Kanu's brace spells double trouble for Spurs

WBA - 2 Tottenham - 0: It has been two years and almost three months in coming, but Kanu can at long last celebrate a double…

WBA - 2 Tottenham - 0: It has been two years and almost three months in coming, but Kanu can at long last celebrate a double as West Brom continued their Hawthorns hot streak.

On a bitterly cold night, with the pitchside temperature dipping to minus four before kick-off, Kanu brought a warm glow to manager Bryan Robson and the Baggies fans with a goal either side of the break.

Albion have now taken 10 points from their last four home games, all without conceding a goal, to ease their relegation fears.

Boss Martin Jol's Spurs side never appeared as if they would stretch their unbeaten run to seven matches as they floundered in defence, while they were also easily snuffed out in attack.

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Instead, it was Robson who was left beaming as his plan of playing three in attack - Kanu and Diomansy Kamara recalled to partner Nathan Ellington - worked a treat.

The trio caused a Spurs defence - missing influential centre back Ledley King, out with a groin injury - a number of problems with their combined assets of pace, power and height.

It was Kanu and Kamara who scythed through the visitors as early as the fourth minute, sparking a swift counter attack after fit-again captain Neil Clement had blocked a sidefoot shot from Jermain Defoe.

With the midfield dissected, Darren Carter was sent racing into the area for a shot that struck Michael Dawson, with the ball ricocheting off Paul Stalteri a yard past the left-hand post.

Spurs keeper Paul Robinson needed to be swift as he was called upon soon after as Albion went route one, with Kanu providing a deft flick to a long clearance from Tomasz Kuszczak.

The lively Ellington was quick to react, and after weaving his way past tackles from Lee Young-Pyo and Dawson, his goalbound drive was blocked by Robinson before Stalteri hacked clear.

With Albion the more creative, Robson's side duly grabbed the lead midway through the half, with Kanu scoring his fourth goal of the season.

Kamara and Ellington both played their part in the build up, although it was by good fortune the final pass sprung off Michael Carrick into Kanu's path.

The Nigerian first shook off the attentions of Dawson before coolly rounding the advancing Robinson and slipping a sidefoot shot into an empty net.

Jol's side barely raised the temperature of their own football above freezing point, and seven minutes after the break West Brom doubled their lead, with Kanu again finishing with quality.

Anthony Gardner let Kanu in with an error deep inside his own half. The ball sprang off the Nigerian, and he regained control to advance and fire a crisp drive under Robinson, with the brace his first since October 6th, 2002, when he played for Arsenal.

Jol made changes, bringing on Robbie Keane and Mido who started on the bench as he rotated his squad, but home keeper Kuszczak was barely troubled.

WEST BROM: Kuszczak, Watson, Curtis Davies, Clement, Albrechtsen, Kamara (Moore 90), Wallwork, Carter, Greening, Ellington (Horsfield 90), Kanu (Campbell 86). Subs not used: Chaplow, Kirkland. Goals: Kanu 23, 52.

TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, Gardner, Lee, Routledge (Keane 55), Jenas (Brown 82), Carrick, Davids, Defoe, Rasiak (Mido 70). Subs not used: Cerny, Pamarot.

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)