This is what is all about! And while great doubt remains over the integrity of our owners, this was the result and performance that reminded everyone what watching Tottenham was all about, as Spurs recovered from a shaky start to comprehensively beat Liverpool for the fourth consecutive time at the Lane. The perfect way to round of the season at the Lane with some much needed “sunshine football”. Despite some of the highest ticket prices in the country, we are still victims of a whim of a TV company and for the third time this season Spurs kicked off at 12noon, with a less than spectacular three defeats in three with only one goal scored in noon kick offs over the last two season.

Liverpool had won something like 11 of their last 12 league matches and all of their last 6 away and were in red-hot form. Spurs had the following our injured – Carr, Freund, Bunjevcevic, Sherwood, Ferdinand, Armstrong, Ziege, King and Richards – but welcomed back Clemence to the starting line up and the Doc again appeared on the bench, alongside young midfield hope for the future Johnnie Jackson, who was getting a taste of the first team for the first time, and hopefully will see some action at Leicester in two weeks time. Spurs appeared to play a 4-4-2 but when actually writing it down, it was probably closer to a 3-4-1-2.

There was drama before the start when Tony (GeordieSpur) McVeigh, who’d flown down from North Shields that morning was left without the promised ticket only 15 minutes before kick off. We raced around Worcester Avenue, Park Lane and then back down the High Road with the touts only asking to buy tickets and none to sell! Shit! Out of guilt, I offered Tony my ticket buy he refused to take it and I left him heading towards the Petrol station ticket less after his long journey and feeling pretty shit myself. Fortunately, a couple of minutes into the match I got a call from Tony and he’d managed to grab a ticket from a tout and was in the Park Lane – the irony being that when looking for the ticket I did not have time to speak to Boris from Macedonia, who as it turned out had a spare!

In what should have been a sunny farewell to the season, the clouds closed in and it was grey and rainy as the game kicked off with Spurs attacking the Park Lane. This match looked a potentially classic encounter and it lived up to its billing, and was one of the best at the Lane all season with both sides contributing to an excellent match, as have the last 5 Liverpool matches at the Lane – and not just because we won 4 of them!

Spurs had early chances with Sheringham firing over a quick half volley from the edge of the box before he should have done better with a header from 15 yards out after good work by Davies, which he sent wide, but in all fairness most of the first 20 minutes we spent facing the Paxton watching Liverpool attack. One of the things I never understand is a defending team not having men on both posts, and fortunately for us, we had Treacle on the back stick, and while it looked a good if expected header away from a Heskey flick, watching it again on TV revealed just how high the little bloke from Buenos Aires actually jumped to head clear and it was an excellent piece of defending.

Liverpool were playing three up – Owen, Emile (knock me down with a feather) Heskey and Smicer and an unusually adventurous attacking style for them. Chatting to Liverpool fans after they said that they missed Stephen Gerard and that all of their attacks lacked width, but for those first few minutes of the match, they had Spurs on the back foot and from another corner, Keller produced the save of the match, tipping a firm Hyypia header away, which Mr Ed lumped away to safety. Danny Murphy, a player who I think should be well up the England pecking order did a fine run and saw his shot deflected over and soon after this we had our moment of luck. Riise steamed in from the left and got on to the end of a cross from the right with a brave diving header. From my position on the halfway line on the Shelf it looked in, but to everyone’s relief, it hit the post and bounced to safety. Liverpool had chances after this, but from this moment Spurs grew in the match and began to assert.

Poyet had the first of his chances when he got in behind the Liverpool defence and was found by a fine ball from Anderton. He chested the ball into the box, but his effort was blocked wide. This was only a temporary respite for Liverpool as Treacle appeared and squared the ball again for Poyet this time in the six yard box, but one of the Liverpool defenders got in for a brave block.

Soon after it was the Latin connection at it again, when Treacle did his usual step inside on to his right foot before delivering a pin point cross over Hyypia and onto Poyet’s chest. He swivelled and turned in one movement and got his shot away but after beating Dudek also managed to beat the far post by inches. My money was on Poyet and 12/1 for the first goal and I thought it was going to be one of those days, but a moment of magic from Anderton on the left allowed him to cut inside the mad Xavier before hitting a cross with the outside of his right over to Davies. The ball arrived at an awkward height and he did well just to rebound the ball back into the danger area. As ever Poyet was the first react and steered his shot home with 5 minutes of the half remaining to send the already boisterous crowd into raptures.

