Son sneaks home late
DERBY bagged a crucial win in the absence of manager Nigel Pearson.
Pearson was suspended by chairman Mel Morris hours before the game. It is alleged there was a training ground bust-up between the pair.
Assistant Chris Powell took up the reins for the night. And he did a pretty good job as Derby won for only the second time this term.
Tom Ince struck first, nine minutes into the second half. But the win was overshadowed by events earlier in the day.
Pearson’s dismissal is expected to be signed and sealed later today.
Steve McClaren has been suggested as a possible replacement if Pearson does go. The 18 yards out but, thankfully for the Premier League club, fired over the crossbar.
Trickery from Roman Eremenko produced the first save of the night – Hugo Lloris equal to his near-post drive – but Tottenham were still creating chances.
Dele Alli, regularly stepping up from a deeper position than usual, smacked a shot against the bar and Janssen only narrowly fell foul of the assistant’s offside flag in clipping the ball over Akinfeev and into the net.
Alderweireld did beat the trap five minutes before the break but his free header from 12 yards was directed straight at the CSKA keeper. At
DERBY
former England manager was in the frame last night despite being sacked by the club in May last year.
Powell is also likely to throw his hat into the ring along with the likes of Neil Warnock and Steve Bruce.
A Nick Blackman penalty 10 minutes from time made it 2-0.
The appointment of Pearson had been described as “perfect” by Morris. But Derby had been struggling.
And Pearson publicly criticised the players following Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to Blackburn Rovers, saying his side were “paralysed with fear”. half-time, CSKA replaced Vasili Berezutski with his twin Aleksei – the ultimate like-forlike substitution – and indeed it was more of the same with Spurs swarming forward and the hosts looking to catch them on the counter-attack.
Son, whose gander is up having scored twice against Middlesbrough on Saturday, then curled a shot just past the far post. Kane may have had encouraging medical news on the eve of the game but his absence was being felt more keenly than ever until that unexpected goal arrived.
And 250 Spurs voices sang in delight as the players celebrated, but the ranked masses quickly found their voices again to roar CSKA on for an equaliser.
To their credit, though, the visitors kept their collective nerve and stayed on the front foot. While a win here will not send shockwaves around Europe, a few people may begin to sit up and take notice.
CSKA (4-2-3-1): Booked: TOTTENHAM Goal: Referee: