Berbatov, like fellow debutant Assou-Ekotto faded as the game wore on, whereas Zokora appeared to be starting exert an influence just as Jol decided to bring the curtain down his debut. A harsh introduction to English football for the trio certainly.

A second substitution saw Huddlestone replace Lee and Jenas switch to right back, as Jol belated realised that starting an away game against Bolton with five or six players under 5'8" was not the brightest decision of his managerial career. By this time it was too late though, and a turgid game and Spurs performance spluttered to its inevitable conclusion.

Spurs' man of the match: Edgar Davids - Wasteful in possession but demonstrating a drive and determination that should have provided an example to his team mates. The pick of a poor bunch.