Jermain Defoe was amongst the goal-scorers as Tottenham Hotspur claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory at London Road in the latest pre-season friendly with the Premier League side showing their class in an entertaining encounter played in front of a healthy crowd.
Charlie Lee was lucky not to recieve a red card on six minutes after hacking down Jermaine Jenas, who had burst through two challenges and was bearing down on goal, but referee Kevin Wright just awarded the free-kick. Jenas took it, but blasted it straight at Mclean in the wall.
Roman Pavlyuchenko then headed a Jamie O'Hara cross wide of the target as the visitors made the brighter start in front of a large London Road crowd.
Darren Bent saw a toe-poke comfortably saved by Joe Lewis on 21 minutes after a slick one two between Wilson Palacios and O'Hara.
Goalkeeper Joe Lewis made a smart save to deny Bent as Harry Redknapp's men continued to threaten and moments later O'Hara curled a free-kick over the crossbar after a foul by Diagouraga on the edge of the area.
Posh had the ball in the back of the net on the half hour mark after a slick move involving Boyd and Mclean, but Frecklington was offside when he slotted the ball past Cuducini. Lewis then beat out a fierce Pavlyuchenko volley after good work from Aaron Lennon on the right hand side of midfield.
Jenas saw a 20-yard drive fizz past the post after a good lay-off from the impressive Bent. BENT obviously got upset at the continued squandering of chances because moments later, he had the ball in the back of the net himself after beating the offside trap and coolly slotting the ball past Lewis at the near post.
Lewis made a superb save to deny a fierce Jenas effort, beating the ball far away from danger before Palacios had a go, only to see his effort fly just over the crossbar.
Half-Time: Posh 0-1 Spurs
Pavlyuchenko wasted a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 on 50 minutes after a glorious pass from Jermain Defoe, the Russian steering his shot wide of the near post. Joe Lewis made another sharp stop diving to his right after Defoe cut inside from the left and arrowed a low right-foot shot towards the corner.
Another slick build-up from the hosts nearly led to the equaliser as the ball was fed to Boyd inside the area, but he was reaching for the shot and was only able to stab the ball into the arms of Cudicini.
The visitors doubled their lead on 65 minutes as Jermain DEFOE was sent clean through on goal, his initial shot was superbly saved by Lewis, but the rebound ran kindly for the striker and he tucked the ball into the empty net.
Tottenham extended their advantage moments later as Pascal Chimbonda reached the by-line and then fired the ball across teh six-yard box into the path of Luka MODRIC who timed his run to perfection to slot the ball past Lewis.
Full-back Russell Martin had a presentable opportunity on 68 minutes after a deep Jamie Day centre, but the substitute couldn't keep his effort down and there was no danger for Cudicini. Batt came close to reducing the arrears after a cross from Green was only half-cleared, but a combination of the goalkeeper and a good tackle from Huddlestone thwarted the former Fisher Athletic man.
Russian front man PAVLYUCHENKO was keen to get in on the act and he recieved a good pass from Lennon before curling a sublime shot past goalkeeper Lewis and into the corner of the net.
Lewis then came to the rescue for Poas as he denied Pavlyuchenko who had again raced clear of the Posh defence. Both sides then made a host of changes as the game became disrupted with Spurs continuing to dominate possession. Lewis made a superb save late on to deny Lennon before the whistle was blown by referee Mr Wright to bring the curtain down on an entertaining evening.
Final Score: Posh 0-4 Spurs
Posh: Lewis, Lee (Day 66min), Williams (Rowe 46min), Morgan (Gaughran 80min), Pearce, Diagouraga, Coutts (Coutts 80min), Frecklington (Batt 46min), Mclean (Green 60min), Boyd (Torres 80min), Wright (Martin 46min).
Spurs: Cudicini (Jansson 82min), Lennon, Jenas (Boateng 46min (Livermore 63min)), Pavlyuchenko, Bent (Defoe 46min), Palacios, Chimbonda, Corluka (Huddlestone 46min), Ekotto, O'Hara (Modric 46min), Doruitte.
Attendance: 7,688
