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Tuesday 9th
October 2001, 7.45pm |
League Cup – 3rd Round,
Prenton Park |
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TRANMERE ROVERS 0 |
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Murphy, Yates (Capt), Sharps, Allen, Roberts, Mellon, Parkinson,
Henry (sub Hinds 68), Flynn, N'Diaye (sub Hume 61), Barlow Subs not used:-
Achterburg (GK); Challinor, Allison |
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Ferdinand (Rebrov 55, 1 (81))
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Sheringham 1pen (20)
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Poyet 1(49) (Leo 82)
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Anderton 1 (40)
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Freund (Sherwood 71)
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Davies
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Thatcher
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Perry
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King
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Taricco
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Sullivan
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Subs not
used: |
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TOTTENHAM
HOTSPUR 4 (Sheringham (pen) 20, Anderton 40, Poyet 49, Rebrov 81) |
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Referee:- |
Attendance:- |
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This was a massive game for
Spurs, and although there was plenty of pre-match apprehension amongst the
excellent travelling support, Spurs controlled the match and ran out easy
winners to hopefully kick-start the season on to bigger and better things
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Like away games of old, this
journey started in my former manor Edgware. The “Gants Hill mob” of music impresario
Danny Keene, the face of Spurs in commercial Television Daniel Wynne and
everyone’s favourite from the chat room on the official site Lauren Crader
(supplier of the tuck shop), along with your ‘umble webmaster joined the M1
at around 3pm – scarfs flying from either window and Chas n Dave on the
stereo. |
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The journey up was remarkable
for the fact that we not only saw the Barnet players Coach on the way up to
Doncaster for their conference fixture (which they won 3-2), we saw the
Norwegian Barnet Supporters coach as well. A truly weird experience. Due to the wonders of the ticket
office, I travelled to this match without a ticket, but hopefully with a
duplicate waiting for me at Tranmere. Fortunately everything went smoothly and
we had time for a swift pint in the Mersey Clipper before the match where we
met up with Sarah from the SIMB and Paul and Bradley Smith from Spurs Odyssey
(and hopefully the trust by the end of the month).
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The locals were a friendly
bunch and the fans mixed freely before the match, and the legendary scouse
hospitality was evident again when a steward saw us posing for a quick snap,
insisted that we have it taken on pitch side. It was at moments like this I
really wish I’d have purchased a decent digital camera! (from left to right
Danny Keene, Meatloaf, Tony Slatz, Lauren Crader, Daniel Wynne and
TopSpurs) |
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Despite being named the
“Cowshed stand”, the stand and indeed the rest of Prenton Park looked a nice
ground and too good to be wasted in the second division.
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With Ziege added to our
usual list of injuries, it was inevitable that a recently recovered Ben
Thatcher would get a first start of the season as Spurs kept with the 4-4-2
formation. Ledley switched from the
left back role he had against Man U to partner Mr Ed at the back, Davies came
in for the cup tied Richards and played right midfield with Poyet switching
to the left. Ted, after his England
heroics on Saturday, partnered Ferdinand up front with Rebrov starting on the
bench again |
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The friendly stewards had some
good banter with the Spurs fans before the match and told us that if Tranmere
attacked their own fans in the Kop stand in the second half, we’d better watch
out. Fortunately, Hoddle must have rumbled this after the Tranmere-Southampton
match earlier this year, and made sure we scuppered their plans by attacking
the excellent away support amassed in the Cowshed in the first half, sending Tranmere
the “wrong way”.
Spurs looked assured in the
opening exchanges and came close to scoring when a Ferdinand knock down fell to
Sheringham on the left-hand edge of the “D” but his low drive was only inches
wide of the right hand post. Poyet also had a shot on target as Spurs moved the
ball impressively. Despite chasing the game, Tranmere created their two best
chances of the match. Firstly a good move down the right allowed one of their
lads (Yates?) to cut in and hit a dangerous cross-cum-shot across the 6 yard
area which just went the right side of the post for us watching anxiously at
the other end. We were again caught out when a well-taken free kick allowed
Flynn to rise unmarked on the left hand edge of the six-yard box. He headed
across goal and despite lots of players being in the area, no one turned the
ball home.
This was to be as good as it
got for Tranmere. The ref had a funny match, but fortunately he was not as
damaging to us as that Arsehole Gallagher was the last time we played on
Merseyside – but he did manage to book Poyet when he jumped to avoid a two-footed
challenge for diving. Maybe the stupid booking was on the refs mind a minute or
so later when we got a penalty.
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Good interplay between
Thatcher, and Anderton and Sheringham , sent the latter chasing a chipped pass
into the area. The hilariously named Mickey Mellon challenged Sheringham,
definitely pushing Ted in the back. Ted went down as easy as Heskey and the
ref gave a penalty. We’ve had some shockers this season – Chelsea, Everton
and Villa – and while this was one of those incidents that 7 times out of 10
gets waved on, we were not about to start complaining. A slight unease came
over us all, as Ted decided to take the penalty himself, but he sent the
keeper the wrong way to score his 102nd goal for Spurs. |
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Mickey Mellon, who as well as
giving the penalty away had been booked for a bad challenge on Ferdinand (Sir Les
managed approx 4 minutes prone on the turf in the first half for one ailment or
another) – was sent off for a late tackle on
Poyet. This might have been a little harsh, but he had done a number of fouls
and was n’t very near the ball as he slid in to injure Poyet.
