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Spurs top Europa group after stunning Pav strike

Roman Pavlyuchenko's strike was enough to earn Tottenham victory © PA Photos

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Roman Pavlyuchenko's brilliant free-kick sent Tottenham top of Group A in the Europa League, while Stoke moved a step closer to the knockout stages with a 3-0 win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Group E.

Elsewhere, Celtic's struggles in Europe continued as they drew 1-1 with Rennes to stay bottom of Group I, while Fulham fell to a 1-0 defeat against Wisla Krakow in Group K and Chris Wood scored a dramatic injury-time winner for Birmingham in their Group H clash with Club Bruges.

Pavlyuchenko gave Harry Redknapp a timely reminder of his talents by firing in a 20-yard free-kick to hand Tottenham an important 1-0 win over Rubin Kazan at White Hart Lane. Pavlyuchenko blasted home an early contender for goal of the season with a powerful strike that flew in off the bar, just 24 hours after Redknapp admitted he would consider selling the striker in the January transfer window.

Surprise starter Heurelho Gomes did well to deny Gokdeniz Karadeniz in the first half, and Tottenham were second best for most of the second half, but they held on to register the win that moved them two points clear at the top of Group A.

Cameron Jerome was controversially sent off as Stoke strolled to a comfortable win over Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Britannia Stadium to consolidate their position at the top of Group E.

It seemed little could go wrong for the Potters after first-half headers from Kenwyne Jones and Jerome and a finish from Ryan Shotton had put them firmly in the driving seat. They were then reduced to 10 men as Jerome collected a second yellow card in the 43rd minute having been - somewhat harshly - adjudged to have elbowed Yoav Ziv, but the Maccabi player was shown red in a bizarre incident early in the second half and the hosts had little trouble seeing out the victory from there.

Stoke now have seven points from three games at the midway point of the group stage and look well on course to make the knockout rounds.

Joe Ledley's second-half header gave Celtic a deserved point against Rennes at the Route de Lorient but once again Neil Lennon was left to count the cost of a defensive mistake.

On the half-hour mark, with the game evenly-matched, a long punt by home keeper Benoit Costil was making its way harmlessly through to Fraser Forster but there appeared to be no communication between him and Cha Du-ri, who helped it on then watched in horror as the ball slipped past the Hoops keeper and in to the net.

That the South Korean was playing in midfield and only back as last man as a safeguard as Glenn Loovens and Charlie Mulgrew were still up the other end following a set-piece, made it harder to stomach for the Celtic boss.

It looked like another disappointing European night was on the cards for the Parkhead men but they mounted a spirited fightback and in the 70th minute Ledley flicked a Mulgrew free-kick over Costil to give the visitors a draw, although they still remain bottom of Group I on goal difference.

It was another frustrating night for Neil Lennon and Celtic in Europe © Getty Images

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Moussa Dembele's red card turned a difficult night for Fulham into a frustrating 1-0 defeat in Poland against Wisla Krakow.

The Belgium international's harsh-looking sending off paved the way for the Polish champions to secure their first Group K points, with David Biton striking the all-important goal at Stadion Miejski. Wisla were fortunate not to lose a man themselves in the opening two minutes after Ivica Iliev planted his foot in Brede Hangeland's chest.

Fulham's feeling of injustice was strengthened just before the half-hour mark when Dembele was harshly sent off for a push on Gervasio Nunez. The man advantage gave Wisla the emphasis and, after a 13-minute delay to the second period due to a power failure, Biton's 22-yard effort condemned Fulham to defeat on their 20th competitive match of the season.

The visitors' disappointment was compounded shortly before the Israeli's goal when target man Orlando Sa hobbled off with what looked to be a hamstring injury, before Wisla's Osman Chavez was sent off late on.

Wood scored a stunning winner in the 10th minute of stoppage time to secure Birmingham a thrilling Group H away win against Club Brugge.

The Championship side had trailed to Joseph Akpala's third-minute opener but, roared on by more than 5,400 travelling fans, they equalised through David Murphy's slick finish in the 26th minute. Then, following more than six minutes of treatment for defender Pablo Ibanez after he was knocked unconscious in worrying fashion, Wood stole in at the near post to score a dramatic winner. The win saw City draw level with their hosts at the top of the group and fuel hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

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