Spurs threatened to bury Tromso after two early strikes from Jermain Defoe had put the side two up inside the first half an hour. Tottenham were dominant throughout but couldn’t add to the scoring until Christian Eriksen’s strike from distance just before the final whistle but it was a safe enough performance and one that Andre Villas-Boas was more than satisfied with.
“It was an important win,” Andre said after the contest.
“We made changes from the team that played in the Premier League but the players played really well.
“It was a good response from everyone, a great professional attitude from the boys who had the experience last season of approaching this competition in a serious way.
“We wanted the 3-0 (final scoreline) to feel completely at home with the result.
In the other game in this group, Anzhi Makhachkala were held, somewhat surprisingly, to a 0-0 draw by FC Sheriff. Anzhi should provide the main threat in this group but loss of players in the transfer window gives us every chance of picking up more points when we travel to meet the Russian Premier League side on 3rd October.
Difficult game for a new team, trying to break down a side with no adventure whatsoever.
2 well taken goals from Defoe (showing a bit of finesse in his finishing rather that the old ‘bang it as hard and straight as you can’ school of finishing) Holtby showing some nice touches in behind Defoe and a great assist and Lamela coming up with an assist and a full 90 mins under his belt.
We’ll be much better against sides that actually look to go and score goals as there will be spaces to exploit and having players that are interchangeable on the field means that we’ll be difficult to mark effectively.
Only downside were the injuries. lets hope for some good news today or tomorrow
On the whole some good signs
And Eriksen looks class, great goal