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Croats clinch point

It was a Croatian double-act that secured the team a point in a 2-2 draw against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

Niko Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka netted their first goals from the Club - a first competitive goal in Corluka's case after his pre-season strike against Olympiacos - as the boys twice came from behind in a hard-fought contest in the North West.

Harry Redknapp made one change to his starting line-up from last weekend's victory over Burnley at the Lane, with Peter Crouch coming in for Jermain Defoe - meaning a strikeforce of Keane and Crouch, scorers of seven goals between them in their last starts.

It took only three minutes for the home side to register a goal for themselves. A long throw from the right eventually fell to Chung-Yong Lee, who dispatched a shot that Carlo Cudicini could only parry into the path of the waiting Ricardo Gardner and the Jamaican international gleefully smashed into the net.

Buoyed by the early boost, Bolton continued to play the percentages, gaining territory and winning free-kicks from which they will always pose a threat. Gardner provided an alternative threat on 14 minutes when he surged through and played in Tamir Cohen and the son of the former Liverpool player Avi was foiled by the advancing Cudicini.

A Crouch header from a Kranjcar free-kick was our single attacking sortie of note in the opening stages. Kranjcar later span his marker and shot wide as the team started to win something of a foothold in the game, but Bolton were settling into a stubborn 4-5-1 system in an attempt to smother the encounter.

Gardner shot in on goal with a promising strike with the body of Jermaine Jenas providing welcome respite.

With the clock on 34 minutes there was a leveller of classic simplicity. Wilson Palacios flighted the ball into the area, where Crouch was waiting to knock down and Kranjcar executed a clinical finish.

It had not been the best of halves up this point, but coming out of it relatively unscathed was a definite bonus. Cohen did his best to ensure this was not the case when after anticipating clever work from Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor, he sped into the area and dinked over the on-rushing Cudicini. Thankfully he also dinked over the crossbar.

Then Davies chipped into the area and Taylor was ready to pull the trigger only to be foiled by a smothering save from Cudicini to force a corner.

After a spell of Bolton pressure at the beginning of the second half, Aaron Lennon attempted to take a grip of proceedings with a speedy dash inside from the right, extending Jussi Jaaskelainen, who could only push out as far as Palacios, but the midfielder was distracted in his effort to shoot back on goal.

Crouch came close to adding his name to the scorers when he fired just over following a tee-up from Jermaine Jenas inside the area. Jenas later shot just wide after good work from Vedran Corluka on the right before, on 68 minutes, Defoe was introduced to the action, Keane being the striker withdrawn.

After the balance of the power in the game appeared to be shifting our way, Lee's clever back-heel sent Cohen sprinting in the box and he teased a speculative cross to the far post where Davies stole in front of Benoit Assou-Ekotto to nod home.

All in the stadium thought Crouch had equalised after a Defoe shot came off Jaaskelainen and fell right in the path of the England striker, who struck downwards and the ball came back off the underside of the bar.

We did not have to wait too much longer to be back on level terms as a deep Kranjcar corner was headed back over Jaaskelainen and into the net by Corluka in the 73rd minute.

The Bolton aerial threat was still present and Cudicini had to be alert to deny Taylor from a Davies flick-on.

It really was game on with both teams intent on seeking out a winner, Crouch having a great chance from a Lennon cross that he took down on his chest inside the six yard box but had a touch too many.

Jenas sent Defoe scurrying away moments later, with the little striker thumping wide under pressure from Zak Knight.

It was a frantic finish, but it finished with honours even.

Spurs: Cudicini; Corluka, Bassong, Huddlestone, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar; Keane (Defoe, 68), Crouch. Unused subs: Gomes, Bale, Dawson, Hutton, Naughton, Bentley.

Pedigree: Tottenham's glory days of the 1960s are a dim and distant memory for most of the club's supporters, but the traditions of playing fluent, attacking football hold true today. It is almost 50 years since the club's last league title, but they are one of the best knock-out teams in England, having won eight FA Cups and four League Cups.

They're The Ones Who ...start horribly slowly, sack their manager in early autumn and then stage a stirring comeback in the second half of the season, galvanising hopes for the following campaign. And so the cycle starts again...

If Money Were No Object: All the big-name players they are perennially linked with would actually join. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, unwanted by Real Madrid and much coveted at White Hart Lane, might be the first to arrive.

Stat Attack: No side conceded fewer home league goals than Tottenham last season (10).

World Cup Watch: Robbie Keane will be praying for another outing on football's grandest stage with the Republic of Ireland. Jermain Defoe has designs on breaking into Fabio Capello's England squad, while Roman Pavlyuchenko will hope a lack of first team action in north London will not hamper his chances of regular starts with Russia.

Last Year's Magic Moment: The comeback against fierce rivals Arsenal at the Emirates will live long in the memory for Spurs fans, with two goals in the last four minutes somehow salvaging a 4-4 draw. Just a shame most of the travelling contingent had already trooped out in dejection by the time Aaron Lennon grabbed the equaliser.

In: Peter Crouch, Portsmouth, £9m; Kyle Naughton, Sheffield United £5m; Kyle Walker, Sheffield United, free; Anton Blackwood, Arsenal, free.

Out: Didier Zokora, Sevilla, £7.75m; Chris Gunter, Nottingham Forest, £1.75m; David Hutton, Cheltenham, free; Danny Hutchins, Yeovil, free; Gilberto, released; Ricardo Rocha, released; Takura Mtandiari, released;

Driving Ambition: A top-six finish should be the priority for Spurs, especially as they will not be encumbered with a gruelling European fixture list this season.

The Reality: Europa League qualification should be well within reach and Tottenham will always be a threat in the cups. Don't rule out another Wembley final appearance.

How Outsiders View Them: Good to watch, free-scoring and packed full of native talent. A soft touch on their travels, though, and eternal underachievers.

Our Mole Says: This has been an unusually quiet summer for Spurs, but the club remain keen on Real Madrid's unwanted Dutch contingent, with Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Huntelaar all targeted. Aston Villa's Ashley Young appears out of reach.

Spending Money: Early indications are that there will not be the summer splurges of previous years. But they should be able to spend whatever they raise through player sales.

The Boss: Harry Redknapp is one of the wiliest in the business, specialising in resuscitating fallen giants. His contacts are virtually unparalleled and his appreciation of good football sits well with Tottenham's demanding fans.

What To Say About The Squad: Sturdy in defence, good width and impressive firepower up front. What's not to like?

What Not To Say About The Squad: They won't fancy it on a wet and wild winter's day at Blackburn.

Best Friends Or Bust-up: Best Friends. The days when Tottenham hard-men would bite opponents' legs are long gone: Jermaine Jenas is no Dave Mackay.

Our Prediction: Top eight finish in the league and possible FA Cup winners.

Key Player: Luka Modric. Flattered to deceive for most of last season, but more is expected of the Croatian playmaker this term. Has the potential to give his team the X factor.

Title odds: 80-1
Relegation odds: 12-1

Last season's form
League: 8th
FA Cup: 4th round
League Cup: Runners-up
Top League Scorers: Darren Bent 17, Roman Pavlyuchenko 14
Discipline: Yellow 54, Red 5

Team facts
Nickname: Spurs
Ground: White Hart Lane
Capacity: 36,310
Address: Bill Nicholson Way, 748 High Road, Tottenham, London N17 0AP