Here is another eye witness report from Jim Duggan:-
Another away performance was ruined by a defensive collapse precipitated by poor
tactical decisions. Graham resisted any changes to the side that lost at Old
Trafford apart from the Freund/Anderton switch in the centre of midfield
forced on him by Shaggy's suspension.
On a wet and miserable Northern afternoon, Spurs could not have had a better
start with Ledley King scoring his first senior goal after only 10 seconds -
a Premiership record for the quickest goal. This goal beats a goal scored by
Hoddle after 28 seconds against Norwich in 1979 as my quickest ever goal,
and while it may not have been as classy as the Hoddle chip, Ledley's 25
yard deflected effort from a knock down after the kick off was certainly more
welcome as Spurs managed their first away goal since Rebrov's strike against
Coventry four away matches ago.
With a goal in hand Spurs started brightly, with the midfield working the
ball well and Ferdinand and Armo (who warranted special praise from Bradford
fans after the match) looking lively up front. Bradford stoked up by their
new management team forced a couple of early corners and managed to equalise
from a header from Jamie Lawrence (although it looked like a Ferdinand own
goal at the time) which dribbled into the far corner of Sully's net.
Lawrence had not scored (or been credited with a goal since the goal at the
Lane that won Bradford a point last season)
Despite the setback of the equaliser, Tottenham were playing well enough to
give all of the vocal travelling contingent hope that the first win would
not be far away. Atherton was at full stretch to block an effort from
Clemence and Ferdinand hit a powerful shot wide when presented with the ball
at the edge of the box.
The second goal came from a Clemence corner and Sol Campbell stooped in a
crowded area to nod home his driving header despite the keeper getting his
hand to it. Sol ran back to where the Spurs fans were gathered and we
responded with the "he's done his country proud" song - a great moment. How
anyone can criticise this man is beyond me.
Apart from a curling shot from Carbone which sailed wide, it was all
Tottenham as we went on the offensive tearing the home side apart and it
needed a great saving tackle from man of the match Windass on Carr to stop
the best right wing half in the country adding to his already impressive
goals tally. Ferdinand nearly got on the end of a King pass after more good
work by Clemence and Matt Clarke in the home goal had to be alert as Armo
raced on to a long pass.
At half time the talk of was getting another goal or two and getting that
elusive first away win, and despite only being a goal up, no one could see
Bradford getting back into a match Spurs were dominating.
The rain started to fall harder as the second half started and after a brief
fully of activity in and around the Spurs goal, it was Tottenham attacking
the Symphony Stand housing the Tottenham fans who scored again. Sherwood,
who is generally more effective in his more advanced midfield role, found
Ferdinand on the right-hand edge of the box and while most people thought
that Les was going to shoot, he squared the ball to Armo who had the
simplest of tap-ins to claim his second of the season.
With all the misery we've had to endure on our travels in recent months,
surely at 3-1 up against the bottom side, this game was safe now.
The Bradford manager Jeffries waited until the hour mark to introduce Lee
Sharpe for Myers and Petrescu for Lawrence, which gave more width and
variety to the Bradford attack. Spurs had a couple of chances to put the
game safe - Armo remained onside for once and latched onto a long pass in the
inside left channel. Being Armo he had to cut back for his right foot and
allowed new signing Molenaar to get a saving tackle in. Just before Bradford
scored their second, Clemence threaded a pass across the edge of the penalty
area with the other wing back Carr just failing to reach the pass that would
have put him in on goal
Almost immediately, Bradford had their first serious effort of the half as
Sully did well to save a 20 yarder from Beagrie but had no chance when
Atherton crossed for Windass to head home an unmarked diving header. Even
with the new injection of life given by the goal, Spurs should not have been
troubled to see out the last 20 minutes. Graham had two sensible options.
Either carry on as they were, or play in a similar but more cautious fashion.
Unfortunately, he seems to think that everyone back on the edge of the
penalty inviting the other team on to Tottenham is the best way to preserve
the advantage.
Spurs never managed to get back in the match and relentless Bradford
pressure saw them have a Collymore goal disallowed, another effort hit the
post and Clem had to clear another effort for the tireless Windass off the
line before the substitutes combined to set up Carbone with the equaliser.
Sharpe crossed from the left and Petrescu headed back across the box for an
unmarked Carbone to volley home
With some bizarre irony, Graham decided this was the moment to introduce
Vega for Sherwood and despite Spurs' first effort on the Bradford goal for
about 20 minutes in injury time, Spurs held out for a point.
Plus points from the game include another very good performance from
Ferdinand, who with a new contract negotiations looming is in the best form
of his Spurs career. King further cemented his position in the centre of
midfield with another polished display. Armo returned the warm applause of
the Spurs fans as he was substituted, which hopefully signals a warming of
the relations between us.
Back to Les Wilson's report and team details
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