Bit of a headcold here but we don’t expect you to care about that (who said ‘man flu’???).

We’re with you for the duration of tonight’s Group A clash between Spurs and Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League and the big news is that Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko have all been named by Harry Redknapp. Rovers, meanwhile, have left out Rohan Ricketts and Enda Stevens but Jim Paterson, Gary McCabe and Billy Dennehy all start… Full teams to follow…

Tottenham team: Cudicini; Walker, Corluka, Bassong, Rose; Lennon, Livermore, Carroll, Dos Santos; Pavlyuchenko, Defoe.

Shamrock Rovers team: Brush, Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Paterson; McCabe, Finn, Rice, O’Donnell, Dennehy; Twigg.

A surprise move for O’Neill to leave out Stevens. Could it be that the greater pace of Billy Dennehy at left-back might combat the threat of Lennon?

Bale and Modric are on the bench for Spurs. Be afraid. Be quite afraid.

This really is a much stronger Spurs team that took on PAOK a couple of weeks ago, but as Michael O’Neill said himself, as long as Rovers go out there without fear there’s the very real chance of an upset.

Now that the teams are in, time for a mini-poll. Who’s coming away with the win?

Rib tickler…

Down to the serious business soon as the teams prepare to take to the pitch in North London.

They’re in the tunnel. This is Rovers’ 48th competitive game of the season, remarkably.

Gary Twigg gets proceedings under way..

Giovani dos Santos tries a long range effort but Richard Brush is equal to it.

White Hart Lane has been described as ‘like O’Connell Street on St. Patrick’s Day.’ Lots of teenagers talking to God, so…

Stephen O’Donnell bares his teeth after his floated free-kick goes to nobody in particular. Not a happy man.

Another daisy cutter from Dos Santos but Brush has it covered. Spurs’ passing is crisper but Rovers are holding firm in defence and are far from overwhelmed.

Gazza’s in the crowd, sporting a lovely, understated, flamingo pink blazer.

A free Chomp bar to anyone who can tell us anything about Danny Rose, other than “he scored a screamer against Arsenal.”

Disclaimer: Buy your own Chomp.

CHANCE! Tottenham go very close as Defoe’s pace sees him ghost past the Rovers defence from Dos Santos’ pass. Brush did brilliantly to get something on it, though, and the ball ricochets off the crossbar.

A phenomenal save from Brush. Pavlyuchenko plays a one-two with Lennon but the Russian’s strike is smothered by the Hoops’ ‘keeper. Still goalless.

McCabe tries to squeeze one through for Gary Twigg but he’s way off…

Possible case for a Spurs penalty as Jim Paterson and Pavlyuchenko clash. They both go down, they both get back up.

A series of corners for Tottenham, who are camped in the Rovers half.

Stephen Rice gives the ball away before Lennon sends over a lofted cross for Dos Santos. The Mexican blazes the ball over.

Reader Emmet Galvin: “Come on Rovers!!!” Wonder how many more of you are getting excited by the prospect of an upset? Over half an hour gone and Rovers have held firm.

Once again the crossbar saves Rovers! Rose’s shot cannons back off the woodwork to the feet of Bassong. The Tottenham captain’s shot appears to be handled by Dan Murray in the box but nothing is given.

Pavlyuchenko takes a long ball down superbly but his shot is diverted out for a corner by Sives. From the subsequent dead ball, the Russian loses Paterson but his header is cleared off the line. Plenty of Spurs chances but no goals yet.

BIG CHANCE! Brush gets himself in massive trouble and the ball falls to Pavlyuchenko. Wide, thankfully for Rovers!

Thought: Are you watching, Robbie Keane?

O’Donnell has been superb for Rovers, along with Rice and Ronan Finn, in midfield.

Rose and Dos Santos team up, and the former Barcelona man is disappointed to see that Lennon hasn’t bothered anticipating his cross. Rovers were asleep.

Rice is brilliant again as he reads the danger and tackles the superb Dos Santos, just before he can shoot.

The half-time whistle has gone. OK, Rovers may not have tested Carlo Cudicini, but they can be proud of some resolute defending and the brilliance of Stephen Rice. What are your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment below…

Rovers’ best player so far?

The match resumes as Rovers attack from right to left.

ROVERS HAVE SCORED!!!

Following a free-kick that Cudicini palmed away, the ball fell to Pat Sullivan. His low shot seemed en route for Spurs’ Italian goalkeeper but Stephen Rice was on hand to deftly flick the ball past the ‘keeper! Unbelievable scenes…

Rovers are a totally different team in the second half – keeping the ball wall and giving Tottenham no time on the ball.

Andros Townsend goes on the attack for Spurs but Brush is dealing with everything.

It’s level! Giovani delivers a perfect cross for Pavlyuchenko, who finally remembers how to score goals. You have to hope Rovers don’t lose heart and we still have a game.

Spurs are leading!!! Two in two minutes. Andros Townsend breaks brilliantly down the left and crosses for Defoe to head home. A carbon copy of the first, really.

Twigg is ruled offside just when he caught the Spurs defence slack.

It’s three goals inside five minutes. Defoe picks up a bad pass by Rice before advancing and passing to Dos Santos, whose excellent finish is well deserved.

The goal seemed to lift Rovers for all of three or four minutes, before the crash.

Ricketts comes on to face his former club for Ronan Finn, while Defoe is replaced by Falqué.

Rovers look laboured and are reverting to long ball shenanigans. Sullivan tries a shot but it flies over the bar.

Dos Santos and Pavlyuchenko combine again. The midfielder has been brilliant tonight and we’re surprised not to see more on him in the Premier League. Brush saves.

Dennehy breaks but shoots over the bar.

Young Harry Kane comes on for Spurs.

The match is petering out. Pavlyuchenko (which is a pain to type over and over again, I should start calling him Brian) has a shot that skids off his boot and wide.

Brush has been fantastic and he saves his side when ‘Brian’ releases his strike partner.

We’re getting three minutes of added time. Brush almost spills a shot from Townsend.

Shocking decision! Rovers are denied a penalty as Dennehy is brought down. That looked clear cut. Boo ref, boooo!!!

It’s all over, finishing Tottenham 3-1 Shamrock Rovers. After a first half in which the Dublin side had defended superbly, they took the lead when Stephen Rice deflected in Pat Sullivan’s shot. However, it wasn’t long before Tottenham woke up.

Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermaine Defoe and Giovani dos Santos (brilliant throughout) gave a familiar look to the scoreline, and that was that…

Thanks for keeping up, time for the leaba (or a pint)!