Tottenham vs QPR: Evaluating the Key Points from Spurs' First Home Victory

By (Featured Columnist) on September 23, 2012

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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur may have just found their feet in this season.

After failing to win in any of their first three Premier League matches, Spurs have strung together two victories.

Sunday's win was made even more impressive by the fantastic play Queens Park Rangers put on display in the first half. QPR thoroughly bossed the game and took the lead into the half, only for Spurs to find their way back through a two-goal spurt that lasted just over a minute.

Now, in case you missed it, I wrote an article before the match presenting the five things to watch for in this London derby.

So how did those key talking points play out in this match? How did they influence the match? And how do they bode for the future?

Let's analyze.

Brad Friedel's Goalkeeping

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For yet another match, Brad Friedel started in net for Tottenham. For yet another match, he made some nice saves and did very little to warrant losing his job.

The future of the position is still very much up in the air, what with the more than capable Hugo Lloris waiting in the wings for the top spot.

However, Friedel did enough to hold onto his job, if just for one more match.

Left-Back

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Scott Heavey/Getty Images

With Kyle Naughton unable to go in this match, AVB made a silly blunder: he started Gareth Bale at left-back.

Most of Spurs' attacking play over the past few years has gone through Bale, as the Welshman has moved further up the pitch. Further, he hadn't played at the position for two years. Unsurprisingly, Bale got few touches and the side had few good chances.

Luckily, AVB realized his mistake and substituted at the half, moving Jan Vertonghen over to left-back.

There, Vertonghen played very well, using his experience as Belgium's left-back to his advantage.

This was a fantastic result for Spurs, who have now proved their depth at the position.

With Naughton returning soon and Assou-Ekotto coming back in a few weeks, this is no longer a concern for the left-back position.

Clint Dempsey

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In his first Premier League start with Tottenham, Dempsey wasn't spectacular. He was often a bit sloppy with the ball and had a lost look about him.

That being said, he might have turned the match on one shot.

Early in the second half, he fired a shot into Julio Cesar that the keeper parried away. Up until that point, Spurs hadn't had a shot on goal as QPR dominated the match. After, Tottenham rose up and pressured QPR until they had the two goals that won the match.

Dempsey proved that he can be a difference-maker with just one kick of the ball, as evidenced by his goal-scoring tally last season.

The American may not be completely adjusted to White Hart Lane, but his play looks like a sign of good things to come.

Jermain Defoe

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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Yes, Jermain Defoe's red-hot form has continued for Spurs as he increased his goal tally to four goals in five Premier League matches.

This bodes well for the rest of the season, as Spurs are in need of some goal scoring from the striker position.

Luckily, Defoe is looking like one of the most in-form strikers in the Premier League.

Last-Minute Defense

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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

After five matches, Spurs finally did it.

Unlike their first four matches, Tottenham conceded no goals in the final 10 minutes of a match, riding it out to a victory.

Hopefully, this is a trend that will carry on through the rest of the season.

 

For the latest news in the world of football, follow me on Twitter.

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