Tottenham 3 Portsmouth 1: Controversy stalked Harry Redknapp's return to Portsmouth, so it seemed fitting that it featured in the manager's losing start last night. Redknapp's team looked set to take a point from a gutsy performance until Tottenham were awarded a late penalty, which Mido converted.
Portsmouth will feel Uriah Rennie's decision was harsh when a free-kick by Andy Reid - just on as a substitute - struck the upper arm of Gary O'Neil as the midfielder jumped in the defensive wall.
At first glance it seemed O'Neil had not deliberately blocked the ball's path and Pompey's misery was completed when Jermaine Defoe shot through the goalkeeper's legs from a tight angle after going past Andy Griffin.
The score keeps Tottenham well on course for Europe, but flattered them, because, for all their possession, they had not created much against obdurate opponents after falling behind. Redknapp can take positives, but that will be little consolation for now.
Redknapp's first away game in charge of Southampton last December had ended in a 5-1 defeat here and few had imagined he would emerge from this match with anything to show for it. Pompey arrived on the back of four straight defeats and Redknapp's first training session with his new squad only came last Thursday.
The commotion of his departure from Southampton was been followed by an investigation into betting patterns on his move. The issue could develop.
That will have been far from Redknapp's thoughts, particularly when his team took an undeserved lead in the 24th minute. It was impossible not to admire the quality of Lomano LuaLua's shot from 30 yards, but that was Portsmouth's first effort at goal and they had been on the back foot until then.
Redknapp had made three changes from the XI he inherited, with Vincent Pericard the most notable introduction after a loan spell at Sheffield United. He was used up front in a 4-5-1 and it looked a tactical misjudgment initially as Portsmouth failed to mount attacks and came under pressure.
It looked hard to imagine them holding out as Spurs attacked, with Edgar Davids dynamic and Robbie Keane getting into good areas. The home team's pressure was hardly creating an incessant stream of chances and there was little thrust in wide areas in the final third with Davids and Jermaine Jenas most comfortable coming inside, but three opportunities were wasted.
Jamie Ashdown was not even forced into a testing save, as he twice denied Keane and stopped from Mido. Davids was involved in two of the openings, first with a thrusting run and then a strong tackle to set up a break. Even if Tottenham lacked cutting edge, they hardly imagined falling behind.
Poor defending contributed to LuaLua's goal, with Lee Young-pyo failing to head clear a hopeful high ball from Matthew Taylor. There still looked little danger when the ball dropped but LuaLua struck a fizzing first-time shot across Paul Robinson.
Tottenham's attempts to equalise were poor before half-time as Portsmouth defended stoutly. Teemu Tainio departed with a knee injury but strangely his replacement Wayne Routledge was not straight away given a role out wide.
Routledge relocated to the wing for the second half but the biggest drive for Tottenham continued to come from Davids. Their possession was still producing little, though, and Pompey threatened on the break. Robinson had to save from Pericard, who had wasted an earlier chance, after good work by John Viafara, the most advanced of Portsmouth's central midfielders.
That looked costly when Ledley King beat Linvoy Primus to a Michael Carrick corner to head an equaliser, but only a terrific reaction save by Robinson prevented Taylor from restoring Portsmouth's lead soon after.
TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, King, Lee, Jenas, Carrick, Davids, Tainio (Routledge 40), Keane (Defoe 69), Mido, Routledge (Reid 83). Subs not used: Kelly, Cerny. Goals: King 57, Mido 85 pen, Defoe 90.
PORTSMOUTH: Ashdown, Primus, O'Brien, Stefanovic, Griffin, O'Neil, Viafara, Hughes, Taylor (Robert 86), Pericard, LuaLua. Subs not used: Priske, Todorov, Cisse, Westerveld. Goal: LuaLua 24.
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
