Three golden points after a superb performance at White Hart Lane

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0

WIGAN ATHLETIC 1
Rodallega 81

Report by Paul Chialton

Hugo Rodallega's late goal sealed a memorable win for Latics, their first ever at White Hart Lane, after a performance to be proud of.

Moments earlier Antolin Alcaraz and Jordi Gomez had seen golden opportunities go amiss up stepped the Colombian striker to grab what proved to be the winner; hitting one from a tight angle that found a way underneath Carlo Cudicini and into the back of the net.

Cue ten minutes of back-to-the-wall defending and five nervy minutes of added time in which every player to a man stood strong and put themselves on the line to secure all three points.

The defence and midfield kept their shape and stayed discipline throughout the game to keep Spurs at bay, suffocating them and limiting them to few opportunities.

Captain Alcaraz played with confidence at the back and taking control of any loose balls around him. His combined efforts with Steve Gohouri ensured that Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko had hardly a sniff at goal.

Gohouri came within inches of putting the away side into the lead after just eight minutes, smashing one against the bar from six yards after a clever nod-down from his centre-half partner.

Ali Al Habsi was a mountain in goal, making a string of superb saves and dominating his area. A low save from Defoe in the first half and a double save at the death keeping Latics in the game and in the lead at crucial points of the game.

In the middle of the park Momo Diame and Hendry Thomas formed a rock solid partnership to hunt down the opposition and make sure the likes of Tom Huddlestone and Wilson Palacios quiet and unable to get a strangle-hold on the game.

With all their attacking threat Spurs were frustrated and couldn't find a clear way through the defence who were resolute from the start and made sure that every tiny detail both on and off the ball was perfect.

Bold and brave from start to finish, it was a display to remember getting everything right and coming away with three huge deserved points.

Latics: Al Habsi; Boyce, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Diame, Thomas; Stam (McArthur), McCarthy, Rodallega; Boselli (Gomez)

Subs: Pollitt, Caldwell, Mustoe, Watson, McManaman

Spurs: Cudicini; Kaboul, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto (Kranjcar); Lennon (Dos Santos), Palacios, Huddlestone, Bale; Crouch (Pavlyuchenko), Defoe

Subs: Alnwick, Jenas, Keane, Bassong