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Saha delighted to grab home debut brace as Spurs sparkle
Many expected 33-year-old Louis Saha to be a bit-part player at most when he signed for Tottenham from Everton in a shock deadline day deal last month.
But manager Harry Redknapp handed him his first start against Newcastle on Saturday evening ahead of fans’ favourite Jermain Defoe and he responded with two goals in a resounding home win.
The former Manchester United striker did not disappoint in a hugely one-sided game that saw him take just five minutes to open his account as he poked home Emmanuel Adebayor’s cross to put the home side 2-0 up after Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s early opener.
The Frenchman added his second 15 minutes later when he picked up Adebayor’s knock-down before beating Magpies goalkeeper Tim Krul from 12 yards and Tottenham then went on to cruise to victory.
“It was a great, great feeling,” Saha said.
“I am not that young, but it’s just like I was living the dream of a young boy – to make your debut and score on your home ground, it’s just amazing.”
Much of the pre-match focus had centred on Redknapp’s tax evasion trial and the clamour for him to be appointed as England manager following Fabio Capello’s resignation just hours after the Spurs manager’s acquittal.
If Football Association chairman David Bernstein was watching on Saturday, then he will have been highly impressed with Redknapp’s team.
Tottenham, quite simply, were at their imperious best. Creativity, pace, critical finishing and hard work were the hallmarks of the display, which came amid a backdrop of chants from the home support begging Redknapp to snub England and remain at White Hart Lane.
The 64-year-old has transformed Spurs from relegation candidates to title contenders in little over three years, and for that reason, Saha understands why Redknapp is the overwhelming favourite to take the England job.
The striker said: “He is right up there with the best managers because he has so much quality around the team and he gets more than 100 per cent from every player. It’s immense. That shows he has great quality.
“It’s great to work for him. He gives you so much confidence. He has a desire to win things. You can see it in his eyes.
“The last two weeks have been really difficult for him and it was nice to end it with a great win and a great performance.”
Niko Kranjcar scored Tottenham’s fourth with a sweet drive just before half-time and Adebayor turned home a second-half volley to complete the rout.
Newcastle made the long journey back to Tyneside having failed to show any of the fighting spirit that earned them a 2-2 draw against Spurs in the reverse fixture in October.
Demba Ba fashioned a couple of half chances, but otherwise Brad Friedel and the Tottenham defence had a quiet evening and the Magpies dropped to sixth.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew ruled himself out of contention for the England job on Thursday and thinks the position is Redknapp’s for the taking.
“I’m sure Harry will get a phone call and he’ll have a decision to make. But he’s got a fantastic team here,” said Pardew.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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