Substitutes not used: Taylor (gk), Luzhny.West Bromwich Albion (3-5-2): Hoult 5; Moore 3 Gilchrist 3, Sigurdsson 4; Balis 3, McInnes 5 (Marshall 5, 62) Johnson 5, Gregan 6, Clement 4; Roberts 5, Dobie 7. Substitutes not used: Wallwork, Dichio, Taylor, Jensen (gk).Referee: P Durkin (Portland) 5.. Resolve and defiance are not the most obvious compliments that come in Tottenham’s direction but for the second match in succession at The Valley last night they took an early lead and held it, not always with absolute confidence but showing effective tenacity. Spurs have been encouraged into thinking that their hopes of signing Fernando Morientes are improved by reports that the player has had a big row with his club, Real Madrid.
However last night, Hoddle said: “Time seems to be running out on this. These things are all so much more complicated than they used to be, but we have not give up hope altogether.”He admitted that the fans wanted to see a new striker, but he was non-committal when questioned on reports that he would be holding talks today with Leeds’ unsettled striker Robbie Keane, who has expressed his irritation with life on the bench at Elland Road under their new manager. All Hoddle would say was: “That is Terry Venables’ business.”Yesterday Hoddle elected to leave Les Ferdinand on the bench and link Teddy Sheringham with Gary Doherty, but the link that counted after only eight minutes was between Sheringham and the ever improving Simon Davies. Charlton had already beaten out one forceful Spurs attack when Sheringham slipped a short pass inside to Davies, who slammed a shot in from a close distance but awkward angle.While Charlton absorbed the attacks fairly well, when it came to counter-attacking they lost possession alarmingly, though much the same could be said of Spurs for whom even Jamie Redknapp, so effective against Villa, found it difficult to gain midfield control.Under the surveillance of the England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, Redknapp increased his influence and, but for a splendid drive from Chris Powell that Kasey Keller importantly touched round the post, Spurs maintained what momentum there was in a fragmented game.
When Ferdinand came on Spurs looked all the stronger, while Charlton had industry but little ingenuity.Much of what Spurs did was simply straightforward and not especially pretty. But to match a Charlton side of fewer resources but so much endeavour was a pointer. Alan Curbishley, unhappy at “not having enough in our locker”, complimented Spurs on “working as had as any side I’ve seen”. It was, as Hoddle said, “all a matter of balance and resolve.”Charlton Athletic: Kiely 6; Young 6, Rufus 5, Fortune 5 (Brown 6, 70), Powell 6; Kishishev 6 (Robinson 5, 65), Jensen 5, Bart-Williams 5, Konchesky 6; Johansson 5 (Svensson 5, 55), Euell 6.
Substitutes not used: Rachubka (gk), Robinson, Lisbie.Tottenham Hotspur: Keller 6; Taricco 6, Gardner 7, Richards 6, Ziege 6; Davies 6, Redknapp 7, Bunjevcevic 6, Etherington 6; Sheringham 6, Doherty 5 (Ferdinand, 77). Substitutes not used: Hirschfeld (gk), Rebrov, Thatcher, Acimovic.Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).. The Watford manager Ray Lewington praised striker Tommy Smith and loan signing Danny Webber after his side destroyed Coventry 5-2 at Vicarage Road on Monday. Danny’s come down from Manchester United and he’s been an absolute credit. Some players might get carried away coming from a bigger club to a smaller one, but he’s enthusiastic and willing to work.”The 20-year-old Manchester United player had a loan spell with the club last season and returned at the start of this campaign. His partnership with Smith, who has yet to sign a new contract at Watford, ran rings around Coventry.”It was lovely, really nice to watch,” Lewington added. “We’ve got to stick to the basics and we did that.”However Webber is only on a three-month loan at Vicarage Road and Lewington is anxious to secure his services for the whole season.