Tottenham 1-0 Cardiff: Soldado scores first goal this year as Solskjaer's troubled side fall to another defeat

By Matt Barlow for the Daily Mail

Published: 13:22 EST, 2 March 2014 | Updated: 19:52 EST, 2 March 2014

Tottenham 1-0 Cardiff MATCH ZONE

Click HERE for your ultimate stats package for the big game - including the move that saw £26m striker Roberto Soldado finally score his first goal of 2014.

If Roberto Soldado is to be cast as a donkey, as Lord Sugar suggested, then he might yet prove to be the most popular since the one played by Eddie Murphy in the film Shrek.

Soldado has had his problems since his £26million move from Valencia to Tottenham, not least finding the net in the Barclays Premier League without the help of the penalty spot.

Until Sunday, he had managed this feat only once but when he pounced in the 28th minute against Cardiff — a goal which proved the winner in an otherwise forgettable game — he was engulfed by goodwill.

Soldado was mobbed by team-mates as Spurs fans sang his name with genuine warmth, and even Lord Sugar, who branded him a donkey for missing a sitter against Dnipro, performed a rare act of contrition.

‘On reflection, calling him a donkey was harsh,’ tweeted the former Spurs chairman, although he then added: ‘I sent him a present to the dressing room. A bag of carrots.’

VIDEO Scroll down for Tim Sherwood and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's post-match reaction

Finally! Roberto Soldado scored his first goal of 2014, finishing off a clinical Spurs counter-attack

Relief: Soldado's goal leaves Spurs four points off the Champions League places

Joy: Tottenham team-mates mob the Roberto Soldado as he scores the winner at White Hart Lane

Stunned: This young Spurs fan can't believe it...

Spurs boss Tim Sherwood claimed Soldado had never heard of Lord Sugar but echoed the sentiment of support after the win kept his team in touch with the top four.

‘If I could’ve picked someone to score the winner it would’ve been Robbie,’ said Sherwood. ‘He’s a great character, and the boys love him. He knows he’s been in a sticky spell but I’ve looked him in the eyes and I know he has always had the belief.

‘He’s a true pro, never a problem, he gets on with it in training and has desire to improve and do well. I stuck by him because I believed he would come good. I still believe that. This is one goal. I hope it’s the platform for him to go on and score 20 more before the end of the season.’

Twenty goals was one of Sherwood’s little jokes, but behind it he knows it will be vital if Soldado can ease the burden of responsibility on Emmauel Adebayor.

Spurs were far from fluent. They were hesitant in attack, short of conviction and lacking invention. They were not solid either and Michael Dawson and Jan Verton-ghen were engaged in more last-ditch defending than they would have hoped.

‘We weren’t great,’ said Sherwood, who cut a frustrated figure. ‘But when you calm down and see our record is so poor after Europa League games, to get over the line and win ugly was important.’

In contrast, Ole Gunnar Sols-kjaer had been pleased with his team’s first-half display but they were stunned on the counter-attack when Kyle Naughton cleared a Cardiff corner and Andros Townsend accelerated down the pitch.

Chance: Cardiff's Steven Caulker should have scored but saw his header crash back off the bar

Under pressure: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team now have just one win in their last 12

Spectator: Controversial Cardiff owner Vincent Tan was at White Hart Lane to watch the defeat

Handful: Emmanuel Adebayor had another assist for Spurs - he has had a hand in 11 goals in 12 Premier League games under Tim Sherwood

Push off: Mousa Dembele tussles with Gary Medel

DISTANCE COVERED STATS

                                MINS PLD     KM   MILES

Tottenham - total

Michael Dawson           90            10.6    6.6

Mousa Dembele           90            10.5    6.5

Emmanuel Adebayor    90            10.3    6.4

Cardiff - total

Bo-Kyung Kim              90            12.2    7.6

Gary Medel                  90            11.0    6.9

Steven Caulker            90            10.5    6.5

• Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League

Townsend selected the right pass to Adebayor on the left. He cut the ball in to Soldado, who took a good touch and arrowed a low shot into the corner.

Cardiff almost hit back within seconds, when former Spurs defender Steven Caulker headed a cross from Craig Bellamy against the bar. Caulker, otherwise superb, ought to have scored.

Hugo Lloris saved at the near post from Declan John and Spurs threatened late on as the visitors committed more in attack. Aaron Lennon had a case for a penalty when he was tripped by John but referee Phil Dowd gave a free-kick just outside the area and, late on, David Marshall saved well from sub Harry Kane.

Cardiff fans gave their team great vocal backing but unfurled a ‘Tan Out’ banner and sang for their club back. Controversial owner Vincent Tan addressed the players on Saturday and was watching at White Hart Lane.

‘They were encouraging words,’ said Solskjaer, who called on  ‘everyone with a Bluebird Cardiff heart’ to pull together, but it looks ever bleaker ahead of a crunch game against Fulham.

Spurs defender Kyle Walker will miss England’s friendly against Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday with a hip injury.

Their Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen has also been ruled out with a back injury.

Leaping: Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall (left) comes up for the corner but Tottenham clear

One on one: Kyle Naughton attacks Declan Joh down the right flank

Under control: Michael Dawson moves away from Frazier Campbell

Chance: Emmanuel Adebayor tries to bring the ball down in the penalty area

Touching distance: Tim Sherwood has led Spurs to within four points of the Champions League places

Late miss: Spurs substitute Harry Kane sees his late chance go begging

Falling down: Aaron Lennon is brought down just outside the box by Declan John

Away: Craig Bellamy tries to pressure Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen into an error

Drop zone: Struggling Cardiff fell further behind the pace with the defeat at Spurs

Control: Mousa Dembele puts his foot on the ball under pressure

Sliding in: Cardiff's Kim Bo-Kyung makes a tackle on Brazilian midfielder Paulinho

Attempt: Andros Townsend has a shot at goal

Leap: Michael Dawson rises to meet the corner ahead of Kim Bo-Kyung

Evasive: Aaron Lennon evades the clutches of Gary Medel

Tumble over: Townsend is tripped by Manchester United loanee Fabio Da Silva