Monday 18th March 2002, 8.00pm

FA PREMIERSHIP, WHITE HART LANE

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0

Sullivan
King
Perry
Gardner
Davies
Sherwood
Poyet
Anderton
Ziege
Rebrov
Ferdinand

Subs not used: Keller.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1 (Powell 70)

Kylie, Rufus, Costa, Fortune, Young, Powell (Robinson 90), Stuart, Parker (Konchesky 83), Bart-Williams, Euell, Svensson

Referee: - Fatty Winter

Attendance: - 29,602

The heartache continues with our 4th straight defeat, conceding 13 without any in reply – a truly miserable month. This was just one of those games where we did everything but score and on another day we could just laugh it off and say what a fine goalkeeping performance it was from Kylie again! – But only 8 points from Bolton in the relegation zone and not being able to get anything from matches, we have one eye (albeit a casual glance over our shoulder) on Relegation. One win away from safety but at this moment in time at a low ebb it is difficult to see where it is going to come from (although I remain hopeful at Fulham, and at least we will now be a good price!)

Ferdinand passed a late fitness test & with Sheringham rested, Spurs lined up with Rebrov and Sir Les up front. £13m of talent in Richards and Thatcher were also injured but fortunately replaced by better options in Perry and Gardner, while Anderton, still struggling with a knock, played in the midfield. Charlton, with a shaven headed Luke Young lined up with a credible team of decent players who were all prepared to work for each other and most importantly had an inspired keeper.

For the second match in succession, Spurs kicked off attacking the Paxton on a cold and blustery evening on a crap cut up pitch that only passed a pitch inspection at 6pm with all the rain during the day. There were plenty of empty seats all round the ground with a combination of the game being on TV and our recent run making people save their money for the price rises next season.

For all the disappointment of not winning – this was a decent match played at a good tempo, with the only surprise being that there was only one goal, and a crappy one at that to show for it. Charlton were very committed in the tackle and were on to Spurs all over the pitch in an obvious tactic to unsettle us. The tactic worked as we struggled to get in the game for the first 15 minutes and they were helped by Fatty Winter not pulling them up for when the challenges went over the line from committed to foul. He let Parker tackle from behind at will, thinking he was responding to his talkings to every time he did it and to make matters worse he booked Gardner for his first foul.

Winter as I have mentioned before is one of those ponces who needs to be on show all the time – calling players over to him for meaningless talkings to and then insisting throw ons are taken to the millimetre where the ball went out. A wanker – come back Lester Shapter anyday.

 

With the blood and guts from Charlton, there was only ever going to be one player for Spurs to come off worse from all the physical and that was Ferdinand! Seconds after clashing heads with either of the amusingly named Costa or Fortune, he was then clattered by Rufus, a modern day Paul Miller. Rebrov showed some good touches and Sherwood, Anderton and Davies began to work things down the right as Spurs got back in the game.

Free kicks have not been a productive area for Spurs this season, and after Sir Les was fouled right on the edge of the box (a penalty and sending off if you are bent lino at Old Trafford), Ziege crashed a free kick high and wide – not by far, but by far enough and repeated the dose in the second half, much to the derision of the crowd. Pity we can’t bring the manager on as a “special team” like the do in American Football.

Charlton looked dangerous breaking forward with pace, but our back three dealt with them comfortably, although they did have a couple of chances from corners with Bart-Williams heading over the best of them. Gardner had a good match at left wing back – doing all his defending well and using the ball well when in possession. He also looked to go down the wing when he had the chance and even had a run and shot on goal midway thro the half that did not trouble Kylie.

The best Spurs chance of the first period – and the first of Kylie great saves came from an up and under cross from Ziege, which Les watched and judged perfectly as defenders missed it, only to see his goal ward header brilliantly tipped away by the off balance Kylie. People may moan about Les and while he did miss all those chances in the Cup final, he is still the best forward we have at the mo.

A neat bit of interplay on the right by Davies, who flicked the ball on to Anderton to head back into the path of Sherwood to hit a first time volleyed cross, but Rebrov could not keep down his header, but it was a sweet move. Young sporting a new shaven head, got behind Ziege and clear in on goal, but his toe poked shot was well saved by Sully and he still awaits his first senior goal after over 100 matches & to think he hit the bar at West Ham on his debut back in 1998! The half nearly finished on a high note when Poyet met Ziege’s corner with a firm downward header that was going in before being blocked on the line by defender and goalkeeper.

