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Spurs logo
Premier League
Mar 17, 2007 at 3pm UK
 
Watford logo

3-1

Robinson (63'), Ghaly (85'), Jenas (41')
FT(HT: 1-0)

On this day: Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson scores against Watford

Eight years ago today, Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson scored against Watford from the edge of his own penalty area.

While goalkeepers are primarily paid to keep clean sheets, they do occasionally get involved up the other end of the pitch.

Amazingly, Sao Paulo custodian Rogerio Ceni has scored 123 goals to date, while the likes of Jose Chilavert, Rene Higuita and Hans-Jorg Butt were all know for their ability to find the net.

Paul Robinson may not be as clinical as his fellow glovemen named above, but he has in fact scored two goals during his career.

The first came for Leeds United when he headed in a late goal against Swindon Town in a League Cup tie, with the second being scored eight years ago today.

However, while most goals scored by a keeper come from a set-piece situation or the penalty spot, Robinson's effort against Watford at White Hart Lane was different.

Hosting Spurs were already one goal to the good courtesy of Jermaine Jenas's first-half strike when Robinson punted the ball down field from the edge of his own penalty area in the 63rd minute.

The kick was so powerful that it evaded Spurs strikers Jermain Defoe and Mido, but as it bounced just inside the Watford box, it became clear that Robinson's opposite number Ben Foster was in trouble.

The ball skidded up off the surface and before the Manchester United loanee keeper could react, it had dropped over his head and into the net.

Hossam Ghaly's first Tottenham goal in the closing stages made sure of the outcome and rendered Darius Henderson's goal for Watford in the last minute a mere consolation, but the headlines, predictably, were to be dominated by Robinson.

Speaking about his goal, the then England international had sympathy for Foster: "It was a freak goal and there's nobody who knows more about those than me over the last season. People will question him now and it's part and parcel of being a goalkeeper.

"Criticism can be very difficult, very hard, depending on what level the criticism is and as a goalkeeper it's about how you react and you have to remain mentally strong.

"I didn't celebrate the goal out of respect that I have for any goalkeeper. It was fantastic to score a goal, but I can't really pretend that I meant it."

Meanwhile, his manager Martin Jol added: "To get a goal is so nice for Robbo - and it came at a crucial moment for us as well because we needed the second after dominating for so long.

"You can say now that we really are scoring from all angles at the moment!"

SPURS: Robinson; Chimbonda, Dawson, Rocha, Lee (Stalteri); Ghaly, Jenas, Huddlestone, Malbranque (Lennon); Mido, Defoe

WATFORD: Foster; Mariappa, Doyley, Shittu, Powell; Chambers (Kabba), Mahon, Williams (Rinaldi); Smith, Priskin (Henderson), Bouazza

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