While Man U might moan on about all the players they had out and the fact they had already won the championship, Spurs also had a large number of first teamers out and had to compete against the usual Man U 12^th Man – the referee – so while it was not the most important match between the famous old adversaries, it was a deserved and a much needed win in a terrific atmosphere at White Hart Lane.

Spurs, still without Rebrov, King, Campbell, Taricco, Thatcher, Anderton, Armstrong and Iversen with Freund and Perry only making it back as far as the bench played with a 4-3-3 formation. Carr and Young as fullbacks with an all to brief spell of the Ant & Doc show at the back, Clem, Leo and Digger across the middle, with Willem and Etherington providing width to the attack centred on captain for the day, Ferdinand. Manchester United had many players out, but such is the depth of their squad only May and keeper Van Der Gouw were not regular internationals and this was a game that they would have expected to win against a depleted Spurs side.

The game started with an end of season feel with both sides playing the ball around comfortably without the usual frenetic pace of the premiership rushing the player in possession. Etherington looked bright against the doddery Irwin and Korsten when his interest drifted towards the match he was involved in, looked a sharp and has continued his improvement since Hoddle took over.

The first chance of the match fell to Spurs when we won a free kick just outside the penalty area. Carr who’d scored and was narrowly wide with his two free kicks at Leicester took control, but blasted his shot high and wide. Ferdinand was also presented with the ball after good work by Etherington, but our veteran forward took too long and United cleared for a corner. United’s first chance came from Butt, one of three potential Spurs targets on the field (Ted and Neville P being the others), but his effort crashed into the advertising hoardings to Sully’s right at the Paxton end.

The worst part of the game occurred when Gardner fell to the ground inside the centre circle clutching his knee after an innocuous aerial challenge with Cole, It was immediately obvious that it was not a run of the mill injury and after a bit of treatment he was helped off (presumably too tall for a stretcher).Lets hope its not a bad injury and he can be fully fit for the start of next season. Fortunately Perry was on the bench and he had a solid match as Ant’s replacement.

Spurs had managed a corner which Davies had placed to close to the keeper in the first 10 minutes, but when presented with a similar opportunity in the corner of the Shelf and Park Lane, he hit the next one with a bit more pace and a bit further from the goal. This time Van Der Gouw struggled and could only punch to Korsten on the edge of the box. In what is becoming true Korsten fashion, he took his time and adjusted himself before firing home a dipping left foot shot, which gave the keeper no chance for his first goal at the Lane.

United were only behind for 5 minutes. England reject Neville, looked much more at home on the right side of midfield and got free before sending over a deep cross which Sheringham headed down for Scholes to slide in at the near post. United continued to press and Giggs, who’d moved infield to avoid Carr, unleashed a curling shot which was goal bound before Sully produced a brilliant fingertip save.

The game continued to be evenly contested with both sides looking dangerous with the ball. Korsten weaved his Willem magic against Silvestre on the right before delivering a good cross, which Davies just failed to connect with, but managed to get trodden on by May. Some off the pitch repairs resulted in Davies re-emerging with a comical bandage, which the bloke along from me said looked like he had a pair of women’s knickers on his head. We’ve had quite a few of these over the last couple of years – Nielsen, Perry, Iversen and probably the funniest of the lot, Anderton earlier this season.

Korsten was at it again, twisting and turning and getting free by the right hand side by-line, before delivering a low cross, which a combination of defender and goalkeeper smothered before Les could pounce. At the other end, Ted was his usual intelligent self but Cole was absolutely shite (as you would expect from a gooner reject thief) and did the first of what would be a few embarrassing misses when he headed about 10 yards wide from a dangerous Giggs cross as the game coasted towards half time

At half time, Chiv as usual did his hit the bar thing and the Man U fan was from Guernsey!! The referee was the useless twat who did not give Spurs a single decision at Goodison earlier in the season and refereed the match allowing any Manchester United player to handle the ball when they felt like it. I’m sure much of the Anti-ManU stuff would be avoided if the referees just applied the law fairly.

