Tenacious Tigers frustrate their hosts

Posted Saturday, January 16, 2010 by PA

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp endured a frustrating 500th game as a Premier League manager after heroics from Boaz Myhill earned Hull a valuable 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.

Myhill pulled off a string of fine saves to deny Spurs, who equalled their club record of five consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League but will disappointed not to find a way past Hull's goalkeeper.

Hull, meanwhile, have not won in seven games but will see the draw as a point gained after withstanding pressure and threatening to follow the example of Stoke and Wolves, who won at Spurs' ground earlier in the season.

Those defeats have dented Spurs' ambitions of Champions League football next year and again they struggled to break down a team looking to frustrate, and to waste as much time as possible.

It was a tactic that angered Spurs fans and eventually led to former Spurs midfielder Nicky Barmby being cautioned by referee Martin Atkinson during a dour first half.

Aside from a couple of long-range efforts, there was little in the way of entertainment for fans who waded through torrential rain to get to the stadium.

The first meaningful goal-mouth action of the match came when Myhill pulled off the first of his stunning double saves, nine minutes before the break.

The move was started by Spurs centre-back Michael Dawson crunching into Craig Fagan with a tackle, with Wilson Palacios carrying the ball towards goal and seeing his low drive saved.

The rebound fell for Robbie Keane, who still needed to adjust his body - but he got a powerful shot away that needed tipping over.

Then, in stoppage-time in the opening half, Luka Modric sent Jermain Defoe through but Myhill denied the England striker by staying on his feet as long as possible before blocking.

Spurs had a huge penalty appeal turned down just after the restart when Gareth Bale's volley was blocked by Andy Dawson and the Hull defender fell on the ball - but referee Atkinson appeared have his view blocked and waved play on.

Then came another double save from Myhill. This time Modric volleyed on target and the Wales international parried, then he used his face to block Keane when he followed up again.

Redknapp's reaction was to make his first change, bringing Jermaine Jenas on for Palacios, who had been booked for a foul on Geovanni.

Peter Crouch was also brought on for Keane to give Spurs a different approach in attack.

Hull gave Spurs a warning when Sebastien Bassong's clearance fell for Stephen Hunt and he slipped Barmby through - but the finish went into the side netting.

Modric forced Myhill into another save when he headed on target - but it was not as difficult as his previous stops. The Croatia playmaker got closer with his next effort, angled towards the top corner, but Myhill saved again.

Without a last-ditch tackle from Spurs centre-back Dawson, Hunt would have been through on goal to snatch all three points for the visitors.

Spurs also had a late penalty shout turned down when George Boateng appeared to use his hand to block a shot from Niko Kranjcar.

Crouch was the next to get denied by Myhill, who parried his header. The England striker then had another penalty shout turned down.