Slavia Prague   0   Tottenham Hotspur    1      (Half-time score : 0-1)

Unused subs: 
Dodoudil
Gecov
Necid
Aracic

Robinson

Chimbonda
King (c)
Dawson
Assou-Ekotto

Tainio
Zokora
Huddlestone (Davids 72)
Jenas

Defoe (Keane 78)
Mido

Unused subs: 
Cerny
Stalteri
Y.P. Lee
Ziegler
Davenport

None

Tottenham Hotspur

Jenas 38

       
Gaucho (foul) 34

     
Assou-Ekotto (foul) 39 

In truth, it wasn't as great a performance as it was seeing Tottenham back in the UEFA Cup after a break of seven years.  Slavia are a young, but poor side and with a bit more cutting edge, Spurs should really have put them to the sword.  However, deprived of Berbatov and Lennon, Spurs managed to put together a showing that was enough to win the leg and keep a clean sheet.  That was not too hard, with Slavia not getting in on Tottenham's goal until halfway through the second half to make Robinson make a save.  Having said that, it was not a great attacking performance from Spurs, who had few clear chances, but should have travelled back to London with more than one goal to show for their endeavours. 

It was about time we saw Tom Huddlestone in the midfield, but somewhat surprising that he was preferred to Dutchman Edgar Davids.  And it was also pleasing to see Didier Zokora taking a grip on midfield and dictating play, although there was little opposition to his promptings.

With Mido and Defoe up front, both closed down quickly, while both also took a bit of a bashing from the physical Czech defence.  Mido put in a low left wing cross early on, but Defoe could not get to it, while it took 23 minutes before the home side caused a little concern in the Tottenham back four.  A high headed ball into the area brought Paul Robinson out to punch clear. 

Robbo's opposite number Vorel had to leave the pitch five minutes later, when he collapsed after taking a goal-kick.  He had pulled a groin and after the Paraguay World Cup match, Paul must be thinking he is being protected from such maladies.  The keeper had to leave the pitch, allowing the young Kozacik to take over between the posts and his naivety showed as he rushed out for crosses and dropped the ball.  Nerves seemed to be getting the better of him.

He made a very good save, when a corner was played long to Chimbonda, whose header back across goal was well pushed out by the goalie.  Not so good was Brazilian striker Gaucho's tackle on Huddlestone, which might well have been worth a red, with his studs being in contact with Tom's shin.  Huddlestone came back on, clearly limping, but wanting to carry on.  Then in the 38th minute, Tottenham took the lead.

It was Huddlestone who broke down a Slavia attack, with a pass out to Mido, the Egyptian laid it off for Zokora to take on.  His long run was only ended, when he played a well weighted pass to the space in front of Jenas' run and without hesitation and not breaking his run, struck the ball first time, low and true into the bottom left corner of the net.  It was a well-taken goal, with Jenas striking the ball in textbook fashion, across the keeper to make it difficult for him to save.

Going in at half-time with a lead, Tottenham looked satisfied with their efforts, but the lead was almost doubled soon after the restart.  Zokora again made his presence felt, providing a good run and a controlled cross for Defoe to meet with his head, but Kozacik was there to save without too much trouble.

As the game changed to the other end, Gaucho put a pacy free-kick in, with a Slavia head getting to it, but unable to direct it goalwards.  It was the start of a period of home pressure for about ten minutes, but few real moments of panic came Tottenham's way.  Hrdlicka got the ball as a clearance reached him and fired in a return effort, but Michael Dawson brought out a trademark block to stop it reaching Robinson.  On the hour, the same player picked up a fluffed shot by Vlcek and curled a shot on goal from 25 yards that flew three yards wide of Robbo's right-hand post.

As the pressure mounted, a free-kick from 20 yards in the 68th minute was hit well by Hrdlicka, but Robinson got to it at full strength and pushed it wide low down after it cleared the wall.  Robbo had to be quick in getting up to then keep out Vlacek's follow-up at his near post.

The substitutions started to become more frequent and this disrupted the play, but Spurs did well out of them.  With nine minutes left, Robbie Keane found a pass through the defence and Edgar Davids was just short of getting their before Kozacik.  Then, with three minutes left on the clock, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who had a good game, threw in to Jermaine Jenas who put Keane through on goal and again Kozacik was sharply out at his feet.

That was the last meaningful action and the players saluted the Spurs crowd who were gathered behind each goal (as well as a few others sprinkled around the ground) and the fans saluted the players.  The flags of Spurs fans all over the country were displayed in the Czech capital to show how determined the travelling band were to let the world know that Tottenham were back.  Their vocal backing and with the help fo the drum, they drowned out the loudspeaker cheerleader of the Slavia fans.

With a better performance in a fortnight at the Lane, there could be even more to shout about.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - DIDIER ZOKORA