Ramos gets first league win
From Jon West in London, England
November 12, 2007
JUANDE Ramos enjoyed his first Barclays Premier League win as Tottenham Hotspur eased to a 4-0 success over managerless Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane.
The points were banked by half-time after Jermaine Jenas netted twice and Aaron Lennon added an excellent third goal before substitute Darren Bent wrapped up the rout late on.
Wigan had sacked Chris Hutchings at the start of the week after six successive defeats plunged the Latics into the bottom three - where they are likely to remain on this showing.
A new coach - or an old one if previous manager Paul Jewell can be persuaded to return to JJB Stadium - is needed as soon as possible.
Spurs began the Ramos era in the relegation zone themselves, but they are now more healthily placed and looked nothing like a team with major troubles, although they will be sure to have sterner tests than this one.
Lennon had made his intentions clear in the eighth minute when he forced Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland into a low save following a smart interchange between Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov.
But the first goal was not delayed long, and it was as much a disaster for the Wigan back line, and Kirkland in particular, than a triumph for Keane, who made it, and Jenas, who scored it.
The Irishman embarrassed Andreas Granqvist with a nutmeg on the left touchline and Jenas was left with the most simple of finishes when Kirkland failed to cut out the pass that followed.
Spurs doubled their advantage in the 26th minute, when Berbatov played a through-ball that Keane fancied until he realised he would be flagged offside. The Republic of Ireland striker checked his run and allowed Jenas to canter through, with the midfield player calmly taking the ball round Kirkland and slotting home.
Berbatov then also set up the third goal in the 35th minute. Wigan midfield player Kevin Kilbane misjudged a punt by Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson, and the Bulgarian nipped in to play the ball back, almost lazily, to Lennon. The winger had a small area of goal to aim for, but he found the target perfectly with a low shot across the goalkeeper.
Wigan had offered little by way of retaliation and caretaker manager Frank Barlow's cautious 4-5-1 formation didn't help. Antoine Sibierski was sent on as an extra attacker before the break, by which time Spurs should have been even further ahead.
A rapid rattle of passes from Lennon, Keane and Berbatov left Jenas with all the goal to aim at, but the England player somehow managed to scuff the ball harmlessly wide - and hurt himself in the process.
Jenas then flicked the ball over Kirkland into the net from close range, but a raised flag meant that hat-trick remained elusive.
Keane was replaced in the 67th minute by Darren Bent, who was playing his 200th league game, and the newcomer made it 4-0 in the 72nd minute after Kirkland had done well to keep out another Lennon drive.
Agence France-Presse
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22742878-29437,00.html
