Tottenham vs QPR Player Ratings

QPR had not won at White Hart Lane since 1994 and it looked like the run would end as QPR were the dominant side but Spurs stayed resilient to eke out a comeback win and hand manager Andre Villas-Boas his first home win of the season.

Mark Hughes' men dominated possession in the first half and was eventually rewarded with a goal courtesy of Bobby Zamora. They then failed to extend their lead which proved to be costly after the restart. QPR failed to clear their lines properly and handed Tottenham the equaliser after a loose ball came off Alejandro Faurlin and bounced agonisingly into the QPR net. Things got worse for QPR barely two mintues later when they got caught on the counter and Jermain Defoe doubled Tottenham's lead.

Tottenham

Brad Friedel - 8
Hugo Lloris will find it hard to break into the squad with this man's consistent displays between the posts. His world class saves in the opening minutes denied QPR's attempts on goal and he had his defence to blame for allowing Zamora too much freedom in the box to score.

Jan Vertonghen - 8
Vertonghen kept a close watch on Zamora all game and was the one who led the charge for Tottenham's counter attack that resulted in his side's winning goal. His last minute challenge on Hoilett was the key moment of the match as he single handedly preserved Tottenham's slender lead.

Gareth Bale - 7
It has been two years since Bale last started in a left back position and the man whom every manager would want on the ball was starved of it in the first half. It did not stay that way in the second half when his manager finally came to his senses and unleashed him further up the pitch.

William Gallas - 6.5
Gallas lost his bearings on a few occasions but was experienced enough not to dive into tackles unnecessarily and give away fouls in dangerous places.

Kyle Walker - 6
Walker had a poor first half but improved slightly in the second as he bombed up and down the right for Tottenham.

Clint Dempsey (88' off) - 6.5
Dempsey's disallowed goal in mid- week must have fired him up as he repeatedly tried his luck from distance. There was a significant improvement in his game when he was playing behind the striker instead of playing in a wider position, which was something he was not familiar with in his Fulham days.

Aaron Lennon (93' off) - 6.5
Lennon used his blistering pace well to beat players and the offside trap but struggled to put in quality crosses into the danger area.

Mousa Dembele - 6
Dembele did not drive forward as much as he wanted to but he managed to win the ball in the key areas of the pitch. With the midfield trio of Sandro, Dempsey and Dembele on the pitch, Villas-Boas will have an aerially dominant team if they get their act together.

Sandro - 6
Sandro would have been easily mistaken for a centre-back, especially in the first half as he was playing too deep to be effective for his side.

Gylfi Sigurdsson - 5
Sigurdsson's passing was good throughout and he managed to pick his teammates out easily but he lacked the creativity and inspiration to deliver a telling final ball. He should have made way for Dempsey to play that second striker role instead.

Jermain Defoe - 7.5
Defoe's 199th league goal in the Premier League was a crucial one after Tottenham turned the game around in a space of two minutes. It could have easily hit 200 if he had not strayed offside on so many occasions.

Substitutions

Tom Huddlestone (88' on)
N/A

Andros Townsend (93' on)
N/A

Q.P.R.

Julio Cesar - 7
Cesar barely had a touch of the ball in the first half but was repeatedly called upon after the restart and was a busy man till the very last second of the match.

Clint Hill - 8.5
Hill forced a reaction save from Friedel just under five minutes from a corner and did not shun his responsibilities as a central defender as his last ditch tackles were spot on. He was undoubtedly the unsung hero in this QPR side.

Nedum Onuoha - 6.5
The versatile full-back kept the ball well for his side was no over-elaborate when going forward.  

Ryan Nelsen - 7
Nelsen always seemed to be at the end of the set pieces but just lacked the finishing touch. He showed in this game that Tottenham's loss was QPR's gain.

Jose Bosingwa (3' on) - N/A

Park Ji-Sung - 7
"Three lung Park" showed Sir Alex Ferguson that he hasn't lost a lung and still has what it takes to play at the highest level with his tireless runs and willingness to win back possession.

Shaun Wright-Phillips (77' off) - 6.5
It was a disciplined performance from the English winger who looked menacing going forward and tracked back to aid his full backs.

Esteban Granero - 7.5
Granero showed that he is a player of Real Madrid's calibre with his impressive all round performance in midfield. QPR would not have to worry about any relegation battles in May if he manages to keep performing like this. 

David Hoilett - 6.5
Hoilett was the main reason why Rangers started so well in the first half. His decision making and reaction however, is comparable to that of a tortoise and he was culpable of delaying too long to pull the trigger late in the second half which could have seen QPR snatch the equalizer.

Alejandro Faurlin - 7
An influential midfield display from the Argentinean who provided that million dollar pass which led to Zamora's goal. The hero later turned villain in the second half after he failed to keep his eye on the ball, which bobbled off his back for an own goal.

Bobby Zamora (73' off) - 7
Zamora did not let his unimpressive goal scoring record against Tottenham hinder him from scoring a cheeky flick past Friedel for QPR's opener. He showed great strength and awareness to hold the ball up well and managed to link up well with his teammates.

Substitutions

Keiron Dyer (3' on) - 6.5
It is good to see Dyer's return to football from a footballing neutral's point of view and Mark Hughes would have been pleased with his contributions for the day.

Djibril Cisse (73' on) - 6
It took awhile before Cisse got a touch of the ball but could not find a way past the mighty Vertonghen.

Jamie Mackie (77' on)
N/A