Spurs fail to provide tonic for Redknapp

Tottenham’s second string failed to deliver the performance ailing manager Harry Redknapp would have wanted as they were beaten 1-0 by Rubin Kazan in last night’s Group A game in Russia.

Sebastien Bassong needlessly gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box ten minutes after half-time and Bebras Natcho took full advantage by clipping the set-piece over the wall and past Carlo Cudicini.

Had it not been for a number of excellent saves from Cudicini, the scoreline could have been much worse and Spurs did not register a shot on target throughout the match.

Redknapp was forced to miss the game after having a heart procedure, but was believed to be watching at home.

Second-half goals from Dean Whitehead and Peter Crouch earned Stoke a notable 2-1 win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Israel and took them to the brink of the knockout stages.

Stoke had much the better of the first half without managing to break the deadlock, but Whitehead put that right six minutes after the break with a neat finish from a tight angle before substitute Crouch tucked away the midfielder’s cross 13 minutes later, with Roberto Colautti’s late header just a consolation for the hosts. Fulham edged closer to the knockout stages with an impressive 4-1 win over Wisla Krakow at Craven Cottage.

Damien Duff handed Fulham an early lead by tucking away Andrew Johnson’s low cross, but they were soon pegged back as an Andraz Kirm shot deflected in off John Arne Riise.

However, Fulham hit back through Johnson’s sublime volley on the half-hour. Johnson then extended their lead after a neat free-kick in the 57th minute, before Steve Sidwell wrapped up the tie late on.

Birmingham produced a stunning second-half comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against Club Brugge to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last 32.

Chris Hughton’s side trailed 2-0 at St Andrew’s after Thomas Meunier and Joseph Akpala struck in a five-minute spell just before the break. But Jean Beausejour reduced the arrears and then won the penalty converted by substitute Marlon King which brought the Blues level.

Shamrock Rovers’ hopes of making the knockout stages ended as they fell to a 3-1 defeat to PAOK Salonika in Dublin.

Dimitris Salpingidis’ first-half double sandwiched Giorgos Fotakis’ goal as the Greek side took a 3-0 lead at half-time. Billy Dennehy pulled one back for Shamrock in the 51st minute.

The result means PAOK go top of Group A following Tottenham’s defeat in Russia.