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Roman Pavlyuchenko
Off the mark: Roman Pavlyuchenko signals that it's his first goal for Spurs

Bullish Spurs send a Premier warning

Simon Rushworth, Evening Standard
25 Sep 2008


Birthday boy Jamie O'Hara has warned the rest of the Premier League to be on their guard after Tottenham finally got their season back on track.

Following last night's 2-1 victory at Newcastle, the dynamic midfielder is confident the club can use the Carling Cup as a springboard to climb away from the foot of the table.

And O'Hara, who sealed the St James' Park tie with Spurs' opportunistic second, insisted both he and Jermaine Jenas are now chasing double-figure goal tallies this season.

"There are a lot of goals in this team and we're finally getting the momentum going now," he said.

O'Hara, who turns 22 today, added: "I think as midfielders we've got to chip in with goals, all of us. JJ, me, everyone else, and we'll be looking to get into double figures if we can.

"We've got a lot of games ahead of us and we'll be looking to score as many goals as we can.

"We've got a fantastic squad and you only have to look at the bench we had against Newcastle.

"There's competition for places and everyone's working really hard. We've got to be a team, we need to be united and stay together."

How David Bentley and Darren Bent feel about O'Hara's rallying call for unity remains to be seen after the England duo departed Tyneside as unused substitutes.

But two of Tottenham's biggest signings were not the only top names left on the bench by Juande Ramos with neither Giovani dos Santos nor Luka Modric introduced until after the break.

"Given the mood around Newcastle we knew the first goal could help us,” added O'Hara, after Roman Pavluychenko headed the visitors in front.

"Both teams were low on confidence going into the game and the season hadn't really started well for either of us.

"But we've gone three games unbeaten now and we're really looking to push on. We've got another good result from a tough game. They came at us but we looked strong at the back."

Former Newcastle favourite Jonathan Woodgate is key to that defensive solidity and the England centre-half was in imperious form against his old club.

But it was O'Hara who proved the perfect link man between defence and attack and his quick thinking, to rob United's Steven Taylor, led to Spurs' decisive goal.

"The momentum's getting going now," he added.

Reader views (11)

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Having beaten Portsmouth home & away last season, together with Portsmouths current poor form, we should beat them. However, I have a strange feeling we will still be bottom on Monday morning.

- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 26/09/2008 10:29
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who?

- Boulders, London, England, 26/09/2008 00:31
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Yeah Right ...

The 'kids' from Arsenal are waiting. Let's see Spurs beating them !

- James Twigg, London, 25/09/2008 19:13
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I can see the big 4 trembling. Jamie O Who?

- Freddie Jack, USA, 25/09/2008 17:01
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A Premiership warning? What a load of old pants. Tottenham are still one of the worst teams in the Premiership.

- Eric, London, UK, 25/09/2008 14:05
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O'hara calm down son a win against a poor bar code team is nothing to shout about.

- Steve, Braintree, Essex., 25/09/2008 12:19
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What warning?

- Frank, Peterborough, 25/09/2008 11:46
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Ohara is useless

- Joe, London, UK, 25/09/2008 10:40
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Hahaha.... one win against a struggling Newcastle & they send out a warning to the rest of the Premiership!
Thanks, that's made my morning!

- Kris Wilson, North London, 25/09/2008 10:29
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I was going to write: "Steady on, it was only 1 win against a poor team and we should walk before we can run." But then I actually read the article and realised that the player's word bore absolutely no relation to the sensationalist headline.

- Iain, Covent Garden, 25/09/2008 10:15
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I watched the game last night and I must say it cured my insomnia!

- Mark, South-East London, 25/09/2008 10:04
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