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Tottenham and Man City draw a blank in season opener

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City renewed hostilities as the Premier League kicked off on Saturday with a hard-fought 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.

Manchester City had goalkeeper Joe Hart (in picture) to thank for a point as their Premier League title bid started with a goalless draw away to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane here on Saturday.

For all the millions at City’s disposal, it was their bargain signing from fourth-tier Shrewsbury in 2006 who excelled on the opening day of the season.

The 23-year-old, after making his first England start during the week, pulled off save after save in the first half to keep out the side that denied City a place in the Champions League last season.

City manager Roberto Mancini has overseen huge spending that has left him with intense competition in his squad, meaning the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Joleon Lescott were on the bench.

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given was also among the substitutes as Mancini started with Hart.

Mancini said: “We need time. These players only trained together for a few days. But I am happy because I have two good goalkeepers. One strong keeper must go on the bench.”

Mancini’s Spurs counterpart Harry Redknapp praised Hart’s performance as well.

“Hart was in great form, they’ve got two good keepers and the young kid had a great day,” said Redknapp.

“Overall I thought it was a great performance from us. If we play like this all season we will be right up there.”

In the early stages Hart gave three examples of why he has edged ahead in the race to be City’s first choice.

His first save was an instinctive effort from Jermain Defoe’s close-range volley, after Aaron Lennon had carried the ball to the goalline and lofted a cross for Peter Crouch to head down.

Tom Huddlestone then went close, returning the ball from a cleared corner with a powerful volley that Hart saved at full-stretch.

To complete his hat-trick of early saves, Hart tipped over the crossbar after Benoit Assou-Ekotto unleashed a volley that was deflected and headed towards the top corner.

England manager Fabio Capello was in the stands to watch his goalkeeper and would have been impressed with his early saves. Hart also drew applause from Given from his seat in the dug-out.

Spurs edged closer to a goal but when Hart was finally beaten, by Gareth Bale with an angled drive, the ball cannoned off the post.

Hart was called into action again just after the half-hour mark when Huddlestone’s long ball released Defoe, who had his finish blocked and was beaten to the rebound by Kolo Toure with the goal unguarded.

Spurs also had a decent appeal for a penalty when Bale was challenged by Micah Richards as he carried the ball into the penalty area.

Blackpool, meanwhile, marked their first top-flight match in 39 years with a surprise 4-0 win away to north-west rivals Wigan. Ian Holloway’s team, promoted via the playoffs, have been widely tipped to go straight back down, but the Tangerines were 3-0 up before half-time, with former Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood scoring twice.

They were in front as early as the 16^th minute at Wigan’s DW Stadium when Charlie Adam played in Harewood, whose cross was tapped in by Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

Harewood then held off Antolin Alcaraz, before beating Chris Kirkland from more than 20 yards for his first Premier League goal in two-and-a-half-years.

Two minutes before the break, Harewood tapped in after Elliot Grandin’s shot was parried.

Then, 15 minutes before full-time, Alex Baptiste made it 4-0 when his cross beat Kirkland at the goalkeeper’s near post.

Aston Villa showed there was life after Martin O’Neill with a 3-0 win at home to West Ham just days after their former manager’s resignation.

England goalkeeper Robert Green, playing his first senior match since his World Cup blunder, helped give Villa a 15^th minute lead.

His poor punch led to a Marc Albrighton shot and, although Green palmed it away, Stewart Downing scored from the rebound.

Villa made it 2-0 when Stiliyan Petrov headed in five minutes before half-time.

And in what could be a parting gift to Villa fans, before his possible transfer to Manchester City, England midfielder James Milner made it 3-0 after shooting powerfully from Albrighton’s cut back in the 66^th minute.

Everton’s United States goalkeeper Tim Howard gifted hosts Blackburn a 14^th minute winner in a 1-0 victory when he somehow dropped a cross into the path of Nikola Kalinic, who duly scored.

Birmingham came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against 10-man Sunderland.

Wolves beat Stoke 2-1 after Kenwyne Jones, Stoke’s club record eight million signing, limped off injured after just 14 minutes at Molineux.

The hosts scored twice in two minutes late in the first half, going ahead through a 20-yard strike from David Jones before Steven Fletcher headed in at the back post.

But Stoke scored early in the second half through Abdoulaye Faye’s header.

Bolton and Fulham shared the points in a goalless draw.

Defending champions Chelsea play promoted West Brom in Saturday’s late kick-off and Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday.

Meanwhile Manchester United, last season’s runners-up, face Championship winners Newcastle at Old Trafford on Sunday. —