Wednesday 16th January 2002, 7.45pm

FA Cup, 3rd Round, Highfield Road

COVENTRY CITY 0

Hedman - Shaw, Konjic, Breen, Antonelius (Martinez, 73) - Edworthy, Carsley (Quinn, 71), Betts, Thompson - Joachim, Bothroyd (Delorge, 77)

Rebrov

Ferdinand (Iversen 70)

Poyet

Taricco

Anderton  (Leonhardsen 80)

Sherwood

Davies

King

Richards

Perry

Sullivan

Subs not used: Keller,

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (Poyet 23, Ferdinand 52)

Referee: - Neale Barry

Attendance: - 20,758

The Glenn Hoddle sunshine football broke through the dark clouds that had begun to gather after only one win in six and reminded us all what watching Spurs is all about as we destroyed a hapless and soulless Coventry side to gain revenge for the trophy less heroes of 1987. This one was for you Mabbs, and I’m sure you enjoyed it. 

I thought this was going to be a quiet trip just going up and back for the match, but I was pleased to get a call from topspurs message board legend Jacob Goldberg and we got the train up together

The city of Coventry is twinned with Khazi somewhere on the continent, and if Lady G rode back into the place she would n’t hang about long.

The first port of call as anyone who has got the train to Coventry will know is “the Rocket” Boozer next to the station, which could do with a picture of Ronnie himself on the pub sign.

The place was full of Spurs – “the firm” and “the scarfers” side by side enjoying a pint or two (served by an absolute ringer for Huggy Bear), an afternoon off work and the anticipation of a Spurs win. As we headed to the ground, no accompanied by Rosie we got a call from TV’s Daniel Wynne and we met up with him Danny Keene and a few of the SIMBers in the Beer Engine. Meatloaf showed up soon after to complete the gathering – not bad for a “just there and back trip”.

The whole place seemed to be full of Spurs and even before the match you had the feeling that part of the heart of Coventry had gone. Even parading the pub players that made up their 1987 team before the match could not raise an atmosphere from the home end. This could have something to do with a load of Spurs in the home end though!

Spurs started as expected with Treacle switching to the left wing back and Davies coming in at right wing back, with Sir Les partnering Rebrov up front.

The game was barely seconds old when Spurs should have been given a penalty for a blatant handball and how refs and linesmen miss this stuff is beyond me – 20 seconds into a match is just as valid time for a penalty as 20 minutes into the match.

As the game settled down, Spurs took full control and established a grip they held right to the final whistle. Off the pitch, the noise made by the Tottenham fans was one of the best of the season and it was a credit to everyone involved.

Spurs controlled the middle through Sherwood and Anderton, but it was on the flanks with Davies and Treacle that we looked most dangerous and both of the wingbacks had excellent matches.

Spurs players celebrate after Poyet has nodded us in front

After 20 minutes of Spurs domination, we got the goal the play merited. Anderton hit a long cross to no-one, but Davies below us on the right picked it up and returned an excellent centre which was met powerfully by a Poyet header at the near post for what ended up and easy goal

I don’t know what I do to deserve it – but I always manage to attract the Anderton freaks and while our “Shaggy” hero had a good match today – my “mate” went on about how he was player of the season etc blah!

Spurs had any number of chances during the rest of the half and even at 1-0 I never thought we’d get anything other than a win. Ferdinand went close to scoring when he twisted and turned Shaw before hammering a shot just wide, Davies had a chance from a header and while he did a great run from the back Ledley neither shot nor crossed after a one-two with Sherwood had put him in, in the box.

Half time allowed me to meet properly another topspurs regular David Etere.

The second half was all Sunshine football with the only disappointment being the fact that we only got one goal! The goal was a gem though – a powerful run thro the middle by Poyet, where he was fouled a couple of times with play waved on, managed to find Rebrov, who was also taken out as he got the ball out wide to Anderton out on the right. Shaggy hit a hard low cross which Breen managed to turn on to his own post, and Les was on hand to tap home from a yard for his first ever FA Cup goal for us and he will never score an easier one.

It was all Spurs and one of the best moments of the match came when the Spurs fans cheered every Coventry pass they managed to get to one of their own players – the ultimate pisstake, and although this match was about revenge for 1987, at the end the over-riding emotion had changed to pity.

We had numerous chances to score – notably a multi pass move which went on for ages demoralising Coventry before the ball was played into the middle only for Sherwood to balloon the ball over from a yard when it must have been easier to score. A goal for Timmah, who also went close from a “Sheringham corner routine” would have been a fine reward for an excellent seven days in our colours.

Of the other chances, Rebrov missed a couple as he unfortunately normally does, Les had a header, Iversen blasted over after some great control and Leo would have scored if Poyet could have found him unmarked in the last minute but no one was particularly worried at that stage and Spurs got a great and deserved ovation at the final whistle.

Job Done - Spurs go off to deserved applause

After the final whistle, we had a brisk walk which nearly had us calling for the oxygen at the station, but we made the train in time and despite Rosie managing to spend a £10 of mine on three packets of crisps and getting back in to Euston well after 12.20 – it was a memorable trip and hopefully the first on the way to the Cardiff final this year – the year ending and starting with the same number and the winners of the Spurs Coventry cup tie having gone on to win the cup the two previous times we have met in the cup are good omens.

Sullivan (6/10) – Nothing to do, but did it in the style of the Spurs number 1

Perry (6/10) – A couple of Mr Ed clearances but generally was ok at the back

Richards (6/10) – A good match, snuffing out what little they offered with the minimum of fuss

King (6/10) – An easy match and did what little he had to deal with well

Davies (7/10) – Gave Coventry problems from the first minute to the last and was excellent in the right wing back role

Taricco (7/10) – There was no respite on the left either as Treacle had a very positive match and had a number of attempts on goal to get him off the mark for the club, but no to no avail again.

Sherwood (7/10) – The renaissance of Timmah continues and he was a vital cog in the midfield fluency which won Spurs the match

Anderton (7/10) – A good match for Anderton who was at the heart of all Spurs good stuff

Poyet (7/10) – Scored a cracking goal and was involved in much of the good forward play, as well as seeming to do more running than usual

Rebrov (7/10) – Had a good match and it is disappointing that he did not score.

Ferdinand (7/10) – Was on hand to make the game safe with a tap in early in the second half (his first FA Cup goal for Spurs since he signed in 1997!) and did well throughout the match - having his name sung by the crowd as he was given a well deserved rest near the end speaks volumes for how he is playing these days and his value to the team.

Subs:

Iversen (6/10) – Had his moments and the more he plays and stays fit, the better he will get in the second part of the season, which he could still play a vital part (happy pills are working).

Leonhardsen (6/10) – Not have much to do, but slotted in to the midfield and a useful back up for the main men 

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