LARSSON STRIKES GOLD
Sebastian Larsson's 93rd-minute 35-yard screamer, which earned Birmingham their first points in four Premier League games, caused David Gold to party until the early hours of yesterday (MON) morning.
After former Scotland manager Alex McLeish's first game in charge ended in a dream 3-2 victory at White Hart Lane - the Midlands club's first in 23 years - the Birmingham chairman could not contain his delight.
"I'm going to be up celebrating this victory until 4 o' clock," he beamed after seeing the young Swede's shot fly into the top right hand corner past England No1 Paul Robinson, inflicting the first defeat of Juande Ramos' reign at Spurs.
Larsson, who began his career with Tottenham's north London rivals Arsenal, confessed that he had only taken the shot because he was fatigued. The modest 22-year-old suggested that it was a pure fluke that he hit the jackpot with such a fabulous strike.
"I have never scored anything like it before," he admitted." I had a shot earlier on and that was nowhere near the goal.
"To be honest I was quite tired and when the ball came to me I thought why not have a go, and it's one of those lucky goals I suppose."
Even Spurs captain Robbie Keane, who had brought his team back into the game with two goals in three minutes early in the second half before being sent off for a contentious challenge on Fabrice Muamba, took his hat off to the match-winning strike.
"There is not much you can do about their last goal," said a disappointed Keane. "You have got to hold your hands up and give the fella credit." The Republic of Ireland marksman now faces a three-match ban, including Spurs' trip to the Emirates on December 22.
Larsson was full of praise for McLeish, who won seven trophies in five seasons as Rangers manager before he took over as Scotland head coach in January.
He continued: "It has been short and sharp with the new manager. There is not too much you can do in such a short space of time.
"But he believes in us, and he told us to believe in ourselves. He told us to go out and enjoy and express ourselves.
"He wanted us to come with that belief that we can get something out of difficult games like Tottenham. We had a lot of luck but we also showed a lot of bottle to stick in there."
Sebastian Larsson's 93rd-minute 35-yard screamer, which earned Birmingham their first points in four Premier League games, caused David Gold to party until the early hours of yesterday (MON) morning.
After former Scotland manager Alex McLeish's first game in charge ended in a dream 3-2 victory at White Hart Lane - the Midlands club's first in 23 years - the Birmingham chairman could not contain his delight.
"I'm going to be up celebrating this victory until 4 o' clock," he beamed after seeing the young Swede's shot fly into the top right hand corner past England No1 Paul Robinson, inflicting the first defeat of Juande Ramos' reign at Spurs.
Larsson, who began his career with Tottenham's north London rivals Arsenal, confessed that he had only taken the shot because he was fatigued. The modest 22-year-old suggested that it was a pure fluke that he hit the jackpot with such a fabulous strike.
"I have never scored anything like it before," he admitted." I had a shot earlier on and that was nowhere near the goal.
"To be honest I was quite tired and when the ball came to me I thought why not have a go, and it's one of those lucky goals I suppose."
Even Spurs captain Robbie Keane, who had brought his team back into the game with two goals in three minutes early in the second half before being sent off for a contentious challenge on Fabrice Muamba, took his hat off to the match-winning strike.
"There is not much you can do about their last goal," said a disappointed Keane. "You have got to hold your hands up and give the fella credit." The Republic of Ireland marksman now faces a three-match ban, including Spurs' trip to the Emirates on December 22.
Larsson was full of praise for McLeish, who won seven trophies in five seasons as Rangers manager before he took over as Scotland head coach in January.
He continued: "It has been short and sharp with the new manager. There is not too much you can do in such a short space of time.
"But he believes in us, and he told us to believe in ourselves. He told us to go out and enjoy and express ourselves.
"He wanted us to come with that belief that we can get something out of difficult games like Tottenham. We had a lot of luck but we also showed a lot of bottle to stick in there."
Labels: Birmingham, football, Premier League, Tottenham
