Premier League: Sherwood hopes Spurs can ruin league title race
AT WHITE HART LANE
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 CARDIFF CITY 0
TOTTENHAM boss Tim Sherwood hopes his side can play the role of party-poopers and make a late surge for Champions League qualification as they prepare to take on the Premier League’s top three teams this month.
Roberto Soldado’s first goal since the turn of the year was enough to earn an “ugly” win over Cardiff at White Hart Lane yesterday and move Spurs four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
With away matches at top two Chelsea and Liverpool as well as a north London derby with fierce rivals Arsenal Sherwood sees March as a chance to ruin their rivals’ seasons despite being underdogs in all three fixtures.
“Sometimes when the expectation is not with you it makes it a little bit easier and certainly in those games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool perhaps the pressure is off us a little bit and we can cause a surprise,” he said.
“We’re looking to mess as many people’s seasons up as we can and enhance ours at the same time.”
Goalmouth action was limited at both ends yesterday, but the game was lit up in the 28th-minute when Soldado struck for the first time in nine matches. The £26m summer recruit took strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor’s pass in his stride and stabbed low into the corner eight yards from goal.
Cardiff came closest to an equaliser moments later, but former Spurs defender Steven Caulker headed Craig Bellamy’s corner against the crossbar from point-blank range.
“I’m delighted for Robbie,” added Sherwood. “He’s a great character around the place, the boys love him and they all want him to do very well. If I could have picked anyone to score that winning goal it would have been him.”