All the knocks had taken their toll on Ferdinand, and Iversen replaced him to blunt our attack in the second period.

While Spurs were far from the fluent footballing team that won the “gaffer” the manager of the month for October, but on a crap pitch they did their best and were unlucky not to be rewarded with at least one goal in the second period around the hour mark.

First Poyet nipped in behind a Charlton defender and after chesting the ball down to have a clear run on goal, he could only fire at Kylie’s legs, and then fired across goal after getting in a good position in the left hand side of the box. TV replays showed this to be a great save but Winter did not give a corner.

With time ticking on, we were hit with a goal out of the blue when a nothing ball into the box was not lumped away by King, and as the ball bounced goalwards Spurs fan Chris Powell nipped in to knee the ball past Sully for his first ever league goal. He also scored his first ever Charlton goal against us in the cup last year and is becoming a pest! Bollox! At the time you felt that one goal would win the match and so it proved.

The crowd got agitated and Rebrov left the field to a huge chorus of boos when Etherington replaced him. I don’t rate Rebrov, but it seemed an odd decision to remove a forward to leave us double handed with left-wingers for the last 20 minutes. Rebrov threw his tracksuit to the ground and stomped off up the tunnel. Expect Ted back for Fulham.

We huffed and puffed for the last 20 minutes. Charlton defending the 18-yard line and we passed the ball to each other outside it without anyone really taking initiative. Easy to say, but a more direct approach may have yielded a goal but you had a feeling it was not going to be our night. There was still one last chance for Spurs. Ziege’s corner was met well by Poyet, and for once Kylie was beaten only to see some git on the line head the ball upwards onto the bar and away to safety. On another day………

Winter put us out of our misery and it was a long walk home in the cold up White Hart Lane. In the context of the great teams and the great players that have graced the shirt, a dismal night to lose to a load of ordinary players who’s only virtue was to work hard for each other. A long way from Sunshine football – but the road is long, with many twists and turns  - and we will get there in the end – we have to.

The Word of Hod

"We handed it to them on a plate, Ledley knows he made a mistake. There are circumstances when good players do things at the right time, and sometimes you just have to clear the ball from the area.

"The quicker Ledley can learn from situations like that, the quicker he will come on and become an even better player. We need to defend better as a team as we missed two golden chances and then gave a stupid goal away. It sickens me because we created the chances and could have won the game."

Sullivan (7/10) – Had one of his better matches with some decent stops

Gardner (7/10) – Looked a class player and a must for Hoddle to keep in his defence from now on & lets hope he stays injury free

Perry (6/10) – A typical Mr Ed – nice & solid, and it was interesting when Charlton broke thro in the first half, the great man stood his ground and forced the attacker to pass – something Richards seems unable to do

King (6/10) – Like the cup final, had a good match apart from one moment when he should have done a “Mr Ed” and lumped a nothing ball away – but unfortunately he tried to control it and it has cost us the game. Never mind Ledders, a few mistakes will not diminish my faith in you as a top quality player

Ziege (5/10) – Had an largely unproductive match which could less charitably be called lazy

Sherwood (5/10) – Tried everything he could but came up short - but lacked nothing in effort

Anderton (6/10) – Did his best on a crappy surface that did not suit him as he recovers from his injury

Poyet (6/10) – On another night would be celebrating his first hatrick for the club – but it was not to be with a number of chances saved by Kylie only to hit the woodwork in the final minutes.

Davies (6/10) – Had a much better match against Powell this time round and was a positive influence on the right flank. Must be given a run between now and the end of the season

Rebrov (6/10) – Flattered to deceive with some bright stuff interspersed with anonymity. Looked less than pleased with being subbed and who can blame him

Ferdinand (6/10) – Led the line well and was unlucky not to score with a header late in the first half, but after only just passing a fitness test a couple of first half knocks prevented him coming out for the second period

Subs:

Iversen (5/10) – Had the coordination of Bill and Ben, and made you yearn even for Sir Les

Etherington (6/10) – Tried his best when he came on and did ok

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