Saturday March 17th, 2001
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Iversen, 29
Ferdinand, 34
Rebrov, 59
Tottenham Hotspur (3-5-2):- Sullivan; Perry, Campbell (Capt.),
Doherty; Iversen, Freund, Clemence, King, Young; Rebrov,
Ferdinand
Subs not used:- Walker; Gardner; Davies, Etherington; Korsten
No bookings
Coventry (4-4-2):- Kirkland; Quinn, Shaw, Breen, Hall;
Thompson (sub Telfer,63), Carsley, Eustace (sub Chippo, 63,
sub Edworthy, 76), Bellamy; Hadji (Capt.), Hartson
Subs not used:- Hedman; Aloisi
Booked:- Carsley (Foul on Rebrov)
Referee:- Graham Poll (replaced by fourth official Mr P.
Taylor at half-time)
Attendance:- 35,606
After the great
win over West Ham and the amazing events yesterday, a great week
was rounded off with an easy victory over a poor Coventry side in
at a cold and wet White Hart Lane. Spurs lined up with the same
team that claimed the Glory at Upton Park while Coventry had
lardy Hartson and a couple of out of form Moroccans to between
themselves and anonymity.
Spurs kicked off
attacking the Park Lane, and almost had a dream start as King
looped a header on to the bar after good work on the right had
culminated in a cross by Ferdinand. Little did Ledley know that
his name was being written out of the history books as the scorer
of the fastest goal in Premiership history by Viduka for Leeds at
the Valley.
The opening
exchanges were the best period of the match for Coventry and they
had two good chances before three minutes were on the clock.
Hartson met a free kick with a powerful header but thankfully
Hadji headed wide when he should have done better. A minute later,
Bellamy who operated as a left winger left Iversen for dead and
sprinted into the left-hand side of the box, before putting a
tantalising cross wide of Sully and across the face of the goal,
which Hartson or any of the Spurs defenders managed to get a
touch as they rushed goal wards.
A bit of a fright,
but that was that for Coventry. The team and the tactics were
pretty much as last week – positive, with midfielders
readily getting forward. The mighty Freund picked the ball up
with a bit of space and let fly with a respectable shot that flew
over the angle.
After the initial
exchanges the game became scrappy as the packed midfield of
Coventry grappled with the effective central partnership of
Freund, Clemence and King. Freund had a fine game, tackling and
covering well when we did n’t have the ball and always
looking for it when we regained possession. I’m sure the new
man can find a place for Freund for a few years to come. Clemence
again had another good match in the middle and his only criticism
is that he does not score from many of the many opportunities he
creates for himself. King, as ever, oozed class, and it’s
difficult to think of many other players who are as cool on the
ball as him
Eustace had a
long-range effort that was easy for someone as good as Sully.
With Rebrov dropping off he was receiving a lot of the ball and
always used it wisely. The goals at the Hammers look like they
have lifted a weight off his shoulders and hopefully he will
bloom in the spring. Rebrov started our next attack, a reverse
pass to release Doherty on the left hand edge of the box. Doherty
twisted and turned before going outside his marker and hitting a
great left footed cross across the front of the goal but no one
was on hand to tap the ball in.
Sullivan was in
action soon after, producing his best save of the match when
diving full length to turn away a shot from the dangerous Bellamy.
Coventry initially dominated most of the aerial duels at both
ends of the pitch but gradually Les, Ledley and Sol began to get
a grip in the air, and it was from a Ferdinand knock down that
Clemence smashed a 25 yard shot which Kirkland did well to
fingertip away for a corner.
A scuffed shot
from Campbell hit Ferdinand’s legs, and went just wide of
the post with the keeper stranded. Sol should have scored soon
after when one of Clemence’s chipped free kicks (a variation
on the Sherwood 9 iron) was nodded down to Sol 10 yards out on
the left hand side of the box, but Sol never looked like getting
into a good position and smashed his shot miles over. No one
cared and the ground erupted in a round of “Sol Campbell, he’s
done his country proud” – we all love him.
Clemence had
another attempt well saved from a long distance shot as Spurs
began to get on top. It was from a Clemence corner that we took
the lead. From underneath the Coventry fans, his well-flighted
corner was met with a glancing header by Iversen into the far
corner. A good moment for Iversen who had not scored in the
league for about 20 matches, admittedly some of which were out of
position.
This seemed to
settle everyone, and even at 1-0 we looked comfortable although
we could have done without a bad throw out from Sullivan that
gave the ball to Coventry 30 yards out and Sully out of his goal.
