Redknapp earns his Spurs at first attempt

Harry Redknapp got his management career at White Hart Lane off to a victorious start as Tottenham Hotspur won in the Premier League for the first time this season with a 2-0 victory over Bolton.

Sunday’s success brought to an end Spurs’s worst-ever start to a season which had seen them lose six and draw two of their previous eight matches.

Strikers Roman Pavlyuchenko and substitute Darren Bent scored the goals against a Bolton side that finished the match with 10 men after Gavin McCann was sent-off for two bookable offences.

However, former Portsmouth boss Redknapp’s new side were still left propping up the rest of the Premier League, albeit they are now just a point adrift of second-bottom Newcastle.

Redknapp, who replaced Juande Ramos as coach on Saturday evening, received a rapturous welcome from the Tottenham faithful when introduced to the crowd before kick-off.

The Englishman wasted no time in setting about rebuilding Tottenham’s season and probably the most notable inclusion was that of Ledley King in defence.

There is no doubt the England defender is plagued by a knee injury which limits his appearances. However, Ramos rarely allowed King, who was making his 200th appearance for the club, to play two games in succession.

Redknapp also handed a recall to midfielder David Bentley, who was dropped by Ramos for the defeat to Udinese last Thursday in the UEFA Cup.

The 15.8 million pounds pre-season signing from Blackburn was not even named in the squad in Italy but responded to being given a start here by setting-up the first goal.

His sweeping cross from the right wing was perfect for Pavlyuchenko, who capitalised on some poor marking, to head past Jussi Jaaskelainen in the 17th minute for what was the Russian forward’s first Premier League goal.

However, there is a reason why Tottenham are at the bottom of the league with only two points and their defensive frailties became evident when a poor back-pass from Benoit Assou-Ekotto almost let in Johan Elmander.

Uncertain Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes flapped at Matthew Taylor’s free-kick, causing chaos in the Tottenham penalty area. Fortunately, for the home side, King was on hand to clear the ball off his own line.

Spurs were given a helping hand in the 55th minute when referee Andre Marriner rightly sent McCann off after the Bolton man scythed down Tom Huddlestone to earn a second yellow card.

Tottenham nearly made their numerical advantage pay immediately as they strung together the best move of the match.

Luka Modric exchanged neat passes with Huddlestone to unlock the Bolton defence but the final shot from the Croatian midfielder lacked power and was easy for Jaaskelainen.

But just as Tottenham were beginning to find their rhythm Gomes again did little to ease their defensive nervousness. The goalkeeper’s preference for punching, not catching the ball, invited more pressure. And when he did finally make a diving save, it drew ironic applause from the stands.

Redknapp introduced Bent and Aaron Lennon with around 20 minutes remaining and they certainly made a difference. Bent’s pace left the Bolton defence for dust and his powerful shot was expertly saved by Jaaskelainen.

The goalkeeper then twice saved from Modric in quick succession.

However, Jaaskelainen undid all his hard work when he clattered into Modric in the box in the 75th minute, leaving Marriner pointing to the penalty spot from where Bent eased Spurs’s nerves.