Clive Allen's reserves battle to overcome West Brom
SPURS reserves overcame a slow start to beat West Bromwich Albion reserves 3-2 in Monday s Premier League South opener at Brisbane Road. Newly-promoted West Brom immediately shocked Spurs when Roman Bednar scored with a powerful low shot on two minutes. T
SPURS reserves overcame a slow start to beat West Bromwich Albion reserves 3-2 in Monday's Premier League South opener at Brisbane Road.
Newly-promoted West Brom immediately shocked Spurs when Roman Bednar scored with a powerful low shot on two minutes.
Tottenham regrouped but were unable to break through the Baggies' defence as the organised visitors kept their shape and rebuffed any attempts to equalise.
West Brom then came close to doubling their lead in the 22nd minute but were denied by first team defender Ricardo Rocha's (pictured left) late block.
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But the Baggies were rewarded in first half stoppage time when Bednar netted his second goal from a deflection for a 2-0 lead at half-time.
A seemingly different Tottenham reappeared after the break and Danny Hutchins gave them a lifeline with an early goal.
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Bouyed by the score, Clive Allen's boys pressed forward and equalised in the 72nd minute when they were awarded a penalty for handball against James Hancox, who was was sent off.
David Hutton kept his cool to score from the spot for 2-2 and, benefitting from their numerical advantage, took the game to the Baggies in search of a winner.
And Spurs were rewarded when Andrew Barcham grabbed the third five minutes from time.
"Every game is so important in this league, you can't look at it and think about two or three games to get going, you have to hit the ground running," said development coach Allen.
"I've always said I want to win every game and that's emphasised even more by the way the reserve season is - two games in the first week and then a gap of almost a month.
"We want to put a marker down and start the season in the right way. That's important in terms of confidence because we haven't got the games week in, week out.
"In a strange way, it's like two cup ties straight away and that's the way the season maps out.
"We had to wait a little longer than the first team for our league to start but in the meantime we've had friendlies that have become more and more difficult."
Team: Alnwick, Hughton, Berchiche (Smith, 64), Hutchins, Dervite, Rocha (Mtandari, 46), Fraser-Allen, Maghoma, Barcham, Rose, David Hutton. Subs: Button, Olsen, Townsend.
l Spurs visit Aston Villa reserves on Monday.
