Heart of Midlothian 0 Tottenham Hotspur 5: match report

Henry Winter

9:52PM BST 18 Aug 2011

Spurs had more trouble finding a hotel in Edinburgh than finding Hearts' goal. Eventually billeted up in St Andrews, Spurs drove into a city heaving with Festival-goers to stage a wonderful production of their own. By the end, Spurs fans were chanting: "We want six''. "We want one" was the wry local lament.

There might have been no room at the local Holiday Inn for Spurs but there was room aplenty in the Hearts box. Much to the frustration of the home supporters, Hearts were far

too timid, far too respectful of their Premier League visitors. The Scots simply stood off, inviting Spurs on.

Harry Redknapp's side needed no further encouragement. They poured forward, piecing together high-speed passing movements through the middle and out wide, romping to their biggest away win in Europe since overwhelming Drogheda in 1983.

Due allowance must be made for Hearts' assorted weaknesses, tactical and technical, but this was still an impressive shift from Spurs.

Good displays could be found throughout from the experienced Rafael van der Vaart to the youthful promise of Jake Livermore. Jermain Defoe gave a reminder of his class. Kyle Walker again served notice of his burgeoning form on the right. Niko Kranjcar ran midfield as his private fiefdom.

Everybody had predicted a gulf in technical class; what was so unexpected and disappointing was the caution staining Hearts' labours, such a contrast to the commitment of their fans.

"I did not think it would be that straightforward,'' said Redknapp. "Judging by the atmosphere, I thought it might be difficult.

"But we moved the ball about so well, it was difficult for them to stay with us. Niko was outstanding in midfield; he rarely plays there but really enjoyed playing central, linking up with Rafa. He ran the game. He is a fantastic footballer." And yet when all of Spurs players are fit, Kranjcar would struggle to make even the bench.

"It is difficult for Scottish teams because resources are so much different,'' continued Redknapp. "When you look at wages and transfer fees, there has to be a gulf. The big gulf is plain for everyone to see.

"When I played, every great club had great players from Scotland in it, but it has changed an awful lot. There are not so many great Scottish players around."

Such is the gap in finances that Spurs are considering embellishing their attack with a loan move for Emmanuel Adebayor. "It has been progressing along and it looks as if it could probably happen but I am not 100 per cent sure,'' said Redknapp.

Adebayor was not needed last night. As the goals flowed for Spurs in a brutally one-sided first half, as the excellent trio of Van der Vaart, Defoe and Livermore plundered rich reward, the visiting fans enquired loudly: "Can we play you every week?"

Hearts supporters applauded the few moments of hope, a run from David Templeton here, a shot from Ryan Stevenson there, but it was largely one-way traffic.

When Dave Mackay was presented to the fans at the interval, a great for both clubs remarked: "I wish I was playing." "So do we,'' replied the Tynecastle announcer, echoing the sentiments of the Hearts fans, whose pain began in the fourth minute and never eased.

After Defoe had run at Hearts' faltering defence, Van der Vaart took the ball on, assisted by some poor defending by Marius Zaliukas. As Hearts fans screamed for a handball by the Dutchman, Van der Vaart strode on and calmly placed the ball past Marian Kello: 0-1.

The mood was set. Gareth Bale stretched Hearts on the left, Aaron Lennon worried them on the right while the link-up between Van der Vaart and Defoe was of the highest order, quick of mind and feet. With the Dutchman mesmerizing Hearts, Defoe took his chance, darting in to slide a shot past Kello: 0-2.

The tie seemed effectively over when Spurs plundered a superb third, again following a fine build-up. Having combined with Defoe, Livermore effortlessly beat poor Kello: 0-3.

Hearts briefly rallied after the break, David Templeton looking lively as pride finally seeped into the hosts' efforts, but Spurs remained in control. Tom Huddlestone swept a pass down the inside-left channel that released Bale. The Welshman sped round Kello and slotted the ball into the empty net: 0-4.

When Andros Townsend sent Defoe down the left, Lennon sprinted into the box to meet the perfect low cross: 0-5. Game over. Tie all but over.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk