Bolton 1-4 Tottenham - Owen Coyle on emotional Muamba | Premier League 2012
- 10 years ago
Tottenham won back-to-back league games for the first time since January as they reinvigorated their Champions League hopes by beating Bolton.
On the day Fabrice Muamba made his first public appearance since he suffered a cardiac arrest when these two teams met in the FA Cup in March, Spurs produced a ruthless display of finishing to keep them fourth in the Premier League.
Luka Modric gave the visitors the lead with a clinical strike following a corner, despite Sandro appearing to handle the ball before the set-piece was awarded.
And although Nigel Reo-Coker's equaliser roused the home supporters after the break, three goals in the space of nine minutes put the game beyond Bolton, who remain in the relegation zone.
Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor both scored on the counter-attack, with the Togolese earning Harry Redknapp's side their first away win in nine league games.
The upturn in Spurs' fortunes has coincided with Redknapp's links with the England job coming to an end and he will be delighted that the season still has hope after a demoralising period.
But, for his Bolton counterpart Owen Coyle, any thoughts of easing his team's relegation worries disappeared once Tottenham punctured an early second-half revival.
The Trotters remain in the bottom three despite being level on points with QPR and will have to regroup for a vital game with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Coyle had asked the supporters to raise the roof in the build-up to this fixture and it felt like they almost had, such was the incredible reception towards Muamba before kick-off.
Both Bolton and Spurs fans cheered as he greeted the crowd following his miraculous recovery from a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup tie between these two teams on 17 March.
But his presence could not inspire the hosts in the first period, as Tottenham took control of the midfield, with Modric the hub of their inspiration and creativity.
Bolton were far less fluid, although both David Ngog and Dedryck Boyata
On the day Fabrice Muamba made his first public appearance since he suffered a cardiac arrest when these two teams met in the FA Cup in March, Spurs produced a ruthless display of finishing to keep them fourth in the Premier League.
Luka Modric gave the visitors the lead with a clinical strike following a corner, despite Sandro appearing to handle the ball before the set-piece was awarded.
And although Nigel Reo-Coker's equaliser roused the home supporters after the break, three goals in the space of nine minutes put the game beyond Bolton, who remain in the relegation zone.
Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor both scored on the counter-attack, with the Togolese earning Harry Redknapp's side their first away win in nine league games.
The upturn in Spurs' fortunes has coincided with Redknapp's links with the England job coming to an end and he will be delighted that the season still has hope after a demoralising period.
But, for his Bolton counterpart Owen Coyle, any thoughts of easing his team's relegation worries disappeared once Tottenham punctured an early second-half revival.
The Trotters remain in the bottom three despite being level on points with QPR and will have to regroup for a vital game with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Coyle had asked the supporters to raise the roof in the build-up to this fixture and it felt like they almost had, such was the incredible reception towards Muamba before kick-off.
Both Bolton and Spurs fans cheered as he greeted the crowd following his miraculous recovery from a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup tie between these two teams on 17 March.
But his presence could not inspire the hosts in the first period, as Tottenham took control of the midfield, with Modric the hub of their inspiration and creativity.
Bolton were far less fluid, although both David Ngog and Dedryck Boyata