Tottenham 2-0 Sheffield United

------------------Robinson--------------------
--Lee----Dawson----Davenport----A.Ekotto--
-------------Jenas-------Davids---------------
--Lennon------------------------------Tainio--
------------Berbatov------Keane--------------

Tottenham: Robinson, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Davenport, Lee, Lennon, Jenas, Tainio (Zokora 69), Davids, Berbatov, Keane (Defoe 82).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri, Gardner.

Goals: Berbatov (7), Jenas (17).

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Sommeil (Montgomery 60), Bromby, Morgan, Unsworth (Nade 61), Gillespie (Alan Quinn 80), Jagielka, Tonge, Armstrong, Akinbiyi, Webber.
Subs Not Used: Kozluk, Leigertwood.

Booked: Bromby.

Att: 35,287

Highlights link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3khtpoJOfDk

With the pressure on, following the nature of the opening day defeat against Bolton, Spurs managed to almost entirely reverse the pattern of that game. A domineeering attacking performance was rewarded with a 2-0 victory and some fine individual performances.

On the back of the Bolton game, Jol decided to drop Zokora to accomodate the return of Teemu Tainio on the left of midfield. Those who have thus far overlooked the importance of the Finn to Jol’s Spurs will surely now realise how important he is in providing a link between midfield and attack. Always willing to go inside and outside, make runs into the box and back towards his own goal to protect his fullback, comfortable with the ball at his feet in the final third, he could play anywhere across the midfield, but his best games for Spurs have come playing from the left.

Davids was shifted to central midfield and duly produced a performance that recalled his glory years. Not quite the blast from the past of Zidane’s performance against Brazil in the World Cup, but surely enough to silence those who had questioned his ability to contribute in his second season at the club. There were wayward passes, as there have been throughout his career, but his drive both offensively and defensively were unmatched.

Elsewhere in the midfield, Jol’s reported kick up the backside for Lennon and Jenas got the right response, with both producing match winning performances. Jenas in particular can be assured that, were he to produce performances of that level week in week out, the skepticism he still endures from some fans would dissipate. Whilst obviously not flawless, it was the kind of performance that should be the minimum for a player of his clear talent.

Up front, Berbatov and Keane showed signs of forging an understanding akin to last season’s best pairing, which saw Mido alongside the Irishman. The two looked effective when Keane came deep and Berbatov played on the shoulder of the last defenders, as was proven when the two combined from those positions to set up Jenas’ goal. Berbatov’s movement, as I mentioned in preseason reports, is a joy to behold, particularly having spent the past few years watching players who either couldn’t read the game that way, Defoe, or weren’t mobile enough to carry it out, Mido.

As I was harsh on Jol post-Bolton, so I have to give him credit here. He switched the system and overcame the problems that his 4-3-3 had caused in the opener, and dropping Zokora was a brave, but ultimately correct, decision. As I said, several of the players played as if they had been told in no uncertain terms that their performance against Bolton had not been good enough. There was little triumphalism from Jol at the final whistle, he wore the look of a man who had seen his players do what he’d expected them to do from day one. I think every Spurs fan would empathise with him.

Spurs' man of the match: Edgar Davids – much like the Bolton game, this was hard to call, but for converse reasons. Keane was the best player on the pitch for the first thirty minutes and Berbatov was both effective and hard working. Davids, though, was excellent from first to last, both in defence and attack, and could have scored a deserved goal in the closing stages.