It has been two years and almost three months in coming, but Nwankwo Kanu can at long
last celebrate a double as West Brom continued their Hawthorns hot streak.
On a bitterly cold night, with the pitchside temperature dipping to minus four
before kick-off, Kanu brought a warm glow to manager Bryan Robson and the
Baggies fans with a goal either side of the break.
Albion have now taken 10 points from their last four home games, all without
conceding a goal, to ease their relegation fears.
Undoubtedly, they are in a far healthier position compared to a year ago when
they propped up the Premiership, seemingly without a prayer of preserving their
top-flight status.
Memorably, they survived by their skin of their teeth, something they should
avoid this time around if they continue to raise their game as they did in
negating Champions League-chasing Tottenham.
Boss Martin Jol's side never appeared as if they would stretch their unbeaten
run to seven matches as they floundered in defence, while they were also easily
snuffed out in attack.
Instead, it was Robson who was left beaming as his plan of playing three in
attack - Kanu and Diomansy Kamara recalled to partner Nathan Ellington - worked
a treat.
The trio caused a Spurs defence - missing influential centre back Ledley King,
out with a groin injury - a number of problems with their combined assets of
pace, power and height.
It was Kanu and Kamara who scythed through the visitors as early as the fourth
minute, sparking a swift counter attack after fit-again captain Neil Clement had
blocked a sidefoot shot from Jermain Defoe.
With the midfield dissected, Darren Carter was sent racing into the area for a
shot that struck Michael Dawson, with the ball ricocheting off Paul Stalteri a
yard past the left-hand post.
In the drama, onrushing goalkeeper Paul Robinson had collided with Dawson,
temporarily stunning England's number one who required treatment before he could
continue.
His recovery needed to be swift as he was called upon soon after as Albion
went route one, with Kanu providing a deft flick to a long clearance from Tomasz
Kuszczak.
The lively Ellington was quick to react, and after weaving his way past
tackles from Lee Young-Pyo and Dawson, his goalbound drive was blocked by
Robinson before Stalteri hacked clear.
The visitors responded with a rare moment of first-half creativity in the 14th
minute, with Edgar Davids playing a through ball into the feet of Defoe.
The angle proved tight, but the England striker managed to fire in a
first-time left-foot shot, albeit one that was comfortably smothered by
Kuszczak.
With Albion the more creative, Robson's side duly grabbed the lead midway
through the half, with Kanu scoring his fourth goal of the season.
Kamara and Ellington both played their part in the build up, although it was
by good fortune the final pass sprung off Michael Carrick into Kanu's path.
The Nigerian first shook off the attentions of Dawson before coolly rounding
the advancing Robinson and slipping a sidefoot shot into an empty net.
Jol's side barely raised the temperature of their own football above freezing
point, and seven minutes after the break West Brom doubled their lead, with Kanu
again finishing with quality.
Anthony Gardner, playing a senior game for the first time in more than three
months after recovering from a ruptured thigh, let in Kanu with an error deep
inside his own half.
The ball sprang off the Nigerian, and it initially appeared as if it would
fall to Ellington. Kanu was first to the punch, assisted by Gardner as the
defender attempted to atone for his mistake.
The outstretched nature of his tackle simply set up Kanu for a short run into
the area and crisp drive under Robinson, with the brace his first since October
6, 2002, when he played for Arsenal.
As part of his celebrations, he picked up a ballboy to the left of the goal
and held him in his arms for a few seconds before his team-mates then joined in
- a moment the youngster will never forget.
Jol made changes, bringing on Robbie Keane and Mido who started on the bench
as he rotated his squad, but Kuszczak was barely troubled.
There were comfortable saves from Mido and Defoe, and a great deal of pressure
in the closing stages, but no end product as Albion and man-of-the-match Kanu
clinched a deserved victory.
Teams
West Brom Kuszczak, Watson, Curtis Davies, Clement,
Albrechtsen, Kamara (Moore 90), Wallwork, Carter, Greening,
Ellington (Horsfield 90), Kanu (Campbell 86).
Subs Not Used: Chaplow, Kirkland.
Goals: Kanu 23, 52.
Tottenham Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, Gardner, Lee,
Routledge (Keane 55), Jenas (Brown 82), Carrick, Davids, Defoe,
Rasiak (Mido 70).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Pamarot.
Att: 27,510
Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).