tom huddlestone is determined to use the uefa champions league to showcase his growing maturity as tottenham hotspur fc prepare for their home bow in europe's elite club competition against fc twente.
the learning curve in the group stage is steep but the 23-year-old insists harry redknapp's charges can take another step forwards after earning a creditable 2-2 draw at sv werder bremen in their group a opener. but having been two up inside 18 minutes in germany, huddlestone wants spurs to be merciless on wednesday.
"their first goal just before half-time in bremen was a killer," he said, referring to hugo almeida's 43rd-minute reply which was added to by marko marin (47). "had we gone in at 2-0 then the second half could have been comfortable. being only a goal behind, they started the second half on fire. we've got to be more ruthless. twente and inter drew their first game so we have a chance to take the initiative and go top of the group. before the competition we were looking to win our three home games as that means it is more than likely you'll qualify."
the english international is certainly capable of leading by example, having come off the bench to spearhead a two-goal response when spurs trailed 3-0 at bsc young boys in their play-off first leg. "i played a lot of games last season and felt i had a good year," added the midfielder. "the manager has stuck with me this year so hopefully that will continue. we are a fairly quiet team but i'm getting older and playing more games so the confidence comes with that. we need leaders."
huddlestone is an avowed admirer of dutch football and expects both teams to produce a flowing, entertaining contest. "twente are similar to a lot of dutch teams in the formation they play," he said. "the dutch mentality is to keep the ball moving and on the ground – the right way to play football. it will be a difficult game but every team has their weaknesses so if we put our strengths forward we can win.
"we will approach the game as we always do, especially at home. we know the way we like to play – attacking, getting the ball wide and causing problems. i've played in a few european games at the lane and the atmosphere is always special – it seems to be an extra 15 or 20% for the night games. we don't need to be fearful of anyone. we just need to enjoy our football as that's when we are at our best."
rafael van der vaart scored and was sent off, while roman pavlyuchenko converted two penalties in the group a win.
tottenham hotspur fc survived a red card for rafael van der vaart to beat uefa champions league group a rivals fc twente 4-1 with the help of two second-half roman pavlyuchenko penalties.
spurs fans had waited 48 years to see europe's elite competition again and they got no shortage of drama on its return to white hart lane. after van der vaart's first-half penalty was saved, the second period produced a rush of goals. van der vaart and pavlyuchenko, from the spot, both scored within five minutes of the restart before substitute nacer chadli pulled a goal back. even with ten men, pavlyuchenko's second spot-kick eased any spurs nerves, leaving gareth bale to add a fourth late on.
harry redknapp's decision to go with two strikers – pavkyuchenko partnering peter crouch – offered a statement of his intent but twente were equally positive. their sizeable away following were singing loudly in the rain and they almost had an early goal to cheer when bryan ruiz broke away from sébastien bassong and ran clear. however, the costa rican international failed to get enough weight on his attempted lob and heurelho gomes, on his first appearance since august, saved one-handed.
at the other end van der vaart tested nikolay mihaylov with a low, angled drive. chances came and went until, four minutes before the break, mihaylov foiled van der vaart again, this time from the spot after peter wisgerhof pulled down crouch. mihaylov guessed the direction of van der vaart's kick, turning the ball on to the post, and soon after tipped over the dutchman's volley.
two minutes into the second half, van der vaart finally got the better of mihaylov. huddlestone aimed a diagonal ball to crouch, who nodded on for him to control on his chest before lashing a left-foot volley into the corner. three minutes later pavlyuchenko made it two by succeeding where van der vaart had failed, sending mihaylov the wrong way after roberto rosales had tripped gareth bale.
with an unbeaten record to preserve this season, twente responded with chadli prodding in from close range following theo janssen's ball into the box. spurs' lead looked even less secure in the 61st minute when van der vaart received a second yellow card for clattering into rosales. however, twente's hopes of capitalising were undone by the award of a third penalty for handball, when pavlyuchenko's shot struck nicky kuiper and the russian duly chipped in. douglas denied luka modrić with a superb tackle but his wayward header then set up bale to slide in spurs' fourth.
yardimci hakemler: kim thomas haglund (nor), frank andås (nor)
4. hakem: roy helge olsen (nor)
çizgi hakemler: espen berntsen (nor), tom harald hagen (nor)
tottenham: heurelho gomes (gk), alan hutton, gareth bale, tom huddlestone, roman pavlyuchenko (dk. 89 robbie keane), rafael van der vaart, luka modrić (dk. 82 aaron lennon), peter crouch (dk. 66 jermaine jenas), sébastien bassong, ledley king (c), benoît assou-ekotto
yedekler: carlo cudicini (gk), wilson palacios, niko kranjčar, vedran Ćorluka
teknik direktör: harry redknapp (eng)
twente: nikolay mihaylov (gk), nicky kuiper, peter wisgerhof (c), wout brama, denny landzaat (dk. 69 luuk de jong), theo janssen, bryan ruiz, emir bajrami (dk. 28 nacer chadli), roberto rosales, douglas, marc janko
yedekler: sander boschker (gk), rasmus bengtsson, bernard parker, dario vujičević, michael schimpelsberger
teknik direktör: michel preud'homme (bel)
goller: dk. 47 rafael van der vaart (1-0) dk. 50 [penaltidan] roman pavlyuchenko (2-0) dk. 56 nacer chadli (2-1) dk. 64 [penaltidan] roman pavlyuchenko (3-1) dk. 85 gareth bale (4-1)
sari kartlar: dk. 40 nikolay mihaylov (gk), dk. 54 nicky kuiper, dk. 80 roberto rosales (twente)
kirmizi kart: dk. 61 rafael van der vaart (tottenham) -2 sari kartan dk. 43, 61-
