Myhill (Duke 46)

Thelwell (Hinds 46)
Joseph (Wiseman 81)
Dawson
Green

Ashbee
Lewis (France 46)
Barmby (Facey 65)
Allsopp (Walters 46)

Wilbraham (Elliott 46)
Delaney

Unused subs: 
Price

Robinson

Carr
Bunjevcevic (McKie 46)
Doherty 
Gardner (King 46)

Davis (Mabizela 46)
Ricketts
Mendes
Jackson (Marney 46)

Defoe (Malcolm 80)
Keane  (Yeates 61)

Unused subs: 
Fulop
Kelly

Green (pen) 62
Elliott 90

Tottenham Hotspur 

Defoe 41
Defoe 79

This was my first visit to Hull.  I do not plan going again.  

Hull is best known, in my world at least, for the poetry of Philip Larkin, who was, I believe, a librarian in the city.  I have a copy of his collected poems, but can find nothing to inform or enlighten a review of a football match. 

Earlier this year on a train journey from Inverness to Peterborough, I saw that someone had scrawled the words, ‘excluding Hull’ next to the sign that warns toilet users not to pull the flush in stations.  This amused me at the time and stayed with me as I made the weekend trip to Humberside.  I was not disappointed. 

The walk to the ground reminded me of some of the squalor around Park Lane.  I find it agreeable and reassuring in Tottenham, but not on my travels.  I may be on the verge of offending residents of Hull (poor you) so I’ll say, genuinely, how impressive the KC stadium is.  Bright, attractive and modern; cleaner than White Hart Lane and comfortable.  The centenary programme, priced at £4 is indeed a souvenir, although at that price I wasn’t tempted to buy two !

The Spurs line up looked more convincing that at Stevenage with more first team regulars starting.  Robinson, King and Gardner all played, with the two defenders sharing the 90 minutes.  

Tottenham looked the better side for much of the game (we are in the Premier League after all) with a lot of possession.  We were passing well throughout the game although sometimes wasteful at the finish.  Defoe is an absolute little gem and looked good on the ball at all times. 

The first goal from him at 40 minutes was clean and clinical and well worked from Keano and Jackson.  (I wonder what sort of season Johnnie Jackson will have ?  I often think about the exquisite pass he made to Postiga who slotted away the winning goal in the home match to Liverpool last season not to mention the goal he scored at The Valley to secure us a brilliant away win against Charlton).  

Mabizela aided Jermain’s second goal at 78 minutes and that should have done it despite Ledley’s uncharacteristic clumsiness in conceding a penalty on the hour.  I know that scores don’t really matter in pre-season (within reason), but we should have done better in preventing the late Hull equaliser in added time.  I was pleased to see Bunjevcevic and Mabizela playing again and both seemed committed to the game for the half that they played.

Overall it was OK and, in the scheme of how Santini seems to be using pre-season, acceptable.  

Little did I know what was in store at Sheffield the next day.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - JERMAIN DEFOE