Lennon hits late winner for Tottenham

Aug 29, 2009 - 5:29 PM By JAMES PIERCY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Tottenham left it late to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season, an injury-time Aaron Lennon goal earning Harry Redknapp's side a 2-1 win over Birmingham at White Hart Lane.

Birmingham were organised in possession and tenacious in defence, but it was the home side who carried the greater attacking threat from the off, the livewire Luka Modric in particular looking impressive.

Modric, restored to the Tottenham side after being rested for the midweek 5-1 Carling (League) Cup mauling of Doncaster, carved out Spurs' first clear cut chance of the game on twenty minutes, his drilled ball from the left finding Aaron Lennon whose shot was desperately hacked off the line by Stephen Carr.

Minutes later, Modric's perfectly-weighted pass picked out the in-form Jermain Defoe, but under pressure his shot squirmed tamely wide.

An injury to Modric on 49 minutes brought a change in attack from Spurs, Peter Crouch joining Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe up front and the lanky frontman immediately caused Birmingham problems, heading a Keane cross onto the bar and seeing Lee Carsley clear another effort off the line.

The breakthrough eventually came on 72 minutes when Crouch nodded home from six yards for his first league goal for the club - but just three minutes later, a mix-up between Alan Hutton and Spurs keeper Carlo Cudicini allowed Lee Bowyer to prod home.

The goal brought wave after wave of Tottenham attacks as an incensed Redknapp roared on encouragement \2013 but in the absence of Modric, Spurs looked short of a spark of creativity to unlock Birmingham's stubborn backline.

But with the game deep in stoppage-time, Lennon jinked in from the left-wing before thumping a drive past Joe Hart to earn the home side three points.

Spurs boss Redknapp was delighted to keep his side's early momentum going.

He said: "It was terrific from Aaron but we know he can do that.

"He is so quick and it frightens the life out of defenders and he's come up with a cracking goal for us today.

"I thought we were OK today, we created a lot of chances but we didn't take enough of them and on another day we might have been punished a bit more.

"It's obviously a cracking start though so we'll try to keep it going."

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish thought his side deserved more from the game.

McLeish said: "It was galling to lose in the way that we did, but all credit to the player because it was some exceptional pace and skill to get the goal.

"We know you get punished for the smallest mistake in the Premier League, but we also created chances today and in the last ten or fifteen minutes I thought we looked comfortable.

"Unfortunately they've punished us for one mistake, but you would expect that from the players Harry has.

But we're a better side now than we were the last time we were in the Premier League and I think we are getting better."