A goal down, down to 10 men
and being run all over the park by Spurs – things we’re not looking good for
Tranmere, and even at this early stage – I felt sure that we would go on and
win the game comfortably (and for once my confidence in Spurs was correct).
Sheringham forced an excellent
save from the Tranmere keeper from a 25-yard free kick after Treacle was fouled
– the keeper doing esp. well to keep the ball away from the onrushing Poyet and
Thatcher. Spurs played the perfect match with a man over and as the half was
drawing to an end scored the second and crucial goal. Spurs worked the ball to
the wide-open spaces on the right and Treacle carried the ball to the edge of
the area before hitting a low cross, which reached Sheringham in the middle of
the “D” via a deflection. Ted laid a perfect cushioned pass back to Anderton
who hit a curling left foot shot into the corner – which was a goal from the
minute Ted laid it back to him and you could see what he was trying to do.
Lauren mentioned that we did
n’t really want another goal to go in 3-0 up after the Southampton match here
and out collapse against ManU, and fortunately for us, that was it for the
first half. Half time was a relaxed affair and gave me the opportunity to meet
up with the usual Cumbrian Spurs crowd and message board regular Andrew
Thexton, as well as seeing all the usual Spurs “away” faces.
Any thoughts of a comeback
were quickly removed as Spurs started the second half as they finished the
first. Davies nearly scored when he ran through on the right hand side of the
area, but his shot went inches wide of the far post.
Our third goal was not long in
coming. Davies released Freund down the right handside and the man they call
Nutter sprinted on to it in his manic style before delivering an excellent
cross to the near post. With Ferdinand AWOL it was up to Poyet to come sliding
in to beat the defender to the ball, which went in off the far post. Lets hope
this was the first of many for Poyet in our colours.
The Spurs contingent even had
time to sing one of my favourite Spurs songs “can’t live without you” –
excellent stuff. Freund himself managed a shot later on which was goal bound
before being blocked. He was replaced by Sherwood who managed to get himself
booked within 30 seconds of his seasonal debut for a bad foul. Rebrov had
replaced Les and showed one excellent piece of skill to beat a couple of
players before having a fierce shot which was charged down for a corner.
Spurs played the ball around
excellently in the second half with Anderton pulling the strings and a
Sheringham pass and a brilliant dummy from Sherwood (yes that was
not a mis-print brilliant and Sherwood in the same sentence) allowed Rebrov to run on to the ball on the left hand
side of the box, he hit his shot into the corner for his first of the season
and our fourth of the night.
There was still time for
another bit of by the book over common sense refereeing when Sherwood was
adjudged to have handled a ball midway in the Spurs half. As much as he is not
a favourite of mine, I did feel a bit for Sherwood as after finally getting
into the first team, he goes and gets himself a suspension. The final whistle
blew soon after for what must be one of my biggest ever away Spurs wins.
Excellent driving by Danny,
not once going above the speed limit ‘-) got us home in good time to round off
an excellent evening.
The Word of Hod
“I was delighted with
that, It was a very accomplished performance. We put a strong, mental head on
and passed the ball well. We got the breaks when they came our way. This is a
difficult place to come and get a cup result and it was an obstacle we had to
overcome if we wanted to do anything on the Worthington Cup. I’m very pleased
with how we defended and kept a clean sheet. It’s a great result and we’re in
the hat.”
“We’re delighted with the result, not delighted with how we picked
up the bookings, not that I felt we were at fault. It was great to win and
great to lay the ghost here from last season for me and John personally
Sullivan (6/10)
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Taricco (7/10)
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Perry (6/10) – Solid at the back and another good match for Mr Ed
King (7/10) – Excellent as always, gets better and better and must love “his” song.
Thatcher (6/10) – A decent return for Fatcha, lets hope he can build on this to restart his Spurs career
Davies (6/10) – Another who gets better and better, and is adding more all-round attributes to his already excellent attacking game
Anderton (7/10) – Was at the heart of our game, and while not every pass went where it should, he was excellent in organising the play to make advantage of our extra man and scored a good goal
Freund (7/10) – Had a good match in his usual way and delivered an excellent cross for the third
Poyet (6/10) – Opened his account for Spurs and did ok.
Sheringham (7/10) – Along with Anderton, pulled the strings of an accomplished team performance. He is becoming a good captain as well as a great player
Ferdinand (6/10) – Ran and tried hard, and while his approach play was ok, he never really looked a goal threat.
Subs:
Rebrov (7/10) – a good goal capped a better performance.
Leo (6/10) – Tied up the left hand side well after replacing Poyet
Sherwood (6/10) – Excellent dummy for the fourth goal, but his return ruined by being sent off
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