New boy Seb hails dream Spurs debut to stun Reds
NEW signing Sebastien Bassong hailed his “perfect debut” after earning Tottenham a dream Premier League start against title contenders Liverpool.
Just ten days after completing his £8m move from Newcastle, Bassong met Luka Modric’s free-kick for his first goal in English football to ensure his side claimed a prized early-season scalp.
Full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto gave Spurs the lead with a superb strike just before half-time, only for Steven Gerrard to equalise for Liverpool from the penalty spot after keeper Heurelho Gomes felled Reds new £17m signing Glen Johnson.
But it was Bassong who took the plaudits after his goal capped an impressive display in the Spurs defence alongside captain Ledley King.
“It is the perfect debut, my first game with Spurs, and I am really happy to score to get the win,” Bassong said. “To win the first game is really good for the confidence and good for the team in the head and the mind. “But to play next to Ledley is easy because he talks all the time and he helped me so I have just had to work hard like him.”
Bassong’s winner delighted boss Harry Redknapp, who was full of praise for his side after a deserved victory. “I thought the game could have been over at half-time,” he said. “We had three great opportunities. I felt we were much the better team at half-time. I felt if we kept playing the way we were, we would win quite comfortably. Liverpool came back at us but over the 90 minutes I thought we were the better side.”
Those three glorious opportunities for Spurs were all squandered by former Reds striker Robbie Keane before Assou-Ekotto finally showed him how it’s done with a thunderous 25-yard drive past keeper Pepe Reina.
Reina prevented Spurs from doubling their lead just after the break with an acrobatic stop to deny from Wilson Palacios – and it proved crucial as the Reds levelled just seconds later. Gomes needlessly dashed out of goal to bring down the marauding Johnson and Gerrard made no mistake from the spot.
Bassong restored Spurs’ advantage within three minutes, however, and then played a starring role at the back in helping Spurs hold on for a morale-boosting victory.