Sunday 16th September 2001, 2.00pm		FA PREMIERSHIP, WHITE HART LANE
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (Sheringham (66, 90)
Sullivan
Perry	Bunjevcevic (Thelwell 65)			King
Taricco			Ziege
Anderton	Freund (Rebrov 80)			Davies
Sheringham 2 (76, 90)		Ferdinand
Subs not used: Keller, Leonhardsen, Etherington
CHELSEA 3 (Hasselbaink (45 81pen), Desailly 95)
De Goey, Melchiot, Desailly, Terry (Gallas 42), Le Saux, Gronkjaer, Lampard, Petit, Zenden, Hasselbaink, Zola (Gudjohnsen 90). Subs: Bosnich, Morris Jokanovic
Referee:- S Dunn		Attendance:- 36,037

Steve Dunn is either incompetent or a cheat. There is no other way to dress up the penalty decision that ultimately cost Spurs at least a share of the points, if not all three towards in the 80^th minute when he awarded Chelsea a penalty without a serious appeal after Hasselbaink stubbed his toe when attempting to shoot. Fucking Bastard Wanker. When the dust settles, Spurs will take a lot from this display and although the result is a set back, the performance was good and progress under Hoddle continues.

The petrol station on the High Road saw a gathering of the great and good with MEHSTG’s “Wyart Lane”, Bernie Kingsley and Danny Keene. Expectations before the match were pretty modest – a draw and a decent performance would be acceptable, although I’m sure everyone was desperate for a win to end the pain of Chelsea’s run against us. Sully, Bunjevcevic, Anderton and Sheringham return for Spurs at the expense of Keller, Doherty, Leo and Rebrov, while Chelsea lined up with a strong looking team, with shitbag Bosnich on the bench, and it looked a tough assignment for Spurs. Desailly used his loaf when he won the toss, as he got the teams to change ends so that they could attack the Paxton in the second half with the sun in Sully’s eyes. There was another minute's silence for the American dead and the West stand carried an American flag at half mast.

Spurs started positively and Ziege looked dangerous in the opening exchanges, regularly getting beyond Zenden and Melchiott (the man with the skinniest legs in football) . A neat flick by Sheringham sent Ledley galloping down the left but unlike the last minute of the Southampton match, his cross was cut out.

Anderton also caught the eye and he was everywhere in the opening period – tackling, heading, chasing about and playing excellent passes - and although I’d lost it big time with him over the last few years – he remains one of my favourite players and if he can continue this level of form AND stay injury free he will be a major asset to the Spurs midfield.

A good passing move from Spurs ended with Ziege getting the ball and sending over a perfect cross and Sir Les was narrowly wide with his glancing header. As well as Anderton, Spurs had Davies playing at 100% in central midfield. He too was diving in for tackles and headers, as well as showing his more familiar class on the ball. Freund was also having a good match, and the performance of our midfield three was excellent.

Sully was called on to make a save from a Hasselbaink 20 yarder, but it was Spurs who held the upper hand for most of the first part of the first half. Things changed when Zenden and Grokjaer switched sides. This placed a greater defensive emphasis on Ziege, and Spurs looked more stretched on our left hand side. With Beckham the next right sided opposition player to visit White Hart Lane, Ziege needs to get the right balance between defence and attack.

As well as sharing our set pieces with Anderton, Ziege was also taking long throws in the final third, and from one of these Sheringham nodded inside to Anderton, who looked like the Anderton of old as he smashed a 25 yarder as clean as a whistle, but unfortunately it was too close to Goofy in the Chelsea goal who did well to save.

Despite Chelsea improving in the match with the switch of wingers, Spurs still looked good and Ferdinand had more time when running through the inside right channel on to an Anderton through ball, but he hit his shot early, and it flashed into the Paxton.

Mr Ed gets a lot of stick, much/some of it undeserved, but no one can doubt his 100% effort. His best moment of the match occured late in the first half when he won the ball brilliantly from Hasselbaink on the right touchline, came forward with the ball, before hitting an excellent chipped pass (yes that was excellent pass and Perry in the same sentence) to put Davies in on the right hand side of the penalty area. Davies took the ball on to the byeline, but his cross was too deep for Sheringham. Another long throw was flicked on by King for Ferdinand to hit a shot on the turn, but this was blocked for a corner.

45 minutes were up on the clock and I was beginning to reflect on a good half for Spurs when the ball got to Le Saux from a Bunje clearance midway inside the Spurs half on the Chelsea left. Anderton threw himself in the way of his hopeful shot, and the ball got deflected up into no man’s land on the right-hand side of our penalty area. Sully raced out for it, but Lampard beat him to it, turned and sent over a cross to where he thought his forwards should be, and Hasselbaink rose at the back post to head home. A soft goal, which spoiled all the good play of the half.

Half time brought plenty of optimism, despite the late goal as Spurs were playing well and all we needed was a goal (although with a record of 5 in our last 10 matches against them, the stats were against us).

The required goal nearly came within minutes of the restart, as Sheringham collected a Ferdinand knock down from an Anderton pass on the edge of the box, swivelled and hit a powerful left foot volley which flew past Goofy but smashed against the crossbar and to safety. Jammy bastards. Sheringham was involved in everything, and soon after sent over a cross from the left which Davies, making the run of a centre forward while Ferdinand stood still, headed wide.

Our injury disaster got worse when Hasselbaink and Bunjevcevic clashed off the ball. After seeing the replays it was accidental. Spurs reorganised with Thelwell coming on and despite everyone pleading for King or even Perry to be given the central role making Hasselbaink, the young Spur had a good match against him.

Spurs continued to play well and were eventually rewarded when a long pass from the back from Perry was flicked on by Sir Les and this sent Davies away through the inside right channel. He got the ball to Sheringham on his left and our skipper hit a shot, which Goofy saved, but Ted followed up and smartly tucked the ball away. The crowd went mad. I was delighted and we still had 20 minutes to win the match.

Soon after, Anderton had a 20 yard effort which went agonisingly wide after Goofy had fluffed at a punch under pressure from King and Sheringham from a Ziege throw. Spurs were going well in the match and although most would have settled for the equaliser being the end to the scoring, Spurs were well in with a chance to win the match when Zola threaded the balld through to Hasselbaink.

I will give my version of the penalty decision later but this is how independent football website onefootball described the incident with no Spurs bias:

With the teams level at 1-1, the Dutch striker - who next weekend starts a three-match ban following his recent elbow on Arsenal's Martin Keown - fell flat on his face just as he was about to shoot. With no defender close to him, Spurs played on and the home crowd erupted in laughter at Hasselbaink's embarrassment. However, to the amazement of Tottenham, referee Steve Dunn awarded a penalty to Chelsea. The only possible explanation was that Hasselbaink may have been knocked off balance by an earlier brush with Ledley King, but the decision looked bizarre. After being urged by Spurs to check with his linesman, Dunn stood by his decision, and Sheringham and Freund were booked for protesting.

When the ball got played through to Hasselbaink, it looked dangerous as he was through on goal with no one close to him, but fortunately he stubbed his foot into the ground as he went to shoot and the ball ran to safety. I could not believe it when I saw fat bastard Dunn running from the centre circle and pointing to the spot. No penalty appeals from Zola or any of the other Chelsea players.

Freund went mad and along with Perry and most of the Spurs team pleaded with the ref to review his decision. Perry managed to get the ref to consult with the linesman and for brief moment we had some hope of justice. But would a “little Hitler” be big enough to change his mind? The linesman did not manage to change the refs mind, but in fairness to the Lino, he apparently said to Perry that it was not a foul, but Dunn still gave the penalty despite the facts presented for him.

I suppose fortunately neither the ref or lino could remember a Spurs player near Hasselbaink as he fell over so there was no further injustice of a sending off, but a couple of Spurs players were booked including Freund who looked like he was going to explode. Hasselbaink had a one step run up and hit the ball to Sully’s right. Sully made a great effort to save the ball and tipped it onto the post and the ball ran back along the goal line before going in the side netting in the other side. Bastards. Cheating a penalty and to rub it in, going over to the Spurs dugout for a wild celebration. Hoddle exchanged words with him and there was a major confrontation with most of the players. Bastards. My head was throbbing with anger.

With everyone’s blood running high, Lampard got booked for hacking down Davies as he brought the ball our of defence. When you think Poyet was straight red carded for leaving his leg out at Everton, the tubby ex-west ham git was lucky to get only a booking for this – although he would later get full justice.

During one of the many injury break for the Chelsea pansies to get treatment, the Park Lane and its shelfside started singing "Zola's got a monkey's head" much to everyone's amusement and the support was excellent again. A far cry from this time last year when half the ground was asleep and the other half were chanting for the board and manager to go. The Chelsea fans were unusually quiet.

The second Spurs equaliser came when Sir Les had his best moment of the match. Bursting clear on the right hand side of the box, he sent over a low cross that Sheringham tucked home for his second of the match and his 100^th Spurs goal. Great jubilation. An injustice partially corrected – although this should have been the goal to make it 2-1!

The 4^th official signalled 5 minutes for stoppages, which was about right. Lampard tumbled over in the box like a big fairy. The referee waved play on but took no action. If someone goes over in the box and appeals for a penalty – the ref either gives it or books the player for diving. Perry grabbed Lampard and told him to get up and Tubby reacted angrily and pushed Perry in the face. The crowd went mad, and eventually the ball went out and the ref finally realised something was up and consulted the linesman who’s bottle remained in tact enough to tell the ref what went on. Amazingly he got a second yellow for it – what part of pushing your hand in an opponents face is not violent conduct and an automatic red?

Spurs pressed on for the winner and Rebrov had a snap shot at the edge of the box, which looped over the bar after it was partially blocked. In the very last minute, Chelsea broke down the other end and a deep cross from the left was put behind by Ziege for a corner. Safety first. From the corner – disaster. Petit’s corner was flicked on at the near post and headed home by the unmarked Desailly at the far post, with Sully nowhere and Ferdinand standing like a dummy on the six yard line where Desailly started his run. A truly sick feeling.

After the initial disgust at being cheated by the awful ref, Spurs should take heart that this was a good performance against a top 5 team and with a bit of luck and a couple of new signings, Spurs are well on the way back.

The Word of Hod

Hoddle: "He didn't dive. I've watched the replay four or five times and it is clear he just stubbed his foot and fell over. There was no contact at all by Ledley. He didn't tackle. But if refs and their assistants can't see that from where they are, then we've got problems. If refs would only buy themselves 30 seconds thinking time instead of giving penalties immediately they would be better off."

Hoddle explained his verbal clash with Hasselbaink by saying: "Players are entitled to celebrate a goal but I just thought it was a strange place to be doing it. A few players were upset at the end and I stayed on the pitch to keep an eye on the situation. At times, though, I felt I needed somebody to hold myself back."

On the TV replay that clearly showed that Ledley did not touch Hasselbaink, and that JFH stubbed his foot and fell over - Hasselbaink stated that Ledley had touched his shooting leg. This is bollocks, and makes him a cheat.

Our anguish was compounded by Goran Bunjevcevic being stretchered off early in the second half with a suspected fractured cheekbone after an off the ball clash of heads with Hasselbaink and is likely to be out for a month.

Hoddle also confirmed Republic of Ireland defender Gary Doherty has a broken leg after being carried off against Torquay on Thursday and will out for around three months.

Oh shit!

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Sullivan (6/10) – Did ok and was unlucky with the penalty but being hyper critical could have done a bit better with their two other goals. After the form he showed for us last season, Sully deserves a bit of slack and I am not getting at him.

Perry (6/10) – Played ok, a great tackle on Hasselbaink in the first half and set up the first goal with one of his better passes.

Bunjevcevic (7/10) – In the process of playing another good match before an off the ball clash with Hasselbaink led to him being stretchered off with a fractured cheekbone. He will be out for at least a month, which is a major, blow coming on the back of Doc’s injury on Thursday.

King (8/10) – It is incredible to think that this was only Ledders 33^rd match for Spurs. Commanding at the back and with intelligent use of the ball going forward. Gets better and better.

Taricco (7/10) – Revelling in his “natural” position of rightwing back and was excellent going forward as well as being solid at the back. Ripped his shirt off and ran round waving it in celebration at Ted’s second equaliser. A topspurs favourite

Ziege (6/10) – A good match going forward, but his defensive vulnerability was exposed by Gronkjaer at times. Would be better suited to the left midfield role in a 4-4-2, but will have to knuckle down to the defensive side of his current job.

Anderton (7/10) – Faded a little towards the end, but this was the best match I have seen Anderton play for ages. I have been critical of his ability as a central midfielder, but on today’s showing he looks top notch. Good defensive coverage and tackling, allied with a superb use of the ball when going forward. A recovery sparked by the return of Sheringham, as their link play is excellent.

Freund (7/10) – His best match for a while. Excellent in the tackle and covering, as well as better distribution. Manic in the second half, and when he was replaced by Rebrov, he sprinted off to save as much time as possible for Spurs to get the equaliser. He may not be the greatest player to wear our colours, but he is loved by everyone.

Davies (7/10) – Had a much better game than in midweek, and added a lot more to his excellent forward play by engaging fully in the midfield battle. Did one brilliant recovery of the ball from Petit in the first half that lifted the crowd. Will probably drop to the bench when Poyet returns, but an excellent player in the making.

Sheringham (8/10) – Sensational. I never stopped having the highest regard for Ted when he left and he has been excellent in his return this season. He brings players into the game (notably Anderton who has had a good start to the season) and is at the heart of the majority of the good stuff Spurs created. He scored two goals & smashed the crossbar with a terrific effort at the start of the second half

Ferdinand (6/10) – One piece of “Sir Les” set up Teddy for his second goal – and it was a joy to watch. This makes the rest of his contribution all the more frustrating. No problem with the effort, but the body does not seem as able as before against the very top teams.

Subs:

Thelwell (6/10) – Had a fair match after he came on for Bunje and did not let anyone down

Rebrov (6/10) – Not have much time to make an impact, but had a blocked shot which nearly dipped in right at the end

Read Daniel Wynne’s thoughts Wynne View Back to TOPSPURS

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