SOCCER: Tottenham - 2 Leeds United - 0: Robbie Keane insisted in the build-up to this match that Leeds supporters should give Terry Venables more time. "He was spot on for me," the striker said of their relationship at Elland Road. The bad news for Venables was that Keane was in less charitable mood yesterday, doing much to deepen the crisis engulfing the manager and painfully reminding him of the talent he sold.
It was wholly predictable, of course, that Keane played a big part in defeating the club that let him go for £7 million in August. Having had a significant role in Teddy Sheringham's opener, the Irishman scored a terrific second to end the contest before half-time and never stopped working. He had more shots than Leeds managed between them. Venables can hardly have had a more miserable afternoon.
Losing Nicky Barmby to an Achilles problem in the pre-match warm-up set the tone for the former England coach on his return to the club he managed more than a decade ago. He saw his initial 3-5-2 tactics exposed, watched his injury-hit team produce a poor display and must have longed for Keane in his side. With £77 million of debt, Leeds could also have done without a £25,000 fine for seven bookings.
Keane was never in Venables' starting line-up at Leeds, being restricted to three substitute appearances, which seemed astonishing on this showing. His energy, threat and work-rate contrasted markedly with Harry Kewell's efforts. Leeds' two notable shots on target were sarcastically cheered by their own fans.
Venables has stressed that he sold Keane only because of financial pressures and was hardly surprised to be tormented by the 22-year-old, who let himself down only by occasionally trying too much on his own in the second half.
"It normally happens," Venables said of players excelling against former clubs. "He did play particularly well, there's no doubt about that."
Keane was the outstanding figure of Tottenham's impressive first half, which was full of quick passing and good movement. His willingness to drift to the right and run at defenders caused Leeds considerable problems. His effort level was tremendous and his goal expertly taken first time with the outside of his right foot.
It says much for the disillusionment among Leeds fans that the poll for the team's man of the match on their club's official website had Nigel Martyn second with 21% of the vote. The reserve goalkeeper never left the subs' bench. Alan Smith was deservedly top, showing a drive and never-say-die attitude some of his team-mates lacked.
Leeds have now taken only five points from 27 and look horribly short of confidence, fluency and ideas. They gave the ball away far too often, particularly in the first half, and were not helped by Venables' decision to play for 37 minutes with an unfamiliar three-man defence which had Eirik Bakke at its centre. Leeds looked uncomfortable at the back and going forward with 3-5-2.
Leeds at least mounted some pressure after the interval but created next to nothing. It perhaps summed up their day that Mark Viduka hobbled off with a calf problem near the finish. Viduka had replaced the ineffective Jacob Burns, himself a late replacement for Barmby.
As if Venables did not have enough problems, he played a role in Tottenham's first goal. By returning the ball instantly from the sidelines to Stephen Carr, he allowed the full back to take a quick throw which culminated in Keane running towards goal. Though Teddy Lucic managed a tackle, the ball broke to Sheringham to score with a small deflection from 18 yards.
Keane's strike sparked even greater celebration. Sold by Leeds because of their financial mess, he not only made sure his old club were haunted by past mistakes but left Venables with an increasingly uncertain future.
TOTTENHAM: Keller, Bunjevcevic, King, Richards, Carr, Freund, Anderton (Redknapp 78), Poyet (Iversen 90), Ziege (Davies 68), Sheringham, Keane. Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Perry. Booked: Poyet, Ziege, Bunjevcevic. Goals: Sheringham 12, Keane 41.
LEEDS UNITED: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Lucic, Wilcox, Bowyer, Burns (Viduka 37), McPhail, Bakke, Kewell, Smith, Viduka (Milner 82). Subs Not Used: Martyn, Duberry, Richardson. Booked: Bakke, Wilcox, Burns, Kewell, McPhail, Smith, Bowyer.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
