Published: 10 November, 2012

Europa League – Group J
SPURS 3, NK MARIBOR 1

THE calls for a two-man attack will be heightened this week after Andre Villas-Boas gave Emanuel Adebayor his first start of the season in the Europa Cup – and saw his team-mate Jermain Defoe hit a well taken hat-trick.

After a run of disappointing league results – reverses to Norwich and Wigan had led to grumbles that AVB’s tactics, playing one up front, were too negative – he threw the pair together, and while Maribor are not top-drawer standard, the ease with which Spurs created chances was noted.

Speaking after the game he said: “Having Defoe and Adebayor together makes us more varied and more challenging.”

But he would not be drawn on whether the pair will face Manchester City away on Sunday.

The opener came on 21, when a simple cross by Kyle Naughton was met neatly by the inside of Defoe's boot. He skipped behind his marker and finished with ease.

It was all the side deserved, and for much of the half this must-win Europa League game seemed to be going well – until a disastrous pass back by Kyle Naughton put Lloris in trouble. The Maribor skipper, Tavares, nipped in to force the ball home on 39.

However, with Defoe and Adebayor buzzing, it was only to stay level for four minutes of the second period. Defoe was played in and he neatly cut the ball across the keeper to make it 2-1.

The Defoe third came on 76: Huddlestone's neat ball to Bale out wide gave Spurs attacking width and Bale laid the striker a cross on a plate to tap home.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

WE have seen it before: youngster gets a break in the first team and suddenly we hope we've unearthed the Messiah.

Think Bostock, O'Hara, Marney…so let's not get too excited by the very assured display in the midfield by tiny Tom Carroll, 19.

But then again, football is all about dreaming, and if you can't dream, what can you do…?

Despite his stature, he didn't get bumped about too much. He even won a few tackles, and, let's face it, Ossie and Luka were hardly big.

He ran with enthusiasm throughout, going end to end from first to last.

He made intelligent use of the ball – and cut the Maribor defence open for one of the goals with a well weighted throughball. One pass he wafted out left to Bale was inch perfect…not only superbly executed, not only perfectly placed, but also the best choice to make as he sat on the ball with options. It showed a mature footballing brain.

So, Tom: take a bow. That was a good performance. Now let's see if you can keep up the development and make yourself a Spurs regular, or, whisper it, LEGEND…

Man of the Match: Harsh not to give it to Defoe after three super strikes, but youngster Tom Carroll gets the nod after a barnstorming display. He's ready for first-team appearances.
Spurs: Lloris, Vertonghen, Huddlestone, Lennon, Adebayor, Bale, Naughton, Defoe, Dawson, Walker, Carroll. Subs: Cudicini, Dempsey, Gallas, Sigurdsson, Falque, Livermore, Mason