Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Bolton Wanderers

Same ish, different Saturday. Another loss by multiple goals, another red card, another week in the bottom three. It started poorly for the Trotters before referee Stuart Atwell piled on the pain with a simply unjust red card. We're usually the optimistic ones at the Lion of Vienna Suite but how much more can we take?

Bolton started off with an early chance that came from a Paul Robinson free kick with Kevin Davies nodding it on to Gary Cahill. Cahill rose highest for the header but it was just wide. That would be Bolton's only chance of the game to get ahead.

Gareth Bale opened the scoring for Spurs in the 7th minute from a Luka Modric corner. The ball was played low and hard with the Welshman just flicking it past Jussi to open the scoring. The static defending from Bolton certainly didn't help the cause. Bale's goal celebration was certainly touching as he lifted his boot, inscribed with RIP Gary Speed, to the fans.

Then came the controversy thanks to referee Stuart Atwell making an absolute mess of the call. Gary Cahill lost the ball at the half way line to Scott Parker. Attempting to get it back, Gaz stuck a leg out and brought down Parker with it. In what was a yellow card challenge at best, Atwell showed Cahill the red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Keep in mind that this challenge was 45 yards out, not a slide, not studs up, and Zat Knight was the last man back, not Gary. Bolton's fifth red card of the season meant that the Wanderers would once again finish without 11 men.

Bolton escaped the first half down only a goal thanks to the magic of Jussi Jaaskelainen. His 10 plus saves in the match gave Bolton life and prevented Tottenham from putting the score into double digits. Despite the fact that there were three goals in the match, the Finn played an absolute blinder, keeping Bolton alive for a lot of the match.

It took the Trotters five minutes to concede in the second half as Aaron Lennon gave Spurs a second. His zig-zagging run thoroughly beat Steinsson who was then caught out of position, giving Lennon an alley to shoot through.

The third came from Jermain Defoe by way of a Gareth Bale cross that was once again sent low and to the near post. Klasnic had to do a better job of defending but having looked lazy all game, this corner routine was no different. The ball skipped past him right to Defoe who flicked into the net.

With Gary Cahill and David Wheater now serving suspensions, the defensive line looks a frightening prospect for the Aston Villa match next weekend with Gretar Steinsson, Dedryck Boyata, Zatyiah Knight, and Paul Robinson in line for the starts. Maybe Bolton will appeal the card and the FA will overturn the suspension. Until then, we hope that something, anything can turn it around for us.