Juande Ramos marked his first game in charge of Tottenham with a comfortable 2-0 Carling Cup win over Blackpool.
Keane and Chimbonda on target for Spurs
Juande Ramos marked his first game in charge of Tottenham with a comfortable 2-0 Carling Cup win over Blackpool.
Goals from Robbie Keane and Pascal Chimbonda in each half helped ease the 53-year-old Spaniard into the White Hart Lane hot-seat and end Spurs' six match winless streak.
But if Ramos' men were expecting an easy ride into the quarter-finals it never materialised as the lowly Championship side left the new boss in no doubt of the huge task that lies ahead.
Spurs certainly deserved the win but they were made to work hard by a Blackpool side who wasted several gilt-edged chances to spoil the former Sevilla coach's big night.
Uncomfortable
Blackpool started well and England's Paul Robinson's had some uncomfortable moments early on.
But after a shaky spell Spurs settled well and with Aaron Lennon a constant threat down the wings they caused the visitors all kinds of problems, Keane going close early on.
But it was Blackpool's David Fox who missed a glorious chance to break the deadlock after 13 minutes with the Spurs defence at sixes and sevens.
Keane needless gave the ball away to Keigan Parker, who fed Fox but the Blackpool midfielder fired into the side-netting.
Blunder
Five minutes later Keane made up for his earlier blunder when he latched on to Dimitar Berbatov's flick from a long punt from Robinson before neatly flicking the ball beyond the advancing Paul Rachubka.
Blackpool should have equalised within two minutes of the restart but Gary
Taylor-Fletcher smacked the crossbar with a header from Parker's cross when he really should have scored.
Keane should have added a second when he raced through and chipped wide and he was nearly made to rue his miss but Robinson denied Taylor-Fletcher with a superb stop.
Shattered
But any hope the visitors had of levelling were shattered when Chimbonda headed in Spurs second.
Steed Malbranque's corner found the full-back unmarked at the far post and the France international thudded home his header.
Jermain Defoe came on for Keane after the hour mark and almost scored with his first touch, only for Rachubka to tip over the crossbar.
Spurs had further chances to add to their tally but found Rachubka in inspired form.
Ramos will be pleased with the winning start but knows that much tougher times lie ahead, starting with a Premier League trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
Blackpool |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 10 |
Corners |
3 |
| 15 |
Fouls |
5 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 53.7 |
Possession |
46.3 |
|
