His languid style has won him few favours with manager Harry Redknapp, but its now five goals in his last three games for Roman Pavlyuchenko. Perhaps you have to be cruel to be kind.
Disillusioned with life at White Hart Lane after falling behind Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane in the pecking order, Pavlyuchenko seized the chance given to him by Keanes loan move to Celtic by scoring two rare Premier League goals in last weekends 3-0 win at Wigan.
Last night a foot injury to Crouch gave the 13.8million strikerjust his third start of the season, and ;Super Pav duly came up withthe goods, leaving Zat Knight for dead after 23 minutes and slottingthe ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Goal machine: Pavlyuchenko now has five goals in his last three appearances
Pavlyuchenko, the player Redknapp memorably told to ;****ing run around a bit, finished the scoring, too. The 28-year-old capitalised on an excellent pass from substitute Danny Rose to stroke a right-foot finish past Jaaskelainen after 88 minutes and earn Tottenham an FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham at Craven Cottage on March 6.
Jermain Defoe went off at half-time with a hamstring injury, making hima doubt for Sundays league match against Everton, so the Russians sudden hot streak is timely for the Spurs manager.
Redknapp said: ;Pavs a great finisher, he can score goals when opportunities come. Theres every chance Ill start him on Sunday.
;He was excellent in training last week he was the best player in whatever we were doing.
;Nobody wants to see him do well more than I do. If hes scoring goals and we are winning football matches then Im happy.
Despite making five changes from the side who lost 3-0 at Blackburnon Sunday and opting to keep Kevin Davies on the bench, Owen Coylesside had a number of first-half chances before two own goals put Tottenham in a commanding position.
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