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Monday 1st
April 2002, 3.00pm |
FA PREMIERSHIP, WHITE HART LANE |
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (Iversen 9, Sheringham 29) |
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Keller |
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Perry
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Gardner
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Richards
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Thatcher
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Anderton
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Davies
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Sherwood
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Etherington (Clemence 83)
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Sheringham
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Iversen |
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Subs not used: Hirschfield, Thelwell |
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LEEDS UNITED 1 (Viduka 48)
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Martyn,
Mills, Woodgate, Matteo, Harte, Smith, Bakke, Batty (Keane 66), Bowyer,
Viduka, Fowler. |
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Referee:
- Urinal Rennie (South Yorkshire) |
Attendance:
- 35,167 |
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Spurs went into this match on the back of 6 straight defeats against Leeds and 2 draws and 4 defeats against sides in the top 10 at home, but banished all that in great style with a determined display to see us up to 7th in the League.
Pre-match in the Northumberland was good with all the regulars –Lee, Lynford, Scooby, Rosie, the Nunns, the Brummies Shaz & Ray and Jacob, plus Rabbi Crackers, Damien Davis, Barry and E17 making an appearance. Most of who were a good deal more confident than I was against a Leeds team that has done well at the Lane since Pinocchio Resale as sank it in debt and won fuck all.
Yet again the great man at the helm had to shuffle the pack as a result of injuries and knocks. Ledley picked up a knock at Boro and was replaced by Richards with Perry switching to right back. Davies came in for rested Poyet in midfield, while Sheringham replaced Rebrov. Leeds had a motley collection of racists, dirty bastards and cloggers all kept together by possibly the most hated man in the League – the Goonersaurus apprentice O’Dreary.
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A minute’s silence was held for the queen mother, which was not officially started by Rennie and seemed to have the National anthem played halfway through it. After a couple of unsuccessful matches attacking the Paxton in the first half, it was back to the recent norm of attacking the Park Lane. After about a minute, both teams nearly scored within 30 seconds of each other. Iversen got on the end of a Sheringham flick but as he shot Mills got across to take the sting out of the shot and Martyn saved. Leeds oofed the ball forward and as Gardner misjudged it, Fowler nipped in to lob the ball goalwards, producing a fine save from Keller with Mr Ed nipping in to clear the danger. |
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The game was bright and open and it was easy to see the quality of Leeds compared to some of our recent opponents but Spurs held their own in what was an entertaining beginning. Spurs don’t come from behind too often to win matches these days so an early goal is always vital and fortunately it came after 9 minutes. Thatcher found some space wide on the left midway inside the Leeds half. He did not panic and waited till there was a good opportunity before delivering a fine cross that Iversen met with a firm header. A great start – Iversen scoring in consecutive matches and one time outcast Thatcher setting up the chance. I’ve given plenty of stick to Thatcher – send off against us when he played for Wimbledon, the Gooner paid well over the odds at £5m for him and he had his problems on and off the field last season – but since the start of 2002 he has done well every time he has been given a chance and is getting better with increased confidence. Not Roberto Carlos, but a decent player who is working hard and giving his best is ok for me and long may it continue and who knows the former Lilleshall and England U19 player may finally fulfil his early promise.
Sheringham had a long range effort go just wide but Leeds continued to press at the other end and Viduka headed just over from inside the 6 yard box, and also forced a save from Keller with another header. Etherington forced a decent low save from Martyn when a clearance fell at his feet as the game flowed from end to end.
On the half hour we scored what proved to be the decisive goal. Again Thatcher started it. His long throw from the left was flicked on by Richards to Sheringham, who laid it back for Davies. Digger’s shot was blocked on the six-yard line, but Sheringham was on hand to smash home his 108th goal for Spurs and his second in his last two Spurs starts. The second goal possibly flattered Spurs – but bollocks to Leeds – we should have won up there but for gifting them two goals.
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When you hear Urinal Rennie is reffing the match it is usually greeted with a groan as he is bound to do something crap and he did not disappoint, by booking Etherington for falling over when miscontrolling the ball. Leeds players clattered into Spurs players all through the match – and we had the daft sight of someone as old and dirty as Batty getting a talking to by the ref –if he thinks someone like Batty is going to respond to a talking to he’s a big a twat as he looks. Book him, apply the law – simple. |
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Another example of his differing standards for his fellow Yorkshiremen was the Thatcher booking, where he booked Thatcher for over exuberance in a shoulder charge (no foul given) but did not book little girly Smith when he pushed Sheringham on the shoulder in the melee afterwards (lest we forget Sheringham was sent off and missed three matches when the even worse Owgawdblimey Riley saw this as a sending off offence against Ipswich)
The half passed quickly and most people were happy at half time – but with Tottenham being Tottenham, you never really felt safe, esp. with some of the second half home disasters this season. When Viduka turned Richards and sent a low shot beyond Keller into the corner – everyone thought the same – oh no not again! and it is to the great credit to the players that they battled on to get three points from this match.
Harte, O’Leary’s son with Tubbs from the League of Gentlemen Local shop, had a shot which although straight at Keller, he needed to grab at the second attempt as it bounced off his chest. Could have been costly but it was n’t and it is arguable whether Sully in his current form (or indeed mood, if the bust up rumours are true) would have done any better.