Luckily a great block by Campbell saved his blushes.
Soon after, even
any lingering doubts were dismissed as we went two up. Another
Clemence set piece, this time a free kick after excellent work by
Young had been ended in a foul. The ball picked out Iversen who
jumped strongly and powered a goal bound header, which Kirkland
could only push out for Les to nod home.
Spurs coasted to
halftime – looking solid without the ball and breaking well
when in possession. Coventry did manage a shot, when the stunted
figure of Thompson managed an effort on Sully’s goal from 20
yards that fizzed wide.
Half time had
Martin Chivers introducing a new competition where two season
ticket holders are drawn at random and given a seat in the
director’s box. When Chiv announced that this was an
initiative from Buchler – the name was greeted with a mix of
cheers and boos – within months I’m sure it’ll all
be cheers as Mr Buchler seems to be doing a great job at the club.
Referee Poll was
one less “Graham” at the ground when he was replaced by
assistant P Taylor at half-time. The second half started
scrappily but Spurs managed the first threat on goal when another
well floated Clemence free kick curled into the box, just evading
messers Doherty, Campbell and Ferdinand and their desperate
lunges.
This time last
year – Scumbag Graham was trying to get Hartson to become a
Spurs player, and we are still in debt to the club doctor for his
great decision to save the club from this Ginger blob. Spurs
completed the scoring with the goal of the match. Ferdinand broke
out of the Spurs half on the right hand side, and despite being
surrounded by four Coventry players carried the ball over the
halfway line and found King midway inside the Coventry half. He
played the pass of his short Spurs career through the inside left
channel for the alert Rebrov to latch on to, and slip the ball
calmly through Kirkland from a narrow angle. Pure Spurs.
The moment of the match occurred on the hour. Spurs broke quickly
from defence, releasing Clemence in the middle. With Coventry
stretched Freund emerged steaming up the right-hand side like a
man on a mission. Clemence found him with a great pass and the
ground held its breath as Freund bore down on goal. He did
everything correct, but his low shot went just inches wide of the
right-hand post that he also hit in the league match with West
Ham. Trust me, he saving his first goal for the Arsenal match,
although the irony of him scoring the game after Graham had been
sacked would not have been lost on anyone.
Spurs coasted the
rest of the match, with our only concern being a bad tackle
on Rebrov. The little Ukrainian picked himself up and was
involved in our next attack. He set King free on the right, and
his well measured cross was met by Clemence with a good run into
the box, but he could not keep his header down.
The last effort
on goal was a 25 yard Rebrov free kick that went like a bullet
wide of the goal. With that sort of pace on a dead ball, he
should be practicing them before the semi
All in all it was
a good result against a team we have often inexplicably struggled
against in recent seasons at home and after the dramatic and
brilliant week, it was a nice jolly at the Lane.
Sullivan (7/10)
– Nearly spoiled another solid display by a suicidal throw
out that nearly cost us a goal – but all in all – a
great bloke to have at the back
Doherty (7/10) – A solid match at the back and expressed himself well when pushing forward. He goes from strength to strength
Campbell (7/10)
– Classy as ever at the back and got in several important
blocks
Perry (7/10) –
Much maligned, but Perry goes about his defensive duties very
efficiently. His use of the ball is wanting, but for me he is a
valuable member of the team
Young (7/10)
– The left wing back position is rapidly becoming his own
– another accomplished display both in attack and defence.
Freund (7/10)
– Nearly brought the house down when he shot agonisingly
wide for his first goal, but put in another first rate
performance and is a credit to the club
King (7/10) –
A good match, capped with a fine pass through to Rebrov for the
third goal. One of my favourites
Clemence (8/10)
– I’m delighted to give Clem another good write up, as
he had another good match in the central midfield area and was
unlucky not to cap his good match with a goal. It’s clear he
is not a wing back and on this form does not deserve to make way
for Sherwood.
Iversen (7/10)
– Iversen had a good match, despite sometimes struggling
with his role at right wingback. Good to see him score for the
first time in the league since last April, but the real crunch
comes when Carr returns and it’s two from three up front.
Rebrov (7/10)
– Looked more relaxed after his heroics last week and capped
another good display with a coolly taken goal. I hope he is
here to see it all bloom next season.
Ferdinand (7/10)
– I wrote his football obituary in the match at Highfield
Road in October, but Les had been excellent since that match and
his good display was rewarded with a headed goal.