Tottenham’s top five goals of the season so far

A seven game unbeaten run in the league has seen Tottenham catapult their way up the league in superb fashion. Currently fifth, level on points with fourth placed Chelsea and three points behind Newcastle United in third, with a game in hand over both, some great goals have been scored by Harry Redknapp’s men this season.

So, with that in mind, To the Lane and Back has compiled a list of the best goals scored so far this season. It wasn’t at all easy, but we are sure that these belters would make it into Spurs fans top five. Enjoy.

5) Jermain Defoe vs Newcastle United

The main debate at the time was who should start between the England hit man and Rafael Van der Vaart. And while the latter duly tucked away a penalty on the day, it was Defoe that scored the better of the two in the 2-2 draw with the Toon. Having been introduced to the fold after 63 minutes, in replace for the Dutchman, it took only five minutes for the 29-year-old to give Spurs the initiative on the day.

Scott Parker fed Defoe from 20-yards out and, after Emmanuel Adebayor got a slight deflection, the former Portsmouth and West Ham striker got the ball out of his feet, holding off the challenge from Ryan Taylor, Defoe lashed home past Tim krul making it 2-1 on the day. Spurs, however, couldn’t hold out for the win after Shola Ameobi struck four minutes from time, but Defoe’s goal was an epitome of his ability to score; turning the defender while releasing a snap-shot the rifled into the bottom corner.

Defoe’s strike can be viewed here

4) Rafael Van der Vaart vs Blackburn Rovers

While Defoe can attempt to force his way into the starting XI, Van der Vaart continues to occupy his spot alongside Adebayor up-front. Hardly surprising consider he now has six goals to his name this season and with goals like his second against Blackburn Rovers, which made it to fourth place in our list, his place in the first-team is all but cemented.

It all started with Benoit Assou-Ekotto breaking down the left, the Cameroonian’s ball finding Van der Vaart who set-up Luka Modric only for Paul Robinson to parry the Croatian’s effort. It turned out to only be a temporary reprieve as Assou-Ekotto found himself with space on the left once more, this time picking out Van der Vaart on the edge of the box, the Dutchman curling home a delightful 20-yard curling effort past Robinson, gifting Spurs the full three points on a touch trip to Ewood Park.

Van der Vaart’s strike can be viewed here (after 5:19 mins)

3) Gareth Bale vs QPR

After a relatively easy opening 45 which Spurs commanding the proceedings, Neil Warnock made a couple of changes of half-time that bought QPR back into the match. Going in at half-time 2-0 up increased the fans expectations of something similar to a cricket score come full-time but, the West London side came out of the blocks at halved the deficit 15 minutes after the break.

Seemingly on the back foot, it took a small dose of magic to double the advantage once more. Having already struck before the break, Bale was on hand once more to extend Spurs’ advantage after Parker broke forward from the midfield. He found Van der Vaart on the edge of the box who, after some fancy footwork, squared for Lennon. The winger then shared a couple of one-two’s with Bale before the latter put the ball in the top corner in superb fashion, burying his effort into the top corner. A goal fitting to win any game and the PFA Player of the Year’s goal settled the nerves of the Spurs fans on Sunday evening.

Bale’s strike can be viewed here (after 3:02 mins)

2) Luka Modric vs Liverpool

Only Spurs’ second home league game of the season, and the first after the 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City, and expectations were certainly high on the day. Having just signed Adebayor and Parker, the first win of the season came a week previously to the home encounter, a 2-0 away victory at Wolves.  

Spurs started off the brighter of the two top four rivals and it took only seven minutes for the home-side to take the initiative, Bale’s cross finding Defoe before the England man was tackled by Agger. Nonetheless, the ball fell to Modric who powered home from 25-yards, setting Spurs up for an easy afternoon at White Hart Lane. Two goals from Adebayor and one from Defoe compounded Liverpool to a 4-0 defeat on the day and saw pundits label the North London side genuine favourites for the coveted fourth spot.

Modric’s strike can be viewed here

1) Kyle Walker vs Arsenal

The first North London derby in years that Tottenham have gone in as favourites and, despite the Arsenal trio controlling the midfield but lacking the cutting edge to take the initiative, the home side were still confident of taking all three points from their North London neighbours. An unseasonably hot October afternoon helped boost the white hot atmosphere at the Lane and Spurs found themselves 1-0 at half-time, Van der Vaart hit the back of the net only for his opener to be cancelled out by Aaron Ramsey.

It was going to take a moment of sheer brilliant to separate the two sides and after Sandro broke into the box, squaring to Modric whose shot was blocked, the ball fell to Kyle Walker who, after dodging the ensuing Gervinho, lashed home from 25-yards past Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal. Cue mad scenes from the home-support in a strike reminiscent to Danny Rose’s in 2010 and a goal that won the game for Spurs.

Walker's strike can be viewed here

Naturally, honourable mentions go to Roman Pavlyuchenko’s free-kick against Rubin Kazan, Gareth Bale’s first goal at home to QPR last weekend and the aforementioned Adebayor strike at home to Liverpool but, these are the five goals that have made To the Lane and Back’s goals of the season so far.

Ben McAleer