Van der Vaart Describes Collapse

Fabrice Muamba collapsing left players panicking, it was horrifying to watch, says Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart

Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart has described the moment Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during Saturday's FA Cup match against Bolton as "horrifying" and said players were panicked as they watched medical staff try to resuscitate the midfielder.

Van der Vaart was stood barely 10 metres away from Muamba when he collapsed and was seen praying for the midfielder on the White Hart Lane pitch while he received treatment.

Reflecting on what happened, Van der Vaart said: "It's almost incomprehensible what has happened. (It was) simply horrifying to see such a young player on the ground struggling for his life.

"I was standing about 10 metres from him but I didn't see him fall. It happened behind my back, but when I turned I immediately knew things weren't good.

"At that time all players on the field felt the panic as well. It was horrible to witness, it's the absolute low in my football career.

"I'd like to express my sincere support to the family, team-mates and everyone who is involved with Bolton Wanderers.

"Fabrice, we'll keep praying for you and I hope with all my heart that everything will be all right again."

Van der Vaart's Tottenham team-mate Benoît Assou-Ekotto has also spoken of his shock at the incident, which he said reminded him of the game in which fellow Cameroonian Marc-Vivien Foe died in 2003 after collapsing on the pitch during a game in France.

"Saturday was one of those days that will stay with me forever," Assou-Ekotto wrote in his Evening Standard column.

"When I saw him lying on the pitch at White Hart Lane, I was scared. Scared for him, scared for his family, his friends and all those people who know him and who care about him.

"I was also scared because he was just like me. He is young, supposedly fit – an athlete – who a few seconds ago was running up and down the same pitch as me. I had flashbacks of what had happened to my countryman, the late Marc-Vivien Foe.

"You want to stop these thoughts but the pictures keep coming into your head and I must say I was scared. Scared as I wondered how it could all just end like that for a young man? I could see the same questions in the eyes of my team-mates, the Bolton players, our bosses and their colleagues."

Rafael Ends Hornets Dream

Spurs produced a nervy display but a Rafael Van der Vaart strike just before half-time was enough to see off a spirited Watford side in this FA Cup fourth-round clash at Vicarage Road.

Manager Harry Redknapp named a strong starting line-up as he put his legal woes to one side for the evening and returned to the dugout. Luka Modric, Emmanuel Adebayor, Rafael van der Vaart and Scott Parker all started in a strong Tottenham team that contained five changes from the one that lost to Manchester City last weekend.

Watford started well, pressing hard and denying their illustrious opponents any time on the ball in front of a very vocal home support at Vicarage Road. They carved out the game’s first chance on five minutes when Joe Garner released Sordell after a slip by Younes Kaboul, but the England Under-21 striker could only shoot weakly at Carlo Cudicini. The Italian then spilled Sean Murray's effort after a rare Modric error, but Kyle Walker hooked the ball clear. Then Garner almost got on the end of a Deeney cross as the home side looked increasingly threatening.

Spurs were struggling to create chances and their passing wasn’t as slick as might be expected from a side that has won widespread plaudits for its exciting style of play and is still challenging for the Premiership title at the end of January. 

But, with half-time looming and the home side still on top, Spurs were suddenly ahead. Michael Dawson had to stretch to clear a Watford attack. He released Kyle Walker who went on a mazy run out of his own half before releasing Van der Vaart about 35 yards from goal. Unchallenged he took it on towards the Watford box before unleashing a low shot which bounced cruelly past Loach into the bottom right-hand corner. It was scarcely what the Londoners deserved but they were 1-0 up at the break.

Eustace blazed over from the edge of the box for Watford immediately after the restart. At the other end Loach had a tip a Livermore header over the bar after good work by Rose. Spurs looked comfortable for a spell, Van der Vaart hitting the bar on 64 minutes after a good cut back by Lennon on the edge of the Watford box, but it didn’t last and the home side started to dominate as the Premiership side’s midfield was overrun.

Eustace was narrowly wide with a header from a corner as game entered the last 20 minutes and then Buaben forced a good stop from Cudicini who got down well to save from 20 yards. Watford began to sense that they might yet get something from the game and Cudicini was forced into action again moments later when he saved then saved brilliantly from Nosworthy from eight yards as the ball ricocheted around the Spurs box following a Yeates free kick.

Watford continued to press but were unable to make their superiority pay and Spurs will be relieved to still be in the hat for the fifth round draw on Sunday.

Spurs Van der Vaart Sidelined

Tottenham are fearful midfielder Rafael van der Vaart could be sidelined until the new year with a hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old was substituted at half-time during Spurs' 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Thursday.

When asked if the Dutchman could be out beyond the end of 2011, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp replied: "Yes, it looks that way."

Spurs will also be without winger Aaron Lennon for "weeks" after he injured his hamstring against Sunderland.

Lennon, 24, was absent for Thursday's draw with Chelsea at White Hart Lane, which saw Emmanuel Adebayor give Tottenham the lead after only eight minutes before Daniel Sturridge equalised for the visitors.

"We had no one who could play wide right to give us the balance we needed," said Redknapp.

"When Aaron Lennon is not out there, we haven't really got a wide right player."

On Van der Vaart, Redknapp added: "He just seems to have a hamstring problem all the time. He is a great player but we need to keep him fit."

Winger Gareth Bale made a timely return to the Spurs side after missing the 1-0 win over Sunderland with a sprained ankle and provided the assist from which Adebayor opened the scoring.

Redknapp was not downbeat after the result, despite his side dropping two points that leaves them third in the table, seven points behind second-placed Manchester United.

"It was a good game of football and a fair result," added Redknapp. "They came back, we started great and murdered them for the first 25 minutes, but they came back strongly in the second half."

Tottenham's remaining fixtures this year are away games at Norwich and Swansea on 27 and 31 December respectively. Their first game of 2012 is a home game against West Brom on 3 January.