Slavia Praha 0-1 Tottenham

---------------Robinson--------------
Chimbonda--Dawson--King--A.Ekotto
Jenas--Zokora--Huddlestone--Tainio
-----------Defoe-----Mido-----------

Slavia Prague: Michal Vorel (Kozacik 28), Svec, Latka, Suchy, Hubacek, Janda (Necas 72), Jarolim, Hrdlicka, Svento, Vlcek, Gaucho (Fort 62).
Subs Not Used: Dosoudil, Gecov, Necid, Aracic.

Booked: Gaucho.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Jenas, Huddlestone (Davids 71), Zokora, Tainio, Defoe (Keane 78), Mido.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Lee, Stalteri, Ziegler, Davenport.

Booked: Assou-Ekotto.

Goals: Jenas (37).

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieu8_jGf410

Spurs' first European game for seven years ended with a victory, the first win result of the season, and further signs of improvement in the team's play. Jol made a bold move in handing Tom Huddlestone his full debut ahead of Davids in order to improve the distribution from midfield to the forward players. Huddlestone, whilst still lacking a little form and sharpness this season, demonstrated that he can make a contribution to the first team this season with a decent defensive display and some imaginative offensive passing. His partnership with the excellent Zokora showed signs of promise with the two showing a good understanding both defensively and offfensively.

The team benefited from having two central players that look to move the ball forward quickly when possible, rather than the more ponderous passing of Jenas and the wildly inaccurate Davids, and as a result there was a greater tendency to play higher tempo pass-and-move football than has been seen previously this season. The two fullbacks certainly helped in this respect, with Assou-Ekotto looking to provide an attacking outlet on the left more frequently than he has done since joining the club. On the other flank, some of the interplay between Jenas, Zokora and Chimbonda was impressive and all of a sudden there seems to be a lot of pace in the Spurs side, not to mention strength and physical presence from the likes of Mido, Huddlestone, Jenas and the whole of the back four.

With Slavia looking tentative, the onus was on Spurs to dictate and they were able to do so thanks to the efforts of Zokora who siezed the initaitive with several speedy bursts forward creating an easy headed chance for Defoe, from which the striker should have scored, and laying on the goal for Jenas, who capped a good performance with an excellent strike. Zokora had seemingly been the fall guy following Spurs' bad start when subbed against Bolton and dropped to the bench for the Sheffield United game but, after a solid performance against Manchester United, the Ivorian demonstrated why it was such a coup for Spurs to beat the big guns of Europe to his signature. He harried and hustled defensively, looked to push the possession higher up the pitch and carried the ball forward at great pace when the opportunities arose. It would be fair to say that Spurs have lacked a player to dictate and control the tempo in the way Zokora showed last night since Mendes departed for Portsmouth. Carrick, for all his strengths, played the game at his own pace and only very rarely looked to vary that.

For Jol it was very much a case of job done. A clean sheet and an away goal is not to be sniffed at, wherever one happens to be playing in Europe, and whilst it was probably a missed opportunity to put the tie beyond doubt given Slavia's muted display, the result leaves Spurs very much in control ahead of the return leg.

Spurs' man of the match: Didier Zokora - Dawson ran him close with a flawless defensive performance, but Zokora's all action display was worthy of his nickname, the Maestro, and also worthy of the man of the match award.