During the afternoon, before starting the match, the media communicated that Vedran Corluka has joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the rest of the season. The Croatia full-back has made 107 First Team appearances since signing from Manchester City in the summer of 2008. On the right back, in fact, as always, Redknapp moved Kyle Walker that took all the space in that position during this season. The first half was characterized by the Spurs that made pressure since the first minutes to the Latics, showing an enormous attitude to create goal opportunities. At the 5’, early chance as Kaboul rose to power in header from Modric corner,  but Al Habsi palmed out.

Few minutes later, at the 9’, Kranjcar turned Stam inside-out and then his shot was deflected just wide. At the 12’ Adebayor (that showed good talent as an assist man, coming often back to receive the ball and create more space for the others) offered a fantastic ball to Kranjcar, he  crowded out, then Modric blasted over. At the 17’ Adebayor had his first opportunity but his head was just over from Kyle's cross. At the 20’ Niko Kranjcar curled a shot from the edge of the box but Al Habsi made a comfortable save. 1 minute after the first tentative from the Latics to create something dangerous: striker Franco Di Santo tried a personal action but his shot was quite far from the goal, no problems for Friedel. During the action the striker got injured but was able to come back to the game. At the 23’ McCarthy off the line from Younes!

The Frenchman climbed highest to reach a corner and he was very close to opening goal. The result changed at the 28’ with a great goal: Gareth Bale gave the Spurs the lead! He ghosted in behind the Wigan defence from a Luka Modric cross, took a touch and scored from close range. The action was brilliant with a magnificent pass of Modric and then an amazing finish for Bale. Few minutes later Spurs missed Van Der Vaart because he had to leave the pitch for an injury; Jake Livermore came on to replace him.  The spurs did not stop to attack and after the substitution there was a great save from Al Habsi: Gareth Bale again got in behind the Wigan defence and forced Al Habsi into action with an angled shot. It was the prelude for the second goal: at the 33’ Luka Modric moved to two goals the score of Spurs with a magnificent strike.

The ball fell to him, the Croatian swivelled and smashed the ball home with his right foot with a devastating finish! The goal gave more energies to the Spurs that kept creating a lovely period of neat passing that ended with Jake Livermore drilling a shot from Luka's pass about 20-yards out, Al-Habsi saved. No changes at the half time. The match started with Spurs leading 2-0. The second half started as it finished: at the 48’ Gareth made a fantastic run from midfield and sprinted into the Wigan box, his cross headed over from close range by Adebayor. Wigan started to show something interesting and at the 51’ there was a rare shot  with Moses blasting a couple of yards over from the edge of the box. The game got even more intense: at the 55’ only a brilliant, well-timed tackle from Ledley prevented Di Santo scoring from close-range after a deflected cross. With the feeling that Wigan could score, White Hart Lane was pleased by the third goal of Spurs with another brilliant finish of Gareth Bale: he received the ball on the edge of the area, took a couple of touches and hammered the ball across Al-Habsi fixing the result to the 3-0. At the 73’ horrible tackle of Assou-Ekotto on Franco di Santo.

The striker stayed many minutes on the suffering on the pitch, then he needed to be changed. The referee had not seen it, otherwise it could have been a clear red card for the left back of Spurs. At the 78’ first appearance for the young man Lancaster coming from the reserves: he replaced Adebayor. The Spurs tried to calm down the rythm of the match leaving more possibilities to Wigan to create something. At the 80’ there was the first goal for the Lactics: James McCarthy took a shot that took a nasty deflection off Scott Parker and looping over Friedel ( he did not show any good reaction even if it was the only one moment in which it was requested). The goal woke up the Spurs and at the 85’ Gareth Bale  forced Al-Habsi to make a fingertip save diving down to his right, not too far away from the hat-trick there. Few minutes later another goo effort from Gareth Bale, this time hitting the side netting with a right-footed shot from an angle.

The last opportunity happened again on Bale's foot: he really wanted a hat-trick tonight but goalkeeper Al-Hasbi did another great fingertip save. Final result: 3-0 for Spurs. For Spurs this was another great performance in Premierleague. Walker and Ekotto helped the midfielders to create spaces, Scott Parker did another magnificent work helping the central defenders without losing any opportunity to do a good run attacking with Bale and Modric. Bale played one of his best game for Spurs and Redknapp was sure about that. Nice the first appearence of Lancaster, that shows how English Football teams never stop to believe in young men coming from the academy ( This does not happen in other countries like Italy ). For Latics this is a game to forget as soon as possible and for coach Martinez will be really difficult to do another miracle after last year because the results do not arrive and the Latics showed many difficulties to create good opportunities to score. Without any meaning the bench for all the match reserved to Rodallega, one of the best players for Wigan. 

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About the author
Matteo Rubinato
LOVE my fam, my girlfriend, my friends, life & fashion! Brutally honest... super sarcastic... Always laugh, always thankful!