Viduka was having plenty of stick from the Park Lane “You’re just a fat Aussie Wanker” and alike and responded in good spirit by blowing a kiss to the stands. This is how it should be between fans and opposition players. A Thatcher tackle hit and broke the corner flag and the Leeds fans wittily sang “shite ground no flags” as a ball boy was dispatched to the Paxton for a replacement.
Leeds piled it on, but Spurs and the back 4 and Sherwood held firm and to be
honest, Leeds did not have one clear cut chance which really tested Keller for
all their huff and puff, although Keller did a decent save from Keane. Spurs
replaced the still injured Anderton with Poyet and later tied up the left hand
side with Clemence coming in for his first appearance since Blackburn in
August. As much as I hold Sheringham in the highest regard and think Rebrov
offers little to Spurs – it seemed that tired and possibly injured legs of
Sheringham needed replacing a bit earlier than they were as while the mind was
still active, he could not match the pace of the game and every time the ball
went forward, it came back again.
As the final 10 minutes approached, Spurs began to emerge from the trenches on the 18-yard line that they had manned diligently and well for much of the second half. A free kick 30 yards out was blasted well over in now customary style by Captain Ted much to the disappointment of the crowd who predicted what seemed an inevitable outcome.
Spurs nearly got the crucial third goal when a good move out on the right ended with a whipped cross from Sherwood which Iversen met with another good header only to see Martyn make a fine save down to his right to deny him his first game with more than one goal since the hatrick in the 7-2 win over Southampton just over two years ago.
With 88 minutes on the clock, the Spurs crowd finally began to believe that
we’d go on and win and the last few minutes were played out to Glenn Hoddle’s
Blue and White Army. I was quite wound up bellowing at Rennie and any of the
assorted Leeds scum that came near the Lower Shelf touchline for most of the
second half and the final whistle came as a relief to everyone. Great win and
an important three points that showed good character as well as the undeniable skill
we have. And if those Chelsea cunts can win the FA Cup and finish outside the
top 4……… Europe, you never know, might still be on the agenda next season.
The
Word of Hod
"Overall I felt we deserved
to win. In the first half we were bright and clinical in our finishing, and in
the second half we dug in deep and were collectively solid when they came at us.
"Our injury list is as
long as my arm, so the lads did well to go out there after a day's rest and
perform like that again. I am pleased with how we have turned things around in
our last three games.
"We were down to our
last 15 or 16 fit players and Ben Thatcher was outstanding playing with a groin
injury. We also lost Ledley King before kick-off with a bruised calf.
"Our aim is to keep the
run going until the end of the season. We have some tough games coming up and a
depleted and fatigued squad, but the incentive is there to finish as high as
possible."
Keller (7/10) – One excellent save in the first half and a good
all-round display. Events off the field may see Keller have an unexpected
extended run in the side and I hope he does well, starting with a clean sheet
next weekend.
Perry (7/10) – Unflappable and another excellent exhibition of defending from Mr Ed, this time at right back where he gave Leeds nothing and was a rock in our defence.
Gardner (7/10) – Bit sleepy in the first minute but recovered to
have his usual good game in a difficult test against top quality strikers
Richards (6/10) – Did ok but too many errors and was turned like a
schoolboy for the goal. I hope the £8.1m price tag does not see him picked
ahead of Perry, Gardner or the Doc when all are fit. Nothing against Richards,
he just is n’t good enough at the moment and at his age and experience, it is
difficult to see where the necessary improvement is going to come.
Thatcher (7/10) – Capped his 2002 revival with an excellent man of the match display today – setting up the first goal with a great cross and defending like a lion for the rest of the match. Still not good enough to get in a first choice all fit back 4 or 5 – but great to have him enter contention as a good and capable squad player
Sherwood (6/10) – Had a decent match providing much needed cover to the back 4 and it is no co-incidence that his changed role has seen Spurs get 7 points from 9 in the last three matches. Not the long term answer and sometimes not easy to like him, but he is doing his best and generally a good job at the moment.
Davies (7/10) – Finally got back in the starting line up and did
not let any of his supporters down with another energetic display – good
attacking and mucked in at the back when the pressure was on in the second
half. Becoming better and better by the minute.
Etherington (6/10) – Each to their own, but I don’t think Ethers is good enough to play regularly in the Premiership at the moment, despite his opinion of himself which he told the press last week. Despite all his pace and skill – he almost never goes outside his defender and spurned many opportunities to run at the Leeds defence, choosing to pass inside instead. He is still young and has time for it to click, but what he is currently offering Spurs is not good enough to keep someone like Ziege or even Davies out of the side.
Anderton (6/10) – Still carrying a knock which again saw him have an early end, but played well in the midfield battle. My one moan with him, as it always is when he is detailed to play right midfield, is that he drifts in to the centre often leaving his full back exposed.
Sheringham (6/10) – Scored the winner and did ok, but still below his brilliant best and visibly tired during the second period.
Iversen (7/10) – Scored a fine goal, was denied another by a great save – and more than that worked his arse off for Spurs – a fine match for Ivo and lets hope it continues and he can stay injury free.
Subs:
Poyet (6/10) – Ran hard for Spurs in the final 25 minutes
Clemence (6/10) – Tied up Mills on the left side when he came on
and did his job well.
Rebrov (5/10) – Did n’t look interested in the all to familiar 4 minutes at the end
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