Hearts 0 Tottenham 5: Spurs rip the Hearts apart - Irresistible Londoners shows up the gulf in class

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By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:45 AM on 19th August 2011
Tottenham Hotspur ripped the Heart out of Midlothian on Thursday night. It was a crushing experience for the Edinburgh club. A match that held the possibility of a contest ended as a contrast.
It was stark, between a club ready for the Champions League and one fighting in the Scottish Premier League. It was Hearts’ biggest ever defeat in Europe and Spurs’ biggest away win in Europe
since 1983, when they won 6-0 at Drogheda in the Republic of Ireland.

Too easy: Jermain Defoe is congratulated after putting Spurs 2-0 up after 12 minutes

MATCH FACTS

HEARTS: Kello, Hamill, Zaliukas, Webster, Grainger, Templeton, Stevenson, Mrowiec (Obua 81), Black, Driver (Elliott 64), Sutton (Skacel 74).
Subs: MacDonald, Jonsson, McGowan, Novikovas.
Booked: Grainger, Templeton.

TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Livermore, Kranjcar, Bale (Townsend 69), Van der Vaart (Huddlestone 58), Defoe (Pavlyuchenko 78).
Subs: Friedel, Bassong, Corluka, Cudicini.
Booked: Kaboul
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Battle of Britain? Scuffle of Britain, if that. It was a sad reminder of the gulf that now separates English and Scottish football. Rangers may have stifled Manchester United with their 11 men behind the ball policy last season, but Arsenal were comfortable against Celtic the season before.
This, though, was more striking because of the goals Tottenham scored and because of the differences evident all across the pitch.
Hearts supporters had hoped the fact that this was Spurs’ first match of the season would have left Harry Redknapp’s side a little rusty.
The visitors quickly scotched that notion. One up in five minutes courtesy of Rafael van der Vaart and flimsy home defending, it was 2-0 after 13 via Jermain Defoe. Spurs were slick, Hearts stopped
and watched. Jake Livermore made it 3-0 in the 28th minute with his first competitive Tottenham goal in his second competitive start.
Hearts, who did not have a shot on target in the first half, rallied a little after the interval. For 15 minutes Heurelho Gomes had to raise his interest levels to make a couple of brave interventions at
crosses.
But then substitute Tom Huddlestone picked out Gareth Bale lurking free behind the home central defence — again — and the Welshman rounded keeper Marian Kello to slide in the fourth.
Completing the embarrassment was the fifth from Aaron Lennon, a stunning counter-attack featuring another substitute, Andros Townsend, and Defoe. Tynecastle was stunned again.

Getting the ball rolling: Rafael van der Vaart gave the visitors the perfect start inside five minutes

To their credit the home fans stayed throughout but they face a worrying trip to north London for the second leg. As it comes between Tottenham matches against the Manchester clubs, Redknapp said
he will field some younger players.
Redknapp suspected the side he sent out would be good enough but he said: ‘No, I did not think it would be that straightforward. Judging by the atmosphere, I thought it might be difficult.
‘But we moved the ball about so well, it was difficult for them to stay with us. That is how we try to play and that is how I want to play. The first half could not have gone better. It is difficult for Scottish teams because resources are so different. It is a different level, the gulf is plain for everyone to see.
‘When I played, every great club had great players from Scotland in it but it has changed an awful lot. When you look at wages and transfer fees, there has got to be a gulf.’

Jermaine man: And Defoe didn't take much longer to get in on the act either

Wages — Chelsea’s tripling of them — is why Luka Modric was not here and why he appears destined to leave. Because there is no transfer fee, Spurs can take Emmanuel Adebayor from City, a deal Redknapp added ‘could probably happen’.
Adebayor will place pressure on Peter Crouch. He missed this game with an ankle injury, Redknapp said. He missed the chance to get his scoring tally up and running. Crouch’s barber might have scored.

Live strong: Youngster Jake Livermore capped a memorable night with the third goal

With Lassana Diarra another who could arrive at White Hart Lane, Spurs have a depth of talent that enabled them last season to take on the giants of Milan and Real Madrid. Hearts, however pumped up a sold-out Tynecastle was, were always outsiders.
But a job must be done and from the opening seconds, when man-of-the-match Niko Kranjcar eased the ball around chasing maroon shirts, it was clear this was going to be a good night for the London club.

Bale force: It was all too easy after the break as wing wizard Gareth rounded off a slick move

John Sutton, younger brother of Chris, was one of those chasing. Sutton was on Spurs’ books as a teenager, but he has made his career largely in Scotland. He is far from a poor player but the gap
between his talent and those of the visitors was evident quickly.
Jamie Hamill, the home team’s right back, was already looking incapable of thwarting Bale. When Defoe then peeled off to the left flank and was allowed to turn inside, alarm bells were ringing.

Aaron and out: Lennon completed the rout late on with an easy finish

But alarms only signal danger, they don’t end it. Neither did Andrew Webster nor Marius Zaliukas. Van der Vaart was fed by Defoe and the Dutchman benefited from one ricochet off a claret jersey before calmly steering the ball past Kello.
Hearts didn’t learn. The next three goals also came too close to Hearts’ soft centre for anyone to be pleased.
Tottenham now think of Manchester United on Monday night at Old Trafford. Another contrast.

Jumping for joy: It was a nice quiet day at the office for Spurs stopper Heurelho Gomes