Spurs emerged late onto the pitch in the second period, no doubt getting the godly words of wisdom from Hod. Man U fans had sung non stop some song or other for the first 20 minutes of the match and it was only in the second period that the Spurs fans livened up with sustained singing of “Glenn Hoddle’s Blue and White Army” for long periods.

The match could have gone either way with both sides having chances, although in all probability it looked like it was destined to end in a draw. It was during one of the long bursts of “Glenn Hoddle’s Blue and White Army” when Korsten picked up in his own half and fed Davies. Davies great strength at the moment is running with the ball and he carried the ball well into the United half before passing the ball back to Willem who advanced with the ball to the edge of the area before hitting a fierce right footed shot just inside the corner of the goal.  The place erupted.

Disaster was nearly round the corner when Carr had to be alert to stop Giggs a couple of times before Sheringham shot over from a Neville cross when he should have done better. Ferdinand could have ended all the nerves when he was released into the area by the excellent Davies, but Les snatched at the effort and dragged it wide when he really should have scored.

The safety goal was not long in coming and yet again it was created by my man of the match, Davies. He ran from within his own half riding tackles and then a couple of bad fouls before dropping the ball at Ferdinand’s feet. This time Les made no mistake hitting a low shot straight and hard into the corner. And although there was still time for Sully to produce another good save from a long range effort from Butt the points were safe and the end of season party could commence.

Sol, who’d watched the match from the tunnel led the lap of honour and it was great to hear all the crowd sing his name and give him a great round of applause. Sol saved his shirt for the Paxton and if this is goodbye, so be it – he has been a great player in the 315 games he has represented Tottenham and I have nothing but respect and admiration for him. Freund managed to keep his shorts on this year and Walker waddled round in a pair of flip-flops.

A disappointing season overall, but a good cup run, the removal of Sugar & Graham along with the young players coming though with Hoddle and ENIC at the helm bode well for a better future. In Hod we trust.

Sullivan (8/10) – Some good saves on the day it was announced that he was the player of the season. A fantastic goalkeeper and I hope his excellent form continues

Carr (7/10) – His best display since his return from injury, excellent at the back against Giggs and always a threat going forward.

Gardner (-/10) – Crumpled into a heap on the halfway line after jumping for the ball with Cole. The injury looks bad, but hopefully he will be ok for the start of next season

Doherty (7/10) – May not have some of the finesse of the great Spurs players, but hardly does anything wrong and has been a great success story after breaking into the team at the start of the year and already one of my favourites

Young (6/10) – Up against Phil Neville he had a quiet but solid afternoon

Leonhardsen (6/10) – Scurried about in the middle and broke into the box well when we pressed forward, but still does not look 100% fit

Clemence (5/10) – Unfortunately had another sub standard match and after over 100 appearances in our colours since 1997 he does not look like he is going to make the grade in our colours.

Davies (8/10) – Back in central midfield, played possibly his best all round match for us (despite playing for most of the first half with a bandage on his head)– getting involved at the back, good accurate passes and excellent runs forward – two of which produced our decisive goals. A bright prospect and can only get better under the great man.

Korsten (7/10) – Scored a couple of great goals and looked half decent when in possession of the ball. Commenting on his lack of interest when Spurs did not have the ball, Hoddle said, “he has to get off his perch a bit more and get involved in the game”. Korsten needs to add a more all round aspect to his game as slowly but surely his talent is starting to emerge.

Etherington (7/10) – His most impressive match in our colours – regularly beating Irwin, and he must be rueing the midweek sending off in the reserves which means he misses the first three matches of next season, although as he has yet to reach his 20^th Birthday, a bright future beckons for the Cornishman.

Ferdinand (6/10) – Scored a goal on his first match a Spurs captain and did ok leading the line on his own for much of the match

Sub - Perry (6/10) – A solid match at the back for Mr Ed