Spurs were in full flow and everyone was playing well. Poyet, fresh from scoring the goal, was inside his own penalty area moments after hooking the ball clear and a good move in the midfield between the Uruguayan, Davies and latterly Treacle sent Sheringham away down the left. Ted looked up and sent over a perfect cross which Iversen did well to meet with a firm downward header, but unfortunately it was too close to Dudek and they escaped.

Half time saw some classic entertainment with Ralphy Coates introducing Chris Eubank, Sue Johnson and Celebrity Spurs fan Trigger along with some corporate nobody for some auction. This was obviously one the Big Chiv decided to duck as it was a bit naff but Coates was a star reading things out very slowly so even well intentioned words sounded like he was taking the piss. Fresh from laughing at this, I had tears rolling down my cheeks when Lady Nayim said “I did n’t realise Ralph Coates was welsh!”

The second half got off to a flourish when Clemence had his best moment, picking the ball up midway inside the Liverpool half he turned one and advanced towards the goal. Still looking a bit hesitant and thinking that he should pass, he continued to do a couple of more Scousers on the edge of the box before hitting a low curling left foot shot which Dudek gathered. Two league goals in his 67 starts (89 total appearances) is a stat that does not lie about his presence in front of goal, but this should not get away from a fantastic bit of skill and hopefully Clemence will finally mature into the player we all want him to be.

Keller dealt with a few long shots and crosses with ease as Liverpool used long ball tactics to get themselves back in the game and Keller can be well pleased with this display and if he maintains this level of form we have a quality keeper.

Spurs controlled the game from the midfield and Davies continued to give Liverpool problems down our right. From a corner won by a good run by Anderton who did his world cup claims no harm, Poyet, as only Poyet can do, tried to hit a bicycle kick home from the penalty spot area, but his effort bounced narrowly wide. At the other end, Owen had an effort which went wide but we were fairly comfortable and it was only the fact that we had given up one goal leads at Boro, West Ham and Bolton in the last five matches that gave any real cause for concern.

Goon reject Anelka was introduced midway thro the half to a fantastic chorus of boos and was booed every time he touched the ball in what was a quality effort by the supporters. Anelka, one of the few if only player to be transferred twice for over £20m seems a reformed character to the brilliant player inside the petulant pratt which characterised his game at the Scum. Unfortunately, his personal rehabilitation seems to have come at the cost of his talent as he looked like a lobotomy victim going thro the motions after an operation to remove his madness.

The crowd were fantastic for much of the game – long periods of Glenn Hoddle’s Blue and White Army (which I noted that Man U have nicked and adapted in the week) followed by the Ole football of Spurs possession thro the midfield as Spurs sparkled both on and off the pitch in a marvellous match in front of a live TV audience.

Spurs had one more chance to score when a fine run by Davies was found by Sheringham and although Davies got away a good shot as he got in the box, Dudek produced a good save. Minutes from the end, Perry took our Hamann, who for once was actually floored rather than flinging himself to the ground. A bit daft and things looked a bit grim as Riise lined up a 25 yard free kick which has become his trademark this season and seen him drafted into many a fantasy football team. This time fortunately it was a poor effort straight at the wall and Spurs cleared.

Seemingly on a death wish, Perry headed out a long cross for a corner when a shout from Keller would have allowed him to let the ball go out of play. More panic at the corner, by when Hamman's shot bounced harmlessly wide for a goal kick we knew we had done it.

For some people (not me) there was a downside to a Spurs win in that the win almost certainly clinched the championship for the Goons, but this was offset by the delight it would no doubt bring to David Ginola to see the man who made him a scapegoat when France failed to qualify for the 1994 world cup fail to land the Premiership again.

A great result and a fantastic day at the Lane – what it is all about! The post match celebration was taken down the TOPSPURS pub the Northumberland where we joined Steve and Caroline Nunn who had watched the match in the pub. Most of the regulars were there, Chiefy, Tim and Mark, Lee Dumont, with John, Thom and Will, Haverhill were represented as ever with Lynford and Garry, Ray O’Leary, E17 and Bazzer69 represented the old school, over from Dublin were Irish Den and Lisa, down from North Shields GeordieSpur, Fred Dowry, Winkey Marson & Rosie and of course Godders, looking a picture with his “kiss me quick” Spurs hat and accompanied by his son Jake Godfrey a day before his 8^th birthday. A great day as the ale flowed and hopefully this time next year we will be celebrating the first trophy of the Glenn Hoddle sunshine football. Come on you Spurs!

The Word of Hod

"They were going for their seventh away win on the trot," said Glenn. "Normally they suck you in and hit you on the break with the pace that they've got. We spoke about that before and there were times when we were on the attack that might have happened. Today their mental approach was different, they had to come here and win and they attacked us - Hamann got more forward than I've ever seen him.

"It allowed us to break on them a little bit and capitalise on the space. Our football in the second half was exquisite at times, there was some lovely football played - stuff that we managed to achieve for the first four or five months. There's nothing much wrong with Liverpool, going for their seventh away win on the trot. They just came across a side that was equal to them in the first half and, I thought, in the second half was better than them.

"At the end of the day, we took the chance and they didn't take their chances - I think that was the dividing line between the two teams. What it proves for us is, we've not been truly out played or hammered by any of the top four or five teams, and we're getting closer to them and beat Leeds a few weeks ago. There's optimism in our camp that we can actually bridge that gap over the next two or three seasons."

"That's a little bit of our frustration this season due to a lack of squad due to the injuries we've had that have depleted us too many times. As I said before the game, the same 16 has virtually played for the last seven or eight games - to put on a performance like that is credit to the players, they were superb today."

Keller (8/10) – Possibly his best display for Tottenham with some inspired saves in the first period and some impeccable handling in the second period. On this form, he is our best keeper at the moment, but the doubt placed by the Hasawank free kick still remains and I don’t think we can go into next season with just him and an unknown keeper if Sully is to be sold.

Perry (7/10) – Vintage Mr Ed – some great defensive play mixed in with some comical use of the ball. He still remains our best defensive defender and would be a gem if only he could use the ball better. Will be delighted that the Park Lane did a “Perry, gis a wave” which he responded to by giving a clap!

Gardner (7/10) – A rock and gave an assured display at the heart of the defence against England’s world cup pairing of Owen and Heskey.

Thatcher (7/10) – It give me great joy to give another favourable report of Thatcher as he again played really well. Still inclined to let his enthusiasm get the better of him and jump in sometimes, but overall he was excellent and gets some extra cred for doing ex-goon Anelka and having a square up at the end.

Taricco (6/10) – Some good moments in the match, notably the brilliant goal line clearance from Heskey. Did some good work with the ball, notably setting up Poyet in the first half, but some of his crosses were atrocious and his one trick of running down the left, stopping and coming inside can drive you up the wall.

Anderton (7/10) – Set up the goal and was a vital cog in a midfield that worked well on a decent pitch.

Clemence (8/10) – The talk of the Northumberland after the match with everybody coming up to me and saying how well Clem had played and on that recommendation pips the other star performers for MOTM. Clem was excellent, step overs, two feet and getting involved to win the ball – it was a complete performance which was nearly capped in an all too rare goal when he took on the Liverpool defence single-handedly on a mazy run before curling a shot which Dudek did well to save. He has now played 80+ matches in his 5 season at the Lane, but only two stand out – his heroics against Arsenal in 1999 and this match and he needs to string a run of these performances together before we can hail him as a top player – but with the advice of Hod, a bit of luck with injuries and a single minded determination, you never know we may actually have a serious player on our hands as he is still relatively young although he seems like he has been around for a while.

Poyet (7/10) – One of his best games for us capped with the winning goal which sends him to the top of the League goal scorers chart. Today he was excellent getting back and getting involved with the defending when we needed it as well as always being a goal threat at the other end. So how come we moan about him so much? It seems churlish to complain about a top bloke like Poyet, but although the mind is always willing, he is knocking on now and cannot sustain what he wants to contribute over a full 90 minutes. I hope he stays with Spurs over the summer and am sure he will, but I would like to see him used in tandem with Davies for the attacking midfield role.

Davies (7/10) – Just a day or so after we received the shocking news that the club are pissing him about over his contract, Digger delivered one of his top performances and was unlucky not to cap it with a goal near the end. Perhaps the best compliment for Davies was a Liverpool match report that said words to the effect that the normally excellent Carragher had his work cut our with Davies and it was only when he doubled up with Riise could they have any control over him. This says it all about the value of Davies that it took two Internationals to cope with him our of position! ENIC, cough up or there will be trouble!

Sheringham (7/10) – One of his better matches in recent months where his vision was aided by having a lively Iversen in front of him and plenty of options from midfield in the shape of Clem, Poyet, Davies and of course Anderton. Does n’t look the goal machine of his first spell, but did his bit in a fine win.

Iversen (7/10) – Another strong game for Iversen, who possibly should have done better with a good header at the end of the first half but ran hard and gave the excellent central defensive partnership of H & H plenty to think about. Please stay injury free!!! And lets see what you can do next season

Subs